Hurley's not letting up on the Huskies

Storrs – This time of year is when college basketball teams begin running the first official practice of the season.

But not at UConn, as coach Dan Hurley and his Huskies were quick to point out after Friday’s workout at the Werth Center.

“Honestly, people think this is Day 1 for us, but this is Day 117,” graduate guard Hassan Diarra said. “We start practicing in June. So we are ahead of a lot of other teams. We still have progress to be made, but we are where we need to be right now.”

Hurley demands an 11-month commitment level from his players. The Huskies start workouts in June, running two summer sessions.

Sure, other college basketball teams practice in the summer. But Hurley insists no program works harder than his or with more intensity.

Hurley believes it’s a big reason why UConn has sustained a high level of success. And he still operates with the same passion and fire after winning back-to-back national championships.

“He is the same coach,” redshirt junior Alex Karaban said. “More so, he is more intense. You can definitely see he’s never satisfied. He is always hungry. He does raise the level of practices each year. In the summer, he was super intense. In the fall, he has been intense.

“He just wants it so badly that he wants us to get on his level.”

UConn’s 117th practice was about the same as any other under Hurley, who barked at his players when upset about something.

There was constant noise generated from coaches and players, although Hurley would like for more vocal leadership from veterans Hassan Diarra, Samson Johnson and Karaban.

About the only break came when the Huskies engaged in a free throw shooting competition.

It doesn’t matter that the season opener isn’t until Nov. 6.

“Listen, if you don’t practice at a certain intensity and a certain level of stress, then the practice is not going to help you on game night when there is a lot of stress and pressure,” Hurley said. “We’re practicing under extreme conditions that coaches put on the players and that the players demand from each other competitively

“... Right now we don’t mind if people are fouling because we’re trying to build a tough team. We work on a lot of offense during the summer and in the preseason. Right now we are building toughness. We have a training camp mentality.”

Training camp is especially important for UConn’s newcomers – freshmen Liam McNeeley, Ahmad Nowell and Isaiah Abraham as well as transfers Aidan Mahaney and Tarris Reed, Jr. – to get accustomed to the Hurley way.

This also is a time to build team chemistry.

UConn lost four starters from last year’s team, leaving a big void to fill. Returning players have to adjust to elevated roles. Competition for playing time will be fierce.

“It is always tough to restart after you have had such a successful season and now we have a new group trying to understand how coach operates and a new group trying to learn the system,” Karaban said. “It takes time for guys to develop and step up into new roles. Something that we are working on right now is trying to get better as a team and continue the progress we made from summer to fall.

“You want to end the season the way we have the last two years with this group.”

It’s a safe bet that Hurley will keep his foot on the accelerator, as he has throughout his UConn coaching career.

Especially with a shot at a third national title at stake this season.

“Maybe I am going a little bit harder just because you’re so afraid of complacency, but then there is that fine line of making people crazy around you,” Hurley said. “It is human nature. We have been dominant in the championships and gone back to back. Everyