Fully understand why many don't care for him/hate UConn.
I respect Hurley for being one of the few in coaching to adapt. He admitted his approach to the sport was 100% incorrect and not working and changed. Not many guys who do this for a living at any level or sport are willing to admit they are wrong and adapt. He was one of those "we win with defense and are tough" guys who thought offensive scoring was soft. He adapted and the offensive approach improved and they still maintained an edge about them on defense and overall.
He openly admits he's an A-hole. He's about as open of a book as there is in CBB. He'll tell you he's struggled with mental health. He admits he's not in for the long term--he'll hang it up once he's burned out and until then it's 100% all out every day. He will act like a prick but then turn around and say "I was a prick and wrong". The thing is he gets players who aren't all McDonald's AA's to develop and they play hard as hell for him and buy in-which isn't easy in today's game at all. That alone carries weight and would be successful here but there's a part of an appearance that matters to the Blueblood programs he doesn't fit that is why he's perfect in the East. I grew up a Big East fan and love the edge that is played with and in your face back and forth during competition but that's my personal preference and love someone who invests everything into something and doesn't care if outsiders like it or not.
