STORRS, Conn. — It’s 1 p.m. on a dismal January afternoon and, except for a number of managers, Gampel Pavilion is empty. The Connecticut gamers have completed reviewing movie however have but to shuffle in from the apply facility throughout the road. Dan Hurley stands a number of steps behind halfcourt. He’s sporting grey sweats, a hoodie, a UConn beanie and a pair of reflector sun shades. He would love it famous that he wore the sun shades “means earlier than Coach Prime.’’
Hurley begins launching halfcourt pictures, cursing underneath his breath when the primary few makes an attempt clank off the backboard or, worse, airball wanting the basket fully. The Huskies stream in, clomping down the steps to the courtroom, and Hurley, nonetheless in his getup, retains capturing.
Lastly, the ball swishes via the online and Hurley shouts, to nobody particularly and everybody available, “Who’s the king of two in a row?” Ever obedient, star heart Donovan Clingan yells again, “You’re, Coach.”
Hurley by no means swishes back-to-back pictures. That doesn’t imply he can’t be king.
It has been 17 years since a university basketball crew has gained consecutive nationwide championships, the pursuit of back-to-back coronations turning into more and more elusive as the game dynamics have shifted. Not solely has no crew matched Florida’s two-year run, no defending champion has a lot as carried the No. 1 rating into February because the Gators.
Till now. Till UConn. A yr after dusting NCAA Match opponents by a mean of 20 factors per recreation en path to the 2023 title, the Huskies are doubtlessly, and frighteningly, much more succesful.
That UConn crew limped via the tip of December and into January, dropping 5 of six earlier than discovering its footing; this UConn crew spent 5 video games with out Clingan, arguably its most crucial participant, and dropped not a recreation. The Huskies are 23-2, have gained 13 in a row and rank fourth within the NET rankings. They’ve held their final 10 opponents to a mean 60 factors per recreation. All 5 starters common double figures, and so they can go a dependable eight deep.
All this when such dynasty constructing is supposed to be unattainable, when the NBA Draft and the switch portal rob groups of roster continuity, and title, picture and likeness alternatives allegedly destroy locker room concord. The Huskies have been hardly proof against the game’s passing fancies. Three of UConn’s gamers turned professional after final season, and one other transferred out. The Huskies introduced Cam Spencer from Rutgers to the crew and promptly made him their start line guard, and one participant (Clingan), who has a advertising and marketing take care of Dunkin, has profited off his NIL way over his teammates.
But listed here are the Huskies, in place to be the kings of two in a row.
Parked off to the aspect of the courtroom, an easel holds a poster board with an image of the Huge East regular-season trophy. The Huskies cart the easel all over the place they go, altering the image relying on what trophy they’re pursuing. Earlier it depicted the Empire Traditional trophy, adopted by the Seattle Tip-Off Traditional trophy. In some unspecified time in the future, the convention event trophy will make an look, adopted by the NCAA regional and so forth.
The poster, nonetheless, seems to be prefer it went via a nasty day with airport baggage handlers. It’s dented within the center. There’s even a small chunk lacking on the backside.
Hurley will let you know that he’s extra Zen, if not much less superstitious. He walks into his workplace, sidestepping a blue-and-white fleece shirt nonetheless in its packaging. It has sat on the ground in the course of the hallway for weeks as a result of the Huskies haven’t misplaced since somebody dumped it there. Hurley admits the foolishness of this whereas carrying an Echo Go+, which seems to be like a lava lamp cross-pollinated with a mini blender. Hurley presses a button on the gizmo that retails for $250 and blue lights swirl, creating alleged hydrogen-heavy water that’s stated to cut back oxidative stress, enhance intestine well being, sleep and vitality, all whereas serving to to reverse the indicators of ageing. Later Hurley sends a textual content, extolling the virtues of the sensory deprivation tank he visits for 90 minutes, and the way it’s helped along with his “psychological reset.’’
He says this largely tongue in cheek – “I’m f—— Benjamin Button,’’ he jokes as he chugs the water – however not fully. He does imagine he has discovered an internal peace and concord that has helped reduce down his on-court histrionics. Hurley has been hit with technicals this season, however has but to be ejected from a recreation. Progress.
Besides there’s the poster board. The dents, nicks and lacking chunks got here courtesy of Hurley whizzing a ball on the image when his UConn gamers didn’t apply to the requirements he deems essential to win.
Requested if Hurley is extra intense this yr, pursuing a second championship, or final yr aiming for his first, neither Clingan nor Alex Karaban permit the query to be accomplished earlier than answering. “Oh, that is means worse,’’ Karaban says. “He’s means tougher on us this yr. The depth in apply, it’s simply via the roof on daily basis.’’
It’s laborious to gauge the distinction, since a Hurley-run apply isn’t a picnic. There have by no means been scheduled water breaks and even alternatives to take a seat down. The Huskies, actually, should not permitted to bend over on the waist after they’re drained. Hurley provides up some physiological reasoning, about expanded chests bettering respiratory, however then he will get to the center of it. “Weak spot,’’ he says. “That’s only a signal of weak spot.’’ When Clingan, returning after practically a month off, begins to bend over, Gavin Roberts, the crew’s director of sports activities efficiency, rushes to his aspect. “No, no, no,’’ he says. “Don’t do this.’’
