It was early June.
Nearly three months before official practices would begin.
The roster for the following season had just been completed, with star forward Alex Karaban’s decision in late May to return to school for his junior year rather than remain in the 2024 NBA Draft.
That didn’t matter to Dan Hurley.
It was time to address the coming season — the challenge that awaited Connecticut, which is looking to become the first school to win three consecutive national championships since UCLA reeled off seven in a row from 1967-73.
“This is where we’re at. Everyone has signed on,” he told his players then. “The season that we’re going to embark on is going to be rare, in terms of what we can accomplish to literally join those UCLA teams from a historical [standpoint].”
Said Karaban: “He reminds us that we’re chasing after historic things, and it’s always a privilege to wear the UConn jersey. He reminds us about that every single day.”
Some coaches may have glossed over such pressure.
Not wanting to hit their players over the head with it so early, thinking it could overwhelm them.
Hurley is not cut from that cloth. He doesn’t do subtle. He doesn’t believe in sugar-coating anything.
In fact, he used it in recruiting as part of his pitch: the chance to be part of a team that could write itself into college basketball’s record books.
Winning a third straight crown obviously will be difficult.
The last team to win two in a row, Florida in 2006-07, didn’t qualify for the NCAA Tournament the following year.
The team that came the closest to winning three in a row was Duke in 1993.
The Blue Devils were a No. 3 seed but failed to get past the second round.
“I’ve talked about the historical nature of our season pretty consistently, because it’s the elephant in the room that is there,” said Hurley, who flirted with leaving UConn for the Lakers but ultimately returned to college after the brief courtship. “You can’t hide from this opportunity. That’s why I’ve coached this team so hard. I’ve coached this team harder than any other team that I’ve had. I know the challenge that lies ahead.”
Connecticut enters the season ranked third in the Associated Press preseason poll.
It returns just one starter in Karaban — along with Big East Sixth Man of the Year Hassan Diarra, senior center Samson Johnson, and talented but unproven sophomores Jaylin Stewart, Solo Ball and Jayden Ross.
Hurley brought in highly regarded transfers Aidan Mahaney (Saint Mary’s) and Tarris Reed Jr. (Michigan), and landed five-star wing Liam McNeeley in the spring shortly after cutting down the nets in Glendale, Ariz.
Diarra believes Connecticut has more shooting and a higher offensive upside than it did the past two years, a scary thought that Karaban agreed with.
Defense, however, could be a challenge — after losing elite defenders Donovan Clingan, Tristen Newton and Steph Castle.
“They’re really talented. Their size and length is frightening,” said a college coach who has seen Connecticut. “I was really impressed with their wings. At the two and three spots, they’re really athletic. I thought they were solid defensively. They’re still doing a lot of the things they were doing last year.”
At this time last year, there were questions about the Huskies after they lost three starters to the professional ranks.
They somehow were even better, winning 37 games and cruising to the national championship on the strength of six NCAA Tournament wins by an average of 23.3 points.
At some point, the logical thinking goes, losing so many top players to the NBA will catch up to them. Karaban is the lone contributor from the first championship team to remain.
This is a young group made up of just two seniors. It will face intense scrutiny and pressure. The three-peat talk is only going to increase.
“If they thought the target on their back was large last year …” Larry Farmer, who was part of the final three UCLA championship teams in 1971-73, said with a hearty laugh. “We got everybody’s ‘A’ game. … Every team that plays them has that game circled on their calendar. That’s what they are going to face every game.”
Farmer is rooting for them.
This isn’t like the perfect 1972 Dolphins, who pop champagne whenever the last undefeated NFL team suffered a defeat.
It’s been five decades since John Wooden’s Bruins owned college basketball.
“Our era for that stuff has come and gone,” Farmer said. “It’s a unique feat, and certainly nobody will ever win seven in a row. It will be a great experience for them if they can pull that off.”
Just entering the season with a chance to win a third straight title has Connecticut in rare territory. Just two others since the UCLA dynasty have had this chance.
Hurley won’t let them forget it. His Huskies are determined to join those Bruins.
“We have an opportunity in front of us,” Karaban said, “that we may never see again in college basketball.”