No one can deny the coaching excellence Dan Hurley brings to UConn. It all started on March 22, 2018, when Hurley was named head coach for the Huskies. From the beginning, his eyes were set on a national championship title. He first saw success in 2021, as the team made it to the NCAA tournament for the first time in five years, but they were eliminated in the first round.

Undeterred, Hurley returned with renewed determination, yet once again the team faced a first-round exit. However, refusing to give up, Hurley finally struck back, this time leading the team to an NCAA championship title in 2023. The next year, he helped the Huskies become two-time consecutive champions. Now, as they prepare to chase the title once again, the team’s ‘secret sauce‘ has been revealed.

It was the Huskies’ key player, Alex Karaban sharing the insights into Hurley’s approach. In the coach’s words, ‘be obsessed.’ In the 22-year-old’s “he wants to make sure we’re not satisfied.”

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The key focus is to keep striving for more, not letting the past two championships get to their heads in this scenario. They became the first program to win it back-to-back in 17 years and some confidence, little more than expected, couldn’t all prove right. So Hurley ensures to keep his players grounded, keep them hungry.

“no matter how the past two years went… we want more, and that’s exactly what he’s getting out of us,” Karaban shares, speaking of what makes the HC “special.” But let us tell you, there’s more reason Hurley is charged this campaign.

He knows he won’t have the same roster each season, and the competition isn’t the same either. This season, the Huskies have overhauled their roster after losing multiple key players. Both Stephon Castle and Donovan Clingan, top lottery picks, left UConn for the NBA after last season. Even Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer graduated.

In case you’re unaware, these were four of the Huskies’ top scorers

This level of turnover poses a huge challenge for the two-time defending champions. “It’s even harder to stay where you are. You gotta be more obsessed, more relentless in your pursuit of improvement, and continue perfecting a style of basketball,” Hurley shared. But as always, Hurley’s got a backup plan.

Karaban is undoubtedly, Hurley’s key player. Having lifted the trophy twice and nearly tested the NBA waters, the HC trusts him as the leader. But his 13.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists average will need some support. To address these challenges, he brought in Aidan Mahaney and Tarris Reed Jr. this season. He also signed five-star center Liam McNeeley, Ahmad Nowell, and Isaiah Abraham. “Just having a new group of players that haven’t experienced this championship before, and everyone around them has… coaching a new team that hasn’t won it, that wants it like they need oxygen,” he said.

The Huskies are now ranked third in the Associated Press Top 25 poll at the start of the season. This ranking speaks volumes about the talent on UConn’s current roster. Now, all eyes are on UConn as they play against No. 8 Baylor, No. 19 Texas, and No. 6 Gonzaga. These games will reveal whether a three-peat is within reach for the Huskies. Stay tuned!