STORRS — Dan Hurley seemed bemused by the idea of a “season wrap-up” media availability. He mentioned it over and over on Tuesday, as state reporters gathered in the Werth Center, coincidently as a potential transfer was on the way to visit.
“You (start) with the mindset, ‘This is horrible, this is chaotic, this sport is out of control,‘” Hurley said, kicking off his 28-minute rap session. “Those things are still partially true, but then you realize this is truly professional basketball and it’s not the worst thing. … I’m actually embracing the fact the players have to go through a process of recommitting to wanting to be in your program. I actually like the fact players have to re-commit to wanting to be a UConn Husky. … That’s what I’m telling myself.”
Hurley, who probably knew already he’d have his pivotal point guard back in the saddle, has a reason to look on the bright side of things, a reason to plunge, reputation preceding him, into the dangerous, apparently lawless offseason territory without the fearlessness of a veteran marshal. A lot of coaches can offer recruits and potential transfers a lot of money, and UConn has shown it can complete there. But who has more perks, intangibles and not-so-incidentals to corral them than Hurley and the Huskies?
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After reaching the NCAA championship game for the third time in four years, UConn played and Hurley coached in a manner that almost made people around the country forget Michigan actually won the title this time. When you’re trying to convince experienced college players, free agents, to join your posse for their last ride or two, it doesn’t hurt to have people well beyond your own domain calling you the best coach in the country.
When you need at least one bona fide center, it doesn’t hurt to be able to show and tell your targets about Tarris Reed Jr.’s remarkable development after transferring from Michigan to UConn.
And when you’re trying to convince them that they can cash in at UConn, it doesn’t hurt that they can see players on billboards on the way to campus. Doesn’t matter how good they are in a bigger market or a bigger conference, you’re not taking that trade away from the MLB, NBA or NFL stars in the next town.
Hurley’s first priority, he said, is keeping as many of his current players as he can. A good strategy as he has developed them, won with them and if they stay, it means they’re comfortable meeting his demands. It also sends the right message out across the territory: People must like playing there.
So Hurley has already scored a couple of “retention” wins, with Silas Demary Jr. and Jayden Ross re-upping. Backup center Eric Reibe entered the portal, presumably to find more playing time and a different offensive design. Neither Solo Ball nor Jaylin Stewart have announced a decision as of Wednesday. The big shoe still to drop is March Madness hero Braylon Mullins, who will be weighing his NBA stock in what figures to be a loaded draft. Reed, Reibe and Malachi Smith will have to be replaced, along with the irreplaceable captain Alex Karaban.
There is a lot of work to do, but Hurley does not sound stressed or harried as in years past. He’s survived in this wild west landscape, because he’s got Wyatt Earp-level firepower and knows how to employ it.
“There is a lot of evidence that if this is not the best place to play college basketball right now, it’s one of the couple of best places,” he said. “The development piece, the exposure we get, the TV ratings, the culture, this is a place that, if you play here, you want to keep playing here, and if you’re playing somewhere else, it’s a place you want to look at.”
UConn rolled out the red carpet, this we mean literally, and filled the Werth lobby with the aroma of hot, buttery popcorn for the arrival of Najai Hines, a 6-foot-10 soon-to-be sophomore who impressed at Seton Hall last season. The move appeared to have paid off as Hines announced his commitment later on Wednesday night.
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“People who see the value the UConn program brings, two (national championships), historic success, the chance to play our nonconference schedule, when you look at those things, what Tarris became, we’re going to find out now how much that means,” Hurley said. “We’ve got to bring the people here who value that. There are still people like that in the sport, it’s just us continuing to identify those people that is going to allow us to stay where we are.”
How much gold Hurley has to throw around, vs. other schools, is not disclosed, but rest assured he has the ammunition to compete for just about any player he wants, and with UConn’s success, he has the credibility to pass on any player he believes is asking for too much.
“There’s a business side now, a cap to how much you can spend on a roster,” Hurley said. “There is a role that has to fit. Winning someone over through trust and shared vision certainly feels better than outspending somebody.”
That’s a good place to be in these badlands. The Big East TV revenue doesn’t match up with power four conferences, but then most of it goes to basketball, not football. UConn with its independent program, is the only FBS football school that spends more on basketball than football.
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UConn can guarantee a player a certain amount in NIL and revenue-sharing, but an under-the-radar variable is the NIL income through separate endorsement deals. Hartford/New Haven is a top 30 market, the largest market in the country where college basketball at one school is the dominant sports asset; its players the most recognizable athletes. Elsewhere, where there are no pro sports, football is bigger, or there are several basketball programs sharing the spotlight.
“We need the university and the state to continue to support UConn basketball to the absolute max, especially where we are now in the sport,” Hurley said. “But then on top of that now we do need the businesses throughout the state to do business with all the athletes here. We’re not just a basketball school, we’re an all-sports school, a championship athletic program and we need them to do deals with our players and use them on TV and billboards to offset some of what we’re not getting with the TV deal.”
So 10 days after the end of another March Madness in which UConn played a central role, Hurley has only a vague idea of what kind of team he will have next season. He can be confident, though, he’ll return to the ranch with a good team. Yes, it’s the wild west out there, but Hurley still has his principles — and he’s got as much fire power as anyone to back them up.
