Hurley's 4-year-old warning still rings true for UConn

It was 1,542 days ago, after a close loss to Villanova, that UConn's Danny Hurley issued a warning to the rest of the college basketball world.

"You better get us now, because it's coming," Hurley said.

It seemed like nothing more than a throwaway comment from the coach of a 10-7 team at the time. Four years later, however, it rings as one of the most accurate predictions in college sports history.

Hurley's Huskies are forever in the college basketball history books after becoming the first back-to-back NCAA Tournament champion since Florida in 2006-07. While that in itself is a remarkable feat, it's the manner in which Hurley's teams took apart their opponents that truly stands out.

UConn played 12 NCAA Tournament games the past two years en route to their titles, and the scoreboard at the end of the contest showed a double-digit victory all 12 times.

Hurley's quote after the Final Four victory over Alabama couldn't have been more true in describing how his team works in the postseason.

The most illuminating thing about UConn's run is that you have a multitude of options when it comes to your favorite stat from the dominant stretch.

Maybe it's that the Huskies never trailed in the second half of a game in the tournament. Perhaps it's the obscene 30-0 run against Illinois in the Elite Eight. Defense enthusiasts might point to UConn allowing Purdue to make just one 3-pointer the entire title game.

However, the one that resonates most stretches over both NCAA Tournaments and shows just how elite a coach Hurley has become in this era.

Florida's back-to-back titles in 2006-07 were incredibly impressive feats, but the Gators were blessed by the return of five future NBA draft picks that played significant minutes in Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Taureen Green, Corey Brewer, and Chris Richard. UConn did not have the same luxury.

The 2023 champs were led by Adama Sanogo and Jordan Hawkins, who combined to average over 33 points per game. Only Tristen Newton and Alex Karaban returned among the players in the top seven for minutes played.

Newton and Karaban were standout performers once again, with transfer Cam Spencer and prized freshman Stephon Castle also playing big roles. Add the development of star 7-foot-2 sophomore Donovan Klingan, Hassan Diarra, and Samson Johnson, and it's fair to make the argument that this year's team was stronger.

Hurley's ability to reload despite losing significant production is a skill not many collegiate coaches possess. It will serve him well for a potential three-peat, as Newton, Spencer, and Diarra are graduating, while Clingan and Castle are both expected to be lottery picks in the NBA.