[ad_1]
This is one of the obvious reasons why the University of Connecticut did everything in its power to get Dan Hurley to be his coach.
UConn 83, No. 15 Syracuse 76. In the garden.
Thursday night, a familiar stage – the MSG – and a return rivalry from the old Big East were organized to make its national debut for Hurley and the Huskies. What Connecticut has been able to do should make UConn fans crave after what they've seen happen to their beloved Huskies, one of the five most popular programs in the world. America, has disintegrated in the previous two years.
Last season, the Huskies coached by Kevin Ollie became a ghost program of what UConn was supposed to be, from what he was. Connecticut finished 14-18, entering its worst season in three decades, and broke ground just four weeks after winning a shocking national title with Ollie in its second season.
Melodrama and domestic turmoil were bubbling at UConn. Ollie, a former Jim Calhoun era, was forced to leave in March. He always tries to get his millions of dollars from school to ask if his removal was justified. (A recent survey of the NCAA filed important charges against Ollie.)
UConn, a public school in a state with huge budget problems, has been tough on the best candidate. He continued Hurley. Pitt too. And of course, his employer of the time, Rhode Island.
But UConn won. In fact, he won despite a lower bid than Pitt. He won because it was UConn, a sleeping powerhouse integrated into the beloved pocket of the northeastern Hurley country, where he spent his entire life. And very quickly, he builds hype and releases optimism at a rate that even the most confident UConn fans could not have anticipated.
Syracuse, number 15, was UConn's first win over a ranked team for years. Indeed, UConn had not beaten a team ranked outside since his home since March 2014.
Hurley learned to keep his worst habits of fury out of the arena for the most part, but he still brings a deep passion to his craft. Find out how much it meant for Hurley and her star goalie, Jalen Adams. The transition from the chest to the handshake is incredible.
This is the kind of real interaction (in addition to the actual game outcome) that will allow Hurley to gain immediate goodwill in the program and throughout the state of the nutmeg.
UConn did not just beat Syracuse, he won with flash. He won with deep shooting. Maybe it was just an aberrant hot night, but so what? Many guys dressed in white on the field Thursday night were also playing for UConn last season.
And they never looked like that.
Hurley already has something moving. Take the example of Eric Cobb. The 6-foot-9 senior striker lost 40 pounds this season and is committed to playing an important role in this team. Against a team of size and length, Cobb made the best match of his career, recording personal highs of 13 points and 13 rebounds.
Syracuse was undoubtedly embarrassed without his lead, Frank Howard, who has been absent since September with a leg injury. But Howard alone would not prevent UConn from releasing his arsenal from top to bottom. The Huskies scored 12 points to 3 and made 57% of their attempts beyond the bow. They got up and down with vigor.
They seemed to have fun while they were playing hard and fighting against a Cuse team that certainly had more talent.
Rainbow-Swish 3 of Alterique Gilbert towards the end of the second half hailed the victory of Connecticut. For Gilbert, it must have been incredible. The former five-star rookie has missed most of the past two seasons due to shoulder injuries. Against Syracuse, he had 16 points, eight assists, six rebounds and two robberies.
Tip to finish, he was the best player that UConn put on the ground Thursday night. Syracuse managed to keep in touch. Rookie Jalen Carey scored 26 goals in a lost effort. The two best SU players, Oshae Brissett and Tyus Battle, were not their own personalities.
But Syracuse should finally be OK. Once Howard is back, this team will have the makeup of a top 25 club. It should also be noted that the debilitating and sudden snow storm in New York forced Syracuse's drive from his hotel to nearly 90 minutes; the Orange were in the arena only after 18h
For UConn, it's good to have a reason to hope again. True hope. That's what this win can be, what it embodies. A convincing victory over a rival – and an undefeated start to the year. Thursday night, we witnessed the accelerated modification of an edgy program just a few months ago. Hurley already has his hooks. Its signature intensity seems contagious.
We can not say for sure that UConn is back – it's too early for that – but the Huskies are definitely barking.
[ad_2]
Source link
