Dan Hurley or Geno Auriemma, Which Coach Can Save UConn Basketball This NCAA Season?

Both the UConn men’s and women’s team are going strong this season. And fans couldn’t have been happier. But a strong conflict that arises in their mind is which coach and team are better when compared.

The solution to this problem is as interesting as the question, and going ahead with the analysis will reveal a lot of cracks apart from the resilience of both the teams.

Dan Hurley’s Analysis

The University of Connecticut Huskies men’s basketball team did the unthinkable last NCAA season. They bagged the national glory by defeating the San Diego State by a 76-59 margin in the Finals of the NCAA tournament. This stunned all fans and behind their exemplary performance was a coach they could fall back on if they made mistakes. Their head coach Dan Hurley was applauded for his brilliant player management and the incredible spirit he had instilled in his players.

This season the UConn are placed at the fifth position in the AP Polls and have a 10-2 record. However, it is their position in the Big East that has caused much anxiety among their fans. The UConn is a different team when playing the nonconference games and a completely different unit when they play teams in the Big East. They were trumped by the Seton Hall Pirates on Wednesday night by a 75-60 margin. The Huskies have a 27-1 record in the nonconference games over the last two seasons albeit in the Big East they now have a 13-8 record. 

Hurley too accepted that the Big East “are a different animal and different from NCAA Tournament.” The 50-year-old pointed out that they would have to “adjust to these games” since the Big East games are “more physical.” Their leading scorer Tristen Newton who dominates straight in four departments in his team stat stated that they would have to “got to be tougher, more physical, get more rebounds,” as per Hatford Courant. 

One of the major problems plaguing the Huskies this season has been overreliance on one player Newton. While he has smashed 16.2 points per game, the next player is their guard Cam Spencer with 14.8 points per contest. Whereas in the rebounds he has been assisted by their center Donovan Clingan. Clingan has nabbed 6.3 rebounds per match. 

The team thus lacks both in rebounds and assists. Since Newton leads the assists tally the next player in line is Spencer with 3.6 assists per outing. Therefore, if Hurley wants to make a mark in the Big East this season, he will have to make his team adjust to the situation apart from improving their scoring rate and rebounding skills.

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A surprising fact is that the Huskies have struggled in winning the Big East as much as they had to work hard in clinching the national title. Both the rounds have been won by the Huskies only five times since 1999. Last season too, the Dan Hurley team lost to unranked Providence in the Big East. Thus, the Huskies will have to improve their Big East record.

Geno Auriemma’s Formula

On the other hand, the UConn women are placed at the 17th position in the AP Polls for women’s basketball. They have a 9-3 tally and occupy the numero uno position in the Big East. Thus in spite of lacking in the AP rankings, they have somewhat covered it up with their Big East performance.

They have lost three games against the NC State Wolfpack, the Texas Longhorns and the UCLA Bruins. The problem with the women’s team is also quite similar. They have been relying on their guard Paige Bueckers a lot. Fortunately they did recover from the issue and posted a five-game winning streak.

Their forward Aaliyah Edwards has come quite handy in their pursuit and has stepped up for her team at the right time. The Geno Auriemma-coached team does look to be a force to reckon with but has had a bumpy ride this season. Much similar to last season, this season too they lost one of their biggest stars Azzi Fudd to a knee injury. Though Edwards has amped up her name, it will be interesting to see if she is able to perform consistently even against tough opponents. As for Fudd seems to be irreplaceable. 

Going by the stats, Edwards is more of a defensive player who has switched her role seamlessly to display her offensive skills. She leads her team in rebounds grabbing 8.2 per contest. While their guard Nika Muhl leads the team average in terms of assists with 4.9 per match, it will be a delight to see their third and fourth player stepping up when the opportunity arises.

Hurley or Auriemma?

Going by the current performances, the UConn men seem to have an upper hand because they are ranked better and also have a better tally. If the Hurley team can also give their best in the Big East then they will be more or less an invincible team who can be top contenders for the national title this season.

Whereas taking cognizance of the UConn women’s team, they have adjusted quite well in Fudd’s absence. But the main question looming over them is if they can emerge triumphant when the heat increases. They have managed well till now but will find it difficult to repeat their heroics against top-ranked team. 

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Thus Hurley stands a better chance than Auriemma in advancing to the knockouts of the tournament.