So… we get it. The defending champs haven’t exactly been living up to the expectations. But UConn’s seeding could go way up with a strong finish to the regular season. What if they flame out? Yeah, that could mean a serious drop. And while it’s unlikely, there’s even a scenario where they miss the tourney (let’s not go there, though!). Right now, after winning over Georgetown, they sit at 19-9 overall and 11-6 in the Big East. Things haven’t quite clicked. And Dan Hurley knows exactly where they stand.

“The fact that we’re still kind of as a staff grinding rotation questions and should we make an adjustment, you know, I think that kind of speaks to the position that we’re in,” Hurley admitted. Simply put, UConn is still figuring itself out.

Hurley is in an unusual spot, still tweaking lineups and playing time while trying to find that magic formula this late in the season. One night, Jaylin Stewart gets 20 minutes; the next, he barely sees the floor. Aidan Mahaney started the season running the point, but now? He’s the ninth guy in the rotation. 

Meanwhile, Ahmad Nowell, a freshman, has worked his way back into the mix. In Sunday’s loss to St. John’s, it was Nowell—not Mahaney—who was first off the bench. 

Then there’s the Tarris Reed Jr. situation. He suddenly started the second half over Samson Johnson. Is it just a trial? A permanent switch? Hurley’s still tinkering, and that says a lot.

One player who probably hasn’t gotten a fair shot is Sophomore forward Jayden Ross. He was an early part of the rotation, even dropping a career-high 14 points in the season opener. But by the next game, Jaylin Stewart had taken his spot. 

So, from what we can see, the Huskies have been good at times, but they’ve also struggled. Relying on younger players comes with growing pains. Now, as they face Providence today, Hurley thinks, “It’s always a tough place to go.” No lies detected. It is indeed a tough road game, especially considering these New England teams’ storied rivalry.

UConn-Providence is the Big East’s longest-running matchup, but is it a real rivalry in current times? PC fans say yes. UConn fans? Not so much. To them, Providence is just an occasional nuisance on the road to bigger things. Still, history says otherwise. From Eric Murdock allegedly spitting at Tate George (over a girl!) to Marvin Saddler punching Rod Sellers, the tension has always been there.

So, rivalry or not, when these two teams meet, you know it’s going to be intense.

About the consistency woes, UConn’s got time to straighten things out, but they’re down a key piece. Freshman Thomas Sorber is out for the season, and that’s a hit. On the bright side, Hassan Diarra’s health is improving.

Moreover, coach Hurley knows he needs something extra to unlock this team’s potential. So, he’s decided to loosen the reins. 

Dan Hurley demands respect, UConn must attack the rim to prove it

Instead of a strict system, Dan Hurley wants his team to play more freely and make off-script plays. It worked against Georgetown, and he’s hoping it’ll work against Providence and beyond.

Look, we know for a fact that UConn just isn’t as bulletproof as they were the last couple of years. Back then, Hurley could count on his system to generate points no matter who they were facing. Not this time. 

After Wednesday’s win over Georgetown, he was brutally honest. “People aren’t respecting us right now outside the system.” That’s a problem. And the only way to fix it? Get aggressive. UConn has to attack the rim more and force opponents to take them seriously.

Hurley even admitted that the team had become “robotic and too reliant” on the system. “Now we are trying to loosen the reins and go attack and create more,” he said. He realizes that this is not something they had to do the last couple of years but it seems to be working for this crew. 

And honestly, UConn has the players to do just that. Solo Ball has evolved beyond being just a 3-point shooter. Liam McNeeley is versatile and confident. Alex Karaban has had some struggles, but he’s shown he can create on the perimeter and in the lane. The talent is there. Now, it’s about execution.

Hurley believes in this group. “They have it in their capability to do it,” he said. So, can the Huskies figure it out in time? Here’s to hoping they end their final three games with some W’s.