UConn-ийн дасгалжуулагч Дэн Хёрли коллежийн сагсан бөмбөгийн талбар дахь шилжилтийн үйл явцыг “тогтворгүй, эмх замбараагүй” хэмээн шүүмжилж, багийнхаа бүрэлдэхүүнийг өөрчлөхгүй гэдгээ баталлаа.
Коллежийн сагсан бөмбөгийн ертөнцөд шилжилтийн цонх дахин нээгдэж, олон тоглогч шинэ баг хайж байгаа энэ үед UConn-ийн дасгалжуулагч Дэн Хёрли одоо байгаа бүрэлдэхүүндээ бүрэн итгэлтэй байгаагаа илэрхийлжээ. Наймдугаар сарын эхээр Колорадо мужийн холбооны шүүхээс гаргасан шийдвэрийн дагуу 2022 оны төгсөлтийн сурагчид 2026-2027 оны улиралд тав дахь жилдээ тоглох эрхтэй болсон нь олон багийн бүрэлдэхүүнд гэнэтийн өөрчлөлт авчирсан юм.
Хёрли энэ нөхцөл байдлыг коллежийн сагсан бөмбөгт тогтвортой бус, эмх замбараагүй нөхцөл байдал үүсгэж байна хэмээн хүчтэй шүүмжилж, багтаа шинэ тоглогч нэмэхгүй гэдгээ онцолсон байна. Тэрээр зуны бэлтгэлийн үеэр багийнх нь бүрэлдэхүүн бүрдсэн гэдгийг “Hoosiers” киноны алдартай ишлэлээр дамжуулан илэрхийлжээ.
Хэдийгээр зуны бэлтгэл “галзуу хулгана” мэт өрнөсөн ч Хёрли багийнхаа гүн болон авьяаслаг тоглогчдод сэтгэл хангалуун байгаа аж. UConn багт өмнө нь од тоглогчид болох Брайлон Муллинс, Сайлас Демари нар эргэн ирснээс гадна Нажай Хайнс, Оскар Гилтэй, Нилс Мачовски, Ник Хамения зэрэг шинэ тоглогчид нэгджээ. Ирэх улиралд тус баг Дьюк, Канзас, Аризона, Иллинойс, Мичиган зэрэг хүчирхэг багуудтай тоглох хүндхэн хуваарьтай байна.
Дэмжигчид болон дасгалжуулагчдын зүгээс ахлах тоглогч Сайлас Демаригийн манлайллыг онцолж байгаа бөгөөд тэрээр өнгөрсөн улиралд дунджаар 10.5 оноо, 5.7 дамжуулалт гүйцэтгэж байв. Мөн шинэхэн тоглогчдоос Юниор Каунти, Колбен Ландрев нар бэлтгэлийн үеэр онцгой анхаарал татаж, Хёрли тэднийг ирээдүйтэй, NBA-д тоглох чадвартай хэмээн үнэлжээ.
Дэлгэрэнгүй эх сурвалжийг харах
Эх сурвалжийг нээх ↓
STORRS, CT –Norman Dale, the fictional coach at the center of “Hoosiers,” hadhis fivestarters.
DanHurleyhas his roster, and onFriday, theUConnmen’s basketballcoach made clear he has no intention of shopping forany more players, even as collegebasketball’sportal chaosrages onaround him.
“My team is on the court,”Hurleysaid after Friday’s practice, riffing on the “Hoosiers” line to make clearthe Huskiesare donemaking changes to their roster.
The quip doubled as a statement of contentment, withHurleyclosing UConn’ssummerpractice slate by sayinghe’snot looking to add anynew playersto his rosterfollowing the recent pool of players who were grantedeligibility.
Last week,a federal judge in Coloradoruledathletes from the high school class of2022, whoused up their fourth season of eligibility this spring, can return for a fifth year in 2026-2027.It’sa decision the NCAA is expected to appeal, and one that threatens to upend rosters just as school gets underway.
The ruling effectively opened a fresh, unplanned wave of transfers in the first week of August, with dozens of newly eligible players searching for a landing spot.
ForHurley, who has been outspoken about the state of college basketball, the timing only sharpened his frustration.
“Now let’s unleash 80 players into the sport in the first week of August,”Hurleysaid. “We can’t go on like this. And anyone who acts likeit’sgreat,it’sgood for collegebasketball,they’vealready taken the stance that this is whatthey’vewanted, and nowthey’rejust defending their position. It’s total chaos and it’s not sustainable.”
Hurley said the summer has been a “rollercoaster,” buthe’simpressed with the talent and depth of this year’s group.
“There are days you walk out of here and you want to let the company that makes the banners know that we might have a shot at one this year. And then there’s days you walk out of here and think your team sucks, and you want to beat your head against the wall,”Hurleysaid.
UConn returns starsBraylon Mullins and Silas Demary Jr., but also has had an infusion of notable transfers such as Na’jai Hines, Oskar Giltay, Nils Machowski and NikKhamenia.
The Huskies will have agauntlet of a nonconference schedule that includes matchups with Duke, Kansas, Arizona,Illinoisand Michigan.
Silas Demary ready for biggerrolewith UConn in 2026-27
Demary is having a great summer so far.
The all-Big East first-teamselectionand 2026 Naismith defensive player of the yearshowcaseda jump in his offensive game duringthe scrimmageportionof Friday’s practice. Demary was dominant as a pick-and-rollball handler while alsoshowcasinghigh-levelshot makingfrom all three levels.
But while the work on the court has improved, Demary is hoping to take another leap as a leader.
“I think being a senior here and being a returner is definitely a lot,” Demary said. “I think just talking to the coaches and knowing thatI’llhave to step up in that leadershiprole.They’rehelping me, even on my tough days.They’restill telling me how to be a leader and how to figure those things out.”
Demary started all but one game last season whenhe averaged 10.5 points and 5.7 assists. He said helearned a lotfromlast year’s seniors Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed Jr.toadjust to being in a front-facing role.
“Just being able to go through last year with them and then nowbeing thatthat older guy to experience the senior on this team, likeit’scool.It’sa lot of fun,it’scool to see them come to me and ask me about different questions about plays and different reads. I feel likeI’min a great spot, andit’sgreat to see those guysleaningon me.”
UConn basketball freshmanstandouts
Guard Junior County andforwardColbenLandrewwere among Friday’s standouts.
County, the 2026 Utah Gatorade player of the year, averaged 19.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.2 blocks per game this past season atWasatch Academy.
“Junior is one of the most prepared freshmen we’ve had come in here,”Hurleysaid. “The guy’s maturity level, the high school program, his parents ––he came in with great pedigree.You have summers where you justlove the way a player comes in, and heprobably standsout morethananyone this summer.”
Landrewwasahighly toutedprospect coming out of Wheeler High School in Georgia.The 6-6, 236-pound forward was a two-sport star as an all-state widereceiver.
“Colben is talented like these early entry guys to the draft have looked like,”Hurleysaid. “It’sthe hardest workhe’sever done in his life….As his body and his mind and his emotions learn to handle that, he’ll unleash all of his abilities.Buthe’sgot early entry NBA ability.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dan Hurley swats away roster moves amid ‘total chaos’ of re-opened transfer portal
