Two years ago, UConn looked unstoppable after winning back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024. These days, however, with a lot of expectations, Dan Hurley and the Huskies are preparing for the new 2025-2026 season, with Hurley even bringing in a few former players from those championship teams to help out his current roster.
However, in speaking with CT Insider, the UConn head coach made an admission regarding the state of his team and their preparation for the upcoming season, admitting that he is not happy with where his team is at right now.
“For us this summer, I think the way that we have tried to change what we do in the summer is four hard weeks, two weeks off, four hard weeks, two weeks off, and then team is refreshed,” Dan Hurley told CT Insider. “We can’t afford to be where we are today in our sport, to have optional summer workouts and have an assistant coach doing skill work with players. Our summers, we are going hard just to have a chance.”
Dan Hurley is now taking a new approach and he is incorporating what worked well last time. However, the 52-year-old admitted that he also wants to see some improvements when it comes to other things, such as defense, physicality and aggressiveness.
“We put a big emphasis (on being physical) because we felt at times last year we got bullied in league play,” he said. “The older teams, in particular, really physically handled us.
“There is some emphasis with the program with guys like Solo (Ball) and Jaylin Stewart and Jayden Ross where guys definitely look physically better and stronger. There has been a big emphasis there,” he added.
Hurley admitted that it is a healthy decision to change things every two years, especially with new personnel coming in. He is especially relying on junior guard Solo Ball this season, especially after his breakout sophomore year last year.
Dan Hurley Admits That Mistakes Were Made Last Season
Despite entering as back-to-back champions last season, Dan Hurley and UConn were eliminated from the national tournament in the second round.
During that same interview with CT Insider, Hurley admitted that they could have done things differently and that they could have gotten better results.
“If we don’t give away some games that we clearly should have won, the season could have felt a lot different,” he said. “Better seed in the NCAA Tournament. Closer to competing for a regular season (Big East) championship. If you don’t lose the Seton Hall game and you don’t lose the game at (Villanova) – games you had a chance to win – you are a No. 5 seed in the tournament.”
The Huskies eliminated the “other” OSU during the first round of March Madness before eventually running into eventual tournament winners, Florida, in the second round. They lost by just two points, 75-77.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, basketball, and more!