Minor infractions advantage banishment to stair runs, the punishment so indoctrinated within the Huskies that when Hurley lays into Youssouf Singare for dangerous protection, Singare simply turns and runs the steps with out even being advised. And regardless of buzzwords plastered within the apply facility declaring considered one of UConn’s tenets as “aware communication,” there’s little thoughts to how issues are communicated. Had been the Huskies to place a swear jar within the constructing, they’d seemingly not want a collective to fund their NIL.
Elsewhere there is perhaps wiggle room gifted to veteran gamers who helped you win a title a yr in the past. Right here, there’s much less tolerance for even the smallest of transgressions. Hurley pounces on Clingan for failing to cowl a shooter in transition. “I do know you’re mad at me,’’ he yells. “Don’t be mad at me for being trustworthy.’’ After a nasty entry go from Karaban, Hurley covers his eyes for a complete minute, too pained to observe as apply continues. Stephon Citadel, the consensus ninth-best freshman, is chastised for a nasty go, lazy protection, poor decision-making and shot choice. After a nasty defensive possession, affiliate head coach Kimani Younger laments, “We by no means make performs on protection. By no means. When are we going to?” The Huskies, it ought to be famous, are 18th in KenPom defensive rankings.
Lastly, because the blue crew (starters) will get smoked by the grey crew – with chip off the block/walk-on Andrew Hurley goading the starters “Whipping that ass, blue,’’– the Hurley in cost shouts, “Champions don’t do this sh–.’’ In his workplace later, Hurley sits on a settee and performs armchair psychiatrist. He thinks possibly he’s so demanding as a coach as a result of he’s attempting to make up for what he failed to attain as a participant. He additionally digs into the psychoanalysis of what profitable a title does to a person. “While you haven’t performed it, you may’t inform me you understand you are able to do it,” Hurley says. “You’ll be able to assume you may have an amazing crew, however you may’t be 1,000 p.c assured which you could coach a crew via six groups within the hardest event within the nation and win. Now for us, we all know deep down as a program, we are able to. I am going residence, I have a look at footage in my basement and you consider how nice it was. However then you definately additionally assume, ‘Man, I simply need to do it once more.’”
What’s notable is how the Huskies reply to him. Sit in sufficient school basketball practices and it turns into straightforward to learn physique language. Slumped shoulders, eyes forged to the ground and backs turned are the common indicators that the coach may nonetheless be yelling, however the accused now not hears what he’s saying.
The Huskies take Hurley’s warmth with out a lot as a grimace. They both beat him to the punch and personal the error earlier than he factors it out, or stare him useless within the eye as he delivers his withering analysis. They run up and down the steps and leap again into work. Time and again.
The Huskies don’t merely put up with Hurley’s depth; they crave it.
Karaban is down three TVs. Video video games, it ought to be famous, don’t all the time behave the best way you propose, which is very troubling in case you have an analytical thoughts that prefers order and correct response. Karaban has such a thoughts. He’s the son of a Ukrainian immigrant mom who has a doctorate from Northeastern, and a Belarussian immigrant father who works as a software program engineer. Karaban likes math and is chasing what UConn calls an ‘individualized main,’’ whereby he has mixed three majors – laptop science, sports activities administration and statistics – into one hellacious, numbers-focused pursuit.
So nerdy is Karaban – his mom made him revisit UConn as a result of she thought the primary tour didn’t have sufficient information about teachers – that Hurley fearful “his socks would flip yellow’’ when positioned in entrance of crowds of offended basketball followers. Within the first recreation of his profession, Karaban scored 13, yanked down 4 boards, and dished out three assists. His socks have been simply high quality. “It’s like he’s a superhero, or one thing,’’ Hurley marvels. “Like he has an alter ego.’’ Mentioned alter ego surfaced this summer time, when the misbehaving video video games did not do what Karaban supposed. He tried to throw the distant on the wall however his purpose isn’t nearly as good as his capturing stroke. The factor went via the TV, clocking the display so badly that it grew to become unwatchable. “Yeah, it occurred thrice,’’ Karaban says sheepishly.
After dropping to UConn earlier this month, St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino went on a traditional misdirection rant concerning the foibles of the NCAA enforcement course of, its struggles to correctly govern NIL and the unattainable roster churn that the portal presents. “You’ll be able to’t construct applications and tradition,’’ the Corridor of Fame coach concluded, echoing a chorus heard quite a bit this season as groups battle to seek out continuity.
The Huskies would love a phrase. “All of us attempt to emulate Coach’s model,’’ says Tristen Newton. “No fats ruts, that’s what he tells us. You’ll be able to’t eat and get snug. We’re all on that very same web page.’’
