"Samson Johnson's got a lot of those attributes": UConn's Dan Hurley hoping to utilize "unique center" in the same manner as Oso Ighodaro at Marquette
UConn coach Dan Hurley has high expectations for senior center Samson Johnson in the upcoming season. He hopes the 6-foot-10 to be the answer to the Huskies' three peat dream.
Hurley believes Johnson has a lot of similarities with former Golden Eagles star Oso Ighodaro. He is a fan of how Marquette utilized Ighodaro and wants to apply the same principles to Johnson's game.
"We had (Samson) watch a lot of Ighodaro,” Hurley said. “I loved the way Marquette deployed him and the way that they used him … (Samson's) got a lot of those attributes," Coach Hurley said after UConn's training on Friday.
"He's watched a lot of film on him. He innately does a lot of things Ighodaro does. We asked him to look at that a lot. We're trying to implement some of that."
Ighodaro, who played the last four years at Marquette, declared for the NBA draft this year and was picked by the Portland Trail Blazers. Immediately after, he got traded to the Phoenix Suns. He averaged 13.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists in his final high school season.
Dan Hurley also hailed Johnson's ability to play in a different position and his physical attributes.
"He's unique. He kind of came into school as a stretch without a consistent 3-point shot. He's had to reshape himself and develop a different identity.
"He's taken a lot of steps in his career here and I thought last year was a big confidence builder. He's physically strong. He's got confidence. We're going to use him differently. He's a unique center. We're right now building a system for him to play in." Hurley said
Dan Hurley wants more intensity from his players in training
UConn men's basketball team, the defending national champion commenced their practice sessions for the upcoming season on Friday.
While the first day of practice would usually be less intense, Dan Hurley desired to see more energy and aimed to push his players much harder this time as they eye a three-peat.
"If you don't practice at a certain intensity level," Hurley said after two hours of practice at the Werth Family Champions Center, "practices aren't going to help you on game night, when there's a lot of pressure and stress."
"Today was not Day One for us, we've been doing it since June," he added.
Dan Hurley's UConn won the back-to-back NCAA championship for the first time since Florida did it in 2006-07. And their goal this season is to make history by accomplishing a three-peat.