“We were dreadful”: Dan Hurley admits discontent over UConn’s latest practice session
Dan Hurley expects nothing less than perfection from his team as they prepare for the 2024-25 season. Every practice session is crucial, and the Huskies' recent practice left their head coach disappointed.
Appearing on The Field of 68's Top Dogs podcast alongside Rob Dauster, Hurley admitted that the Huskies' latest practice session frustrated him, acknowledging that significant improvement is needed before the season starts.
"We were dreadful yesterday. So, my mind has drifted there of, recently," said Hurley.
"Yesterday, we were just so far from where we need to be, and it was incredibly frustrating. And, the thing with me is, you always know where you stand with me," he added.
"I also think it's a good thing because, I think the worst thing for people, a lot of times, is uncertainty. And I think with me, it's always pretty certain how I feel about something," the 51-year-old concluded.
Dan Hurley previously raised concerns following handsome exhibition victory
On October 14, the Huskies recorded a massive 102-75 victory over Dan Hurley's former team, the Rhode Island Rams at Storrs. Solo Ball and Aiden Mahaney starred for the reigning national champions with 18 and 17 points respectively, while lone returner Alex Karaban also chipped in with a solid 13 points.
While the team looked sharp on offense, Hurley expressed concerns about their rebounding performance, which he spoke about in the post-match press conference.
"We knew we'd come in and do well, particularly offensively. But, some of the things are concerning about the team. The rebounding. I guess, fouling has also become a thing. But, we'll clean that up," he said.
"I, for the most part, liked what we looked like, with the exception of rebounding, which was not typical of who we are, and we will not look like that moving forward, I promise you that," he declared.
Until mid-October, the Huskies were outright preseason favorites, leading the AP Top 25 men's college basketball poll. However, they fell two spots in the poll's latest update on October 14, with the Kansas Jayhawks and Alabama Crimson Tide leapfrogging them to first and second, respectively.
Hurley will hope that the Huskies show some improvement in the week that remains before the start of the upcoming season. The Huskies will begin their pursuit of a rare 'threepeat' with a home game against the Sacred Heart Pioneers on November 6.