Dan Hurley arrived at UConn in 2018, and in four years, he built such a deeply ingrained winning culture in the Huskies that they’re trying to three-peat this year. Bear in mind that only Alex Karaban is returning from last year’s team, and this season’s roster is largely composed of freshmen. The pressure is on, as Hurley blowing his head off after UConn’s loss to Memphis proved. But amid the tension, another coach has reached out in support of the Huskies head hog.

Reporter Joe Arruda took to X to share a conversation with Tom Izzo, Michigan State’s head coach since 1995. Arruda surprised that the two didn’t run into each other at the Maui Invitational, received a positive response from Izzo about Hurley. “I would say in this profession sometimes there’s phony people,” Izzo said, per the reporter. “Danny’s not one of ’em. What you see is what you get, and I appreciate that.”

In another post, Arruda writes about the 2000 NCAA champion’s comments, “When Danny first went (to the Final Four) – I’ve known Danny and I’ve known his dad – but I called him because I know what it’s like to go to a Final Four for the first time and we became friends through that. I’m still in a position where I want to help…”

Hurley’s first Final Four appearance was the same year he won the tournament for the first time with UConn and repeated the feat in 2023. And while it might be a stretch to say that the Huskies coach will match or break John Wooden’s streak of 7 championships, with Dan Hurley, you never know.

Son of former high school coach Bob Hurley, Dan’s fierceness and hunger for winning comes from his dad. Although Hurley Sr. never coached college ball, his success at St. Anthony High in Jersey City with eight consecutive State Championships (1983-91) precedes him. No wonder Tom Izzo knows him and respects him.

Now the question is, can his son script history the same way?

Dan Hurley knows what needs to “be better” for the Huskies “monster” to roar again

Reflecting on the meltdown he had on the sidelines in Maui, Dan Hurley is not overly concerned with ‘improving’ his behavior the next time he thinks a ref has made the wrong call. After snapping the three-game losing streak against Maryland Eastern Shore with a massive 54-point advantage, Hurley is ready to make December better than the disaster of November.

Naming coaching, point guard play, center play, and shooting, the Huskies head told the media, “There’s a lot of things that could be better. But I think we’ll get that squared away. We’ve created a monster here that we’re not playing up to right now. But I do think that the potential for us to get there … it’s just going to take us a little bit more time.”

Time is warranted with a mostly fresh crop of players, unseasoned in the NCAA’s ways. The only veteran, Alex Karaban, was out of the last game due to a head injury incurred in Maui. But fortunately, the scans came back clean so the Huskies’ scoring machine could be seen on the court soon. Giving some much-needed depth to the roster, Karaban’s experience combined with Hurley’s strategies could make for a great comeback next March!