Much different environment back then pre NIL and pre liberal transfer rules. The recipe for success is now focused on having NIL support and the coaching ability to meld significant new pieces each year. No more program building based solely on 3-4 years of player development. It can happen much faster. Hurley always seems to be on the edge intensity wise but has done an excellent job at UConn.
People were making that argument well before NIL and instant transfers.
Good run for Illinois. Team with some real flaws and they had a great season. Elite 8. Def represented for the big ten.
Hurley was sitting on an elite Rhode Island team returning and we put out an embarrassing offer at the time.
Not to mention, Hurley experienced our second rate facilities as an assistant under Bannon.
Even if that is true (and I dispute this characterization but whatever), so what?
I have serious doubts that Hurley would have been able to deal with all the challenges around Rutgers without melting down.
That’s what im talking about. They were a no doubter that next year. Hobbs didn’t want to pay because he “hasn’t done it yet” everyone in their right mind could see it was coming. You can’t get someone to leave a situation they have all the leverage in to come to Rutgers.
The “no doubter” was only 25-10 and 13-5 in the Atlantic 10. They tied for 3rd in the regular season. They likely would not have gotten an at large bid if they hadn’t won the A10 tourney.
Doesn’t seem like a response. Why did you call that decent Rhode Island team “elite”?
Because they won they were one of the hottest teams going into that year in an era of elite mid major a10 era.
You seem like the guy that still whines about the cute girl that turned you down for the prom.
Elite mid major come on. They were a good team. Not great. Definitely not elite. This is just a fantasy.
No he hadn’t. He was 30-38 in the A10 at that point and had not made the tournament.
None of this is a smear campaign dude. He didn’t do anything impressive really until last season. Hell, you yourself were apparently unimpressed enough with his work at UConn up until January 2023 that you labeled Rutgers the best program in the East. Seems weird since you were always so certain Hurley was the best coach in the whole wide world.
Is there any reason why RU didn’t run Spencer off of screens?
Why didn’t Rutgers hire Nate Oats? Huge miss imo. ****ing Hobbs…
No that was obviously a completely 100% serious post, not sarcastic at all.
I just explained above how I could see how Hurley was not the right guy for Rutgers.
Recruiting, coaching with a talent advantage, and coaching without a talent advantage are three different skills.
Guy took over a 7 win team and you wanna talk about his conference record rather than the fact he tied 2 in conf 3 years later. You’re smearing Hurley and that’s your right.
