Jon Wallach: One of college basketball’s biggest stars is coming to Boston this week, and it’s not a player
In Boston, College Basketball is somewhere behind Major League Soccer and College Hockey. Ask the last four or five BC head coaches how hard it is to recruit guys here.
However, you need to pay attention this week. We have a bonafide superstar coming to town that can save the sport, not only in the area, but nationally in the months not named March or April.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 24: Head coach Dan Hurley of the Connecticut Huskies reacts during the first half against the Northwestern Wildcats in the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Barclays Center on March 24, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
I first saw Danny Hurley as the head coach at Wagner, and he’d come to Bryant University, yell at the officials, and proceed to win. His act hasn’t changed at all, but his measure of success has. He’s still the same guy, but now his team is the best in the country. Connecticut won it all last season with Hurley looking like he was THIS close to having a “Scanners” moment. This season he has challenged a St. John’s fan to a fight, called officials clowns and been penalized by his own conference for his behavior. I think it’s fantastic.
Hurley is just what this sport needs. A villain who can you rage hate because he and his team are so damn good. Coach K and Roy Williams are now retired, and Duke isn’t nearly as good as they were, so, Hurley is perfect to slide into that spot. If he sweeps through Boston this weekend, heads to the Final 4, and wins his second consecutive national championship while yelling and screaming at everyone, that’s just the kind of harmonic convergence that college basketball can use to sell the hell out of it’s product.
Connecticut is already a must watch. They’ve beaten their first 2 opponents in The Tournament by an average of 28 points, they’ve lost 1 game since Christmas, and went undefeated at home this season. You need them to not only win here this weekend, you need them to keep winning. Anything less, and the casual fan will lose out.
Bobby Knight was that guy back in the day. Fans HATED him, not only for his attitude towards everyone outside of his program, but because he was an ass, and still won games and championships. Hurley is on his way there right now and, if he runs the table again this year, he’ll do something Knight never did – go Back to Back. He could wind up being the face of the sport, and it would be a good thing.
JON WALLACH does headlines on Toucher & Hardy, weekday mornings on 98.5 The Sports Hub. You can follow Wallach on X/Twitter at @KenGriffeyrules
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