Rumors of Dan Hurley’s Huskies squad have been greatly exaggerated. Or so UConn would like us to believe with their latest three straight wins, two of them achieved without star player Alex Karaban. Hurley will be hoping to continue that momentum to overcome the disaster that was Maui and three consecutive losses. But not so fast, says a UConn insider.

On the Locked on UConn podcast, host Mark Zanetto discusses numbers. The Huskies have been doing well offensively and are ranked third, but defense is where they’re really lacking at the moment. “Defense we’re starting to resemble more of Alabama than a Dan Hurley coached team. We’re 92nd in terms of defensive efficiency right now,” Zanetto reveals.

“It was way higher than that so it’s coming down a little bit, so we’re gonna get into some better numbers. Does not help that we’re playing Gonzaga, who is number two offensively in efficiency rating but is also ranked in the twenties in terms of defense.” Coming into 2024-25, the Huskies had a 141-58 record over the past six seasons under Hurley, and the number of the losses side has gone up by three from Maui.

But Gonzaga or not, Hurley will do anything to finish his three-peat, even if it means whipping this mostly new squad into shape. Zanetto then asks, “So, what does it all matter when you jump the ball up, who kinda puts the ball in the hole and who doesn’t? This is the predictive nature of how Gonzaga comes out and really dominates UConn, not because UConn isn’t trying or they’re not doing what they’re supposed to do because their defense has been pretty terrible.”

Even the coach himself said something along the same lines last week even after UConn won against Maryland Eastern Shore. Declaring their defense a “disaster,” Hurley also pointed out problems in rebounding and overall performance as compared to the past.

But the point is, he also sees potential in the current team, which will be more than enough for the Dec. 14 game against the Zags at Madison Square Garden. The Huskies are currently averaging 84.2 points per game and allowing 64.3 in addition to grabbing 37.5 rebounds per game. On the other hand, Gonzaga is averaging 90.2 points, allowing 68.8 points, and collecting 41.3 rebounds per game so far this season. Hence, it is indeed going to be a neck-to-neck competition.

And for the critics, Hurley has a message.

Dan Hurley on UConn Huskies’ “championship DNA”

The back-to-back reigning National champion coach is on a quest to do what has not been done since John Wooden was still coaching. The last team to win back-to-back championships was Florida in 2006-07 and three were last seen in the ’70s. Can Dan Hurley break the taboo and actually win thrice? He certainly believes it and has some choice words for those critiquing his team after Maui.

“Maybe the people with the shovels and the dirt, maybe they were too quick to grab the shovel and throw the dirt on us,” Hurley said after winning against Texas.

“Maybe, we’ll see … Everything that happened on the Hawaii trip was jarring for the program but the response since we’ve returned to the mainland speaks to the culture and the championship DNA.”

The wins against Baylor, MD Eastern, and Texas were big in proving exactly why Connecticut is blue-blooded. There was something in the air in late November in Hawaii but back home once again has rejuvenated Hurley and Co. Even Alex Karaban is back from his mild head concussion and the coach knows exactly where Gonzaga can poke holes in his defense. Time to level it up!