Did they solely get to stated web page due to Hurley’s stiff-arm? The Huskies will let you know no, that they got here to Storrs from different instructions however every in the hunt for what he delivered. Newton is a one-time unheralded recruit who had however one school supply – East Carolina – and opted to go away after his coach was fired. He appreciated UConn for its singularity of focus – he laments that the closest Chick Fil-A is half-hour away – and acknowledged that Hurley would push him out of his consolation zone. “I’m extra laid-back,’’ he says. “I wanted to be pushed.’’
Karaban’s dad and mom used to shoo him open air within the Massachusetts’ winters to play basketball. Spencer is a Hurley mini-me, who cusses himself out over errors to the purpose that the coach tells him to relax, and Clingan, a delightfully type, ego-less star, misplaced his mother at 14 and was raised by a single dad who works as a utility employee. He understands the thought of laborious work and sacrifice. “You need to be a child who desires teaching, old-school teaching, like individuals who will squeeze each absolute ounce out of a participant,” he says. “Not everyone desires that. They are saying they do, however they actually don’t.”
Hurley is neither the primary nor the one coach to key in on what works for him and recruit to that match. Jay Wright memorably pivoted his whole recruiting philosophy after a 2009 Ultimate 4 run became a dismal 13-19 season three years later. Matt Painter regrouped so fully that he now asks recruits to take character assessments to make sure that they go well with him. However it’s, to Pitino’s level, getting tougher to construct a base. The Huskies have been pretty lucky. Solely 4 gamers within the final two years have left, permitting the employees to make use of the portal to fill wants and never restock wholesale. Of the three transfers on the present roster – Newton, Spencer and Hassan Diarra (Texas A&M), solely Spencer will go to campus for one yr.
However it’s not like UConn’s street has been with out difficulty. Citadel missed six video games with a knee harm, slowing the freshman phenom’s begin. Then Clingan, who battled foot issues within the preseason, exited a recreation in opposition to Seton Corridor with an harm to the identical foot. “What was I considering?” Hurley says. “Oh, sh–.” Truthful response. Clingan might not garner the identical consideration as Zach Edey, however he’s as crucial to the Huskies as Edey is to Purdue. The 7-footer attracts pure consideration inside, creating open pictures for the wings, and is a defensive vacuum.
Clingan went again to his room feeling a lot the identical as his coach. His foot throbbed for a very good three or 4 days, each step feeling like he was strolling on a mattress of needles. He was terrified his season was over. When medical doctors stated as a substitute that he would solely want a handful of weeks to get better, the sophomore practically erupted with aid. Clingan is, by nature, a giver, and the eye he acquired because the returning key cog to a nationwide championship crew in his residence state (he’s from Bristol) didn’t all the time match snugly. “He’s essentially the most unselfish particular person I’ve ever met,” says Karaban, his roommate. “He’s all the time trying that can assist you, with rides, getting you meals, shopping for you stuff. He hates receiving stuff.” That, little doubt, added to his rush to return from the preseason harm. He admits now that he rushed his restoration, beginning again to work when he nonetheless had some lingering ache, which made him much less productive early within the season than he hoped to be.
This time, he vowed to be a extra affected person affected person. He adopted the methodical plan, whereas additionally utilizing the break to streamline his physique. He reduce out late-night snacks and exchanged sports activities drinks for water, leaning out his body. “I attempted to cheer on the bench, and never leap,’’ he says with fun. “It was an extended 4 weeks.’’
Across the nation, top-ranked groups with fewer issues misplaced dangerous video games, street video games, residence video games and shut video games. The Huskies upped Samson Johnson’s minutes and even rotated Karaban to the 5 to cowl for Clingan’s absence.
They didn’t lose a recreation.
Donovan Clingan says he rushed his return from a preseason foot harm. (G Fiume / Getty Photos)
Someplace between chastising Clingan for his transition protection and insisting that all the group will fail due to one errant go, Hurley goes to midcourt and begins heaving pictures once more. This isn’t fully out of character. Misplaced within the translation of how laborious Hurley rides his crew is how a lot enjoyable he has with them. He hops into drills, smack talks, and cuts the stress with one-line zingers that depart the gamers overlaying their mouths with their jerseys in order to not get in hassle for laughing.
To wit: He has determined sophomore Apostolos Roumoglou resembles a James Bond villain. When the terribly chatty Roumoglou protests a foul name, Hurley barks at him. “Hey, GoldenEye, recover from right here.’”
Says Clingan, “I swear typically he says humorous issues so that you chuckle after which he can yell at you for laughing.’’ He’s requested if it is a type of entrapment. “Yeah, precisely,’’ he says. “Entrapment.’’
So when, mid-rant, Hurley stops to hurl halfcourt pictures, nobody appears shocked. They only wait. Hurley swishes a shot and yells, ‘Who’s the king of two in a row?’” Not less than 4 individuals yell again, “You’re.”
The follow-up clanks off the entrance of the rim.
So shut, however not but fairly king.
(Illustration: Daniel Goldfarb / The Athletic; images: Dylan Buell, Zach Bolinger, Wealthy Graessle / Getty Photos)