UConn Basketball HC Dan Hurley talks St. John's postgame
UConn Basketball Head Coach Dan Hurley met with the media following the Huskies 72-40 win over St. John’s on Wednesday night inside of the PeoplesBank Arena.
UConn Basketball HC Dan Hurley Transcript
What is that, man? Is that security? What? Yeah, uh, just, you know, obviously one of our better performances of the year. You know, outside of MISSIT, a lot of, you know, a lot of good looks at three. Um, you know, there’s not a whole lot for me to complain about.
Just with the performance, I think just a lot of soul searching by the group. During that stretch that started at MSG where our defense kind of tanked. And then, you know, I think you saw today its capabilities when we’re dialed in.
But I just think that today, you know, obviously it’s about Alex Carabin’s career. 27 straight now in this building for us. It’s obviously about Alex Carabin’s career.
Obviously playing his last game here. You know, it was about our perimeter guys being better on defense. It was about the bench, I think, in the first half, like helping us extend the lead.
We went to the bench the first time we played at MSG up 16-10. You know, we lost the lead 17-6. We were 7-0 run the wrong way quick.
So our bench, I thought, made a difference, brought a lot of energy, especially in the first half. But to me, the game was about just Tyrus Reid and what he’s capable of. And when he, his last two games, if that’s what he’s decided to give us, you know, but why do most people change in life? Because of pain.
You know, pain forces people to change. And I think the pain of that Creighton game, the pain of that St. John’s game at MSG has lit something with that guy. Today’s performance was as good as a center has played for us in a game.
I mean, we played better. They played worse. I mean, we screwed up less things.
We switched more things, you know, and did a good job of like, you know, keeping the ball from getting all the way to the front of the rim. You know, we felt like in the first game, like we gifted them, you know, so many points in the game on pick sixes, stealing our ball, going and laying it in, stealing a reverse pass, going and laying it in, not being able to rebound a free throw. You know, like we did all those things in the first game.
It was just like, it was like a bad, it was bad charity. You know, it was like, just the first time we played him, we did so many things. It was like, you know, bad charity, right? It’s like people that take money and then don’t use the money for people they’re supposed to give it to.
We did that shit the first time. We didn’t do it this time. We had five turnovers.
Really, it was 20 assists, four turnovers because we took the shot clock violation. So once we cleaned that up and, you know, just kind of ran our stuff, we had good movement. We had good inside out.
And like I said, we had, I think, a bunch of good looks at three that we didn’t make. Yeah, I mean, you play at home. I mean, you know, we had a crowd today.
That’s what it should sound like. And it was like that versus Creighton. You know, we didn’t perform well, but, you know, they were just ready to go.
That young lady crushed the anthem, got the people ready. The crowd was awesome. And then Taris got us off to such a fast start there.
But I thought, you know, Silas has got a lot of weapons. This team is about balance. And, you know, Silas did the right thing today.
He took five shots. He got on the glass. He took care of the ball.
He found his teammates. You know, like he like quarterbacked the team today. Is that security? Yeah, I mean, yeah.
Yeah, I mean, listen, they’ve been playing so well. The streak that they were on. I don’t know if they’ve seen a lot all in a row or something.
You know, a lot of good looks in a row coming in. So, you know, it was just our night. You know, I think they obviously just started snowballing.
Just a lot of soul searching by the group. Obviously, we played really good defense. During that stretch that started at MSG, our defense kind of tanked.
And, you know, we demoralized them a little bit. You know, the score gets where the score got. And, you know, I just think it was one of those nights where everything went great for us and everything went wrong for them.
But we did a lot to make that happen. You know, and obviously we expect, you know, to see them potentially better on defense. It was about the bench, I think, in the first half, like helping us extend the lead.
We went to the bench the first time we played there. MSG up 16-10. You know, we lost the lead 17-6.
But I do want to move that. So our benching made a difference, brought a lot of energy. But to me, the game was about just Tyrus Reid and playing what he’s capable of.
His last two games, that’s what he’s decided to give us. I’d like to move it to the Prudential Center. Why do most people change in life? Because of pain? You know, pain forces people to change.
I think the pain of that Creighton game, the pain of that St. John’s game, MSG has lit something with that guy. Today’s performance was as good as it’s ever played for us in a game. But the Big East Women’s Tournament’s at Mohegan Sun.
I’m just kidding. Dan, it’s not unusual after defensive rebounds to see you kind of waving the guys up the floor to go if you have the chance to go. But how much more important was that in a game like this? Because the more you go, the less their pressure can start to bother you, you know, 80, 90 feet.
Yeah, I mean, listen, I coached Don and did a good job. Seeing where they were in our conference, you know, keeping the ball from getting all the way to the front of the rim. You know, we felt like in the first game when we did the things that made his team last year so many points in the Big East team, the physicality, the rebounding, the defense.
I mean, they punished you. You know, we did all those things in the first game. The physicality, the downhill paint.
I mean, they had charity. You know, we knew we had to get stops to avoid having to inbound the ball against the pressure and just to try to, you know, play ahead of their defense. Don’t use the money for people that are supposed to give it to you.
We’re doing a better job, I think, of getting out in transition. We didn’t do it this time because our defense was kind of really, it was 26-4 turnovers since we took the shot clock violation. Dan, you talked about things that you switched, not only from the last time you played St. John’s, but the Creighton loss as well.
I’m curious if you’ve also noticed a change in the mentality of this team, whether it’s approach, whether it’s getting game, and what maybe could have sparked that. Tarras Ree. I mean, this season’s going to go the way Tarras goes.
Yeah, I mean, you play at home. That’s a repeatable performance for him. He wasn’t flipping in.
I mean, he had one spinning shot. And it was like that for the most part. The guy’s ball screen defense was off the charts.
You know, we didn’t perform well, but his ability to play two and be a big body in the paint when they were getting across the paint, you know, his presence on the glass, his ability just to have a guy when people pressure on the perimeter to throw it into. I mean, you know, Silas has got a lot of work. His team is about balance.
You know, Silas, if he repeats that, you know, he took five shots. He got on the glass. He took care of the ball.
He found his teammates. And it’s repeatable what he was doing. He wasn’t hitting like fadeaway, dream shake shots.
I mean, he was just the guy. It was a presence at the rim of a deterrent. And his ball screen defense and his rebounding and his post position and his passing out of traps.
Listen, they’ve been playing so well. If he does that, the streak that they were on when they came to this team was a rest of the way. 13 in a row coming in.
Kind of similar, but. You know, it was just our night. You know, I think they obviously.
It just starts snowballing on you when you have a night like this. The league is always tough for us on them. You know, it’s a tough conference.
I mean, these coaches know us well. The games are real physical. A little bit.
You know, you look at our history the last four years. We tend to play better versus none. You eliminate Maui.
Everything went great for us. And you look at what we’ve done the last four years in a conference. I mean, we did what we did in 23.
We did what we did in 24. Exclude Maui from last year, although you’re really not allowed to do that. But let’s just say we are for now.
You know, we play Florida pretty well. You know, a team that wins a national championship. We have multiple chances to win that second round game.
We did what we did this year in a non-conference. I just think the Big East is tough. You know, it’s tough.
It’s a grind. It’s physical. The people know us well.
They know how we play offense. We’re a better non-conference team and a tournament team than we are a Big East team. Hey, Coach.
It seems that since the halftime game at Villanova, at halftime of Villanova, this team has just completely switched. What did you say? I need to know what you said at halftime that has changed this team so much. That’s just a crock of a lot.
You know, it’s like it’s not. Adjustments from coaches are like way, way overrated. I think you have a plan A. You got a plan B. You got a plan C. You try all of it.
Really what it comes down to is how the players show up for you. The type of men you have. The type of team you have.
And how they perform in spots like at halftime in the Villanova game. You know, you lose that game. You’re on a two-game losing streak.
The more you go, the less that pressure can start to bother you. Teams have to decide at that point how they want their season to go. I just think those men in that locker room have decided at halftime that they want to fight.
We’ve got three chances to win championships this year, and they wanted to keep alive our chances of winning. One of them, which is the regular season in the Bayleys tournament, and obviously in the final fours and things like that. How do you keep that fire lit under Terrace? I mean, obviously the Villanova game, he was coming off a couple of bad performances.
You kind of challenged him. Tonight it’s St. John’s, big crowds, Zuby, all that. How do you keep him inspired the rest of the way? Do you feel like you have to fight that fire or do you think he can do it on his own? To avoid having to inbound the ball against the pressure and just to try to play ahead of their defense.
I mean, everyone knows. We’re doing a better job, I think, of getting that transition. I mean, everyone knows.
When he plays like this, this is what we look like. This is a team that looks like it’s as good as any team. So we all know that.
He’s at the end of his career. I’m curious if you’ve also noticed a change in the mentality of this team. He’s got to do it.
The place that he left Michigan is having a monster year. He transferred to UConn. If he plays up to his ability, we could play at the level of a place that he played at before.
For the most part, when he plays like this, if he wants to be a draft pick, if he wants to win championships, he’ll keep showing up like that. If he doesn’t, it hurts our chance. We’re letting each other down.
We always needed Tarras to play like an All-American for this to work. He certainly did today, and he did versus Nova. I hate to put it all on one player, but I think it’s all like when we get that Tarras, and again, that’s a repeatable thing.
Nothing’s repeatable. That was lucky or hard shots. He just played with an identity tonight.
That was dominant. Dan, what was different about your defense today in the last couple games? It just brought you to another level. Tarras, if he does that.
I mean, it’s others. Solo was better tonight. Braylon held up.
We had less mistakes scouting-wise. Going under on non-shooters, getting over screens on shooters. We made less mistakes in terms of the prep work that Mike, Luke, and Kamani do in terms of the effort with scouting.
But listen, Silas is a dog on defense. I mean, Silas is a ball hawk. You look at our history in the last four years, we tend to play better versus ground.
But really, I mean, it’s like Tarras is rare. I mean, his ability to get out and hedge ball screens, recover, get back to the role. We did what we did in 23.
We did what we did in 24. Guard two as the ball is being driven in the paint from a cover back to his. I mean, the guy’s a freak.
And when he plays like that, we’re doing it pretty well. Did you have more switches as well? We did switch more things. There’s obviously players that are reluctant three-point shooters.
So when we switch a smaller player to a Mitchell or to a Hopkins, and they’ve got a line-up of Mitchell or Hopkins, and Zuby on the court, you’re able to kind of sink into the paint because there may be at times for them two three-point shooters out of the five. So I just thought we did a much better job of taking away the paint on screens the first time that we didn’t switch and they scored on. Dan, it’s now been three full seasons without a loss in this building.
Is that streak something you guys take pride in? Have you even talked about how you did today? How are you so superstitious today? All I cared about today was just getting a right on the wickets. The type of men you have, the type of team you have. But, yeah, it’s great to close out Alex’s career like that.
You know what I mean? Yeah, you know, like the first couple years when you’re going to have good crowds, I didn’t like coming in here. I didn’t like losing streak when St. John’s coming to you. You know, because you get 9,000 in this place, it was pretty empty.
But, you know, now I just think those men in that locker room decided halftime is awesome. When you get close to 60, we’ve got three chances to win championships this year. And we want to keep alive our chances of winning one of them, which is the regular season.
And then obviously you’ve got Final Fours and things like that. How do you keep that fire lit under terrorists? I mean, obviously the Villanova game, he was coming off a couple of bad performances. You kind of challenged him.
Tonight it’s, you know, St. John’s, big crowds, Zuby, all that. How do you keep him inspired the rest of the way? Do you feel like you have to fight that fire to make him do it on his own? We’ve played well like this at other times too. Like we beat Illinois.
Everyone knows. I guess one of the top teams by double-figure points. Just everyone knows.
I mean, everyone knows. When he plays like this, you know, like we beat BYU, when they average, you saw them do. They had like as good as any team.
So, you know, we all know that. I mean, he’s at the end of his career. We’ve had other wins.
This wasn’t our first good one.
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