Featured Columnist IVNovember 6, 2024
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UConn males’s basketball coach Dan Hurley does not imagine complacency shall be a problem as this system seeks a 3rd straight nationwide title.
“The brand new gamers we have introduced in, they’re seeing the back-to-back championship sweatshirts and banners, they usually need that title like they want oxygen,” he stated to Fox Sports activities’ John Fanta. “In a bizarre means, it is an ideal storm.”
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UConn head coach Dan Hurley nonetheless is not glad after back-to-back nationwide titles.
🗞️ FOX Sports activities’ @John_Fanta particulars @UConnMBB‘s purist of a historic three-peat: https://t.co/Kwu9eQMTv0 pic.twitter.com/0fBWzHAKxP
The Huskies needed to overhaul their roster with a number of key gamers from 2023-24 transferring on. Stephon Citadel and Donovan Clingan left early for the NBA draft and have been lottery picks. Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer graduated.
That is 4 of UConn’s 5 highest scorers and that sort of turnover is usually too giant a hurdle to beat for a defending nationwide champion.
However Hurley and his workers added Saint Mary’s guard Aidan Mahaney and Michigan heart Tarris Reed Jr. via the switch portal. 5-star heart Liam McNeeley and a pair of 4-star recruits, Ahmad Nowell and Isaiah Abraham, signed on as effectively.
Alex Karaban, one of the best returning star from final yr, made it clear to Fanta that he hasn’t taken his eyes off the prize.
“I need to chase historical past,” he stated. “I need to be part of historical past, and as a collective group, it is about chasing one thing that hasn’t been completed for the reason that Wood days and, individually, being one of many winningest school gamers of all time.”
The Huskies opened the season third within the Related Press Top 25 poll, which just about tells you all it is advisable find out about how a lot expertise they’ve.
UConn has a comparatively simple slate of nonconference video games earlier than enjoying No. 8 Baylor, No. 19 Texas and No. 6 Gonzaga all in succession. That stretch will reveal lots about whether or not a three-peat is feasible.
