UConn’s 17-8 record and fall from the AP Top 25 for the first time in 27 months has head coach Dan Hurley fired up. In a bold move, Hurley called out his bench players, making it clear that hard work, not names, earns minutes. With the team struggling to capitalize on key opportunities, can Hurley’s tough talk spark a much-needed lineup shakeup, or has the damage already been done?

In a candid post-practice interview on Monday, Hurley shared his frustration with the team’s bench production. “I don’t know that there’s anyone that’s not starting that is playing harder than the people that are playing. You hope to get more from your bench,” he said, according to a post by David Borges on X.

His words hit hard, as they came after a disappointing 68-69 overtime loss to Seton Hall, a team that broke their 9-game losing streak by beating the Huskies. Seton Hall currently sits at 7-18 and ranks 10th in the Big East, making UConn’s loss even more painful. With expectations of a routine win, the Huskies instead found themselves exposed—particularly their struggling bench.

UConn’s bench, which ranks a dismissive 162nd in the country for points scored, currently averages just 21.36 points per game. This was specifically highlighted in their recent loss to Seton Hall, where they managed only 15 points, and in their victory over Creighton, the bench barely contributed four of the team’s 70 points.

When the starters, such as Alex Karaban and Solo Ball, are leading the charge, the bench’s inability to produce has become a pressing concern. Against Seton Hall, only one player from the bench, Hassan Diarra, managed an acceptable performance, scoring 12 points in 29 minutes of play—making him the third-highest scorer for the Huskies, in that game.

And well, veteran Diarra’s showing was an outlier, as he shot 2-5 from the field and made all eight of his free throws despite battling an ankle injury. In contrast, Jayden Ross Jr. and Tarris Reed Jr. failed to make any meaningful contributions. Ross, who played just 4 minutes against Creighton, couldn’t attempt a shot, while Reed, who logged 15 minutes, picked up 4 personal fouls, 1 turnover, and 0 points from 2 of his field goal attempts. This pattern of lackluster performance continued in their game against Seton Hall, where he scored just 3 points in 9 minutes.

But is it just the bench or does this underperformance have to do with something related to Hurley’s lineup?

Is it hypocrisy or the truth? Hurley’s tough talk on UConn’s struggling lineup

Well, maybe the right players on the bench aren’t getting enough minutes or shots—at least that’s what it looks like now. It might just be time for Hurley to shake things up with the lineup and rotations. Take Aidan Mahaney. For example, he logged 17 minutes against Seton Hall and managed just four points. Shouldn’t his minutes be given to someone else?

And let’s not sugarcoat it—the starters haven’t been all that great either. Alex Karaban was the standout with 20 points on 7-14 shooting, but Solo Ball and Liam McNeeley? Not so much, combining for a rough 9-27 from the field. As for Samson Johnson and Jaylin Stewart, their recent performances have been a case of just horrible. With just 14 points between them in the past two games, despite clocking in an average of 47 minutes (average of both of their minutes) in the past 2 games, it’s hard to justify their continued heavy minutes.

While it’s easy to point fingers at the underperforming players, Hurley’s public comments suggest a deeper issue—one that needs to be addressed before they face St John again on the 23rd.

The bench players need to find consistency, and if they don’t, the Huskies’ chances of contending for a higher seed in the Big East tournament will continue to dwindle. Hurley, ever the coach, has made it clear: hard work and performance will dictate playing time. The message is simple—if you’re not producing, don’t expect to see the court. As UConn looks to rebound from the Seton Hall loss, it’s clear that a change is needed if they are to remain contenders in the Big East hustle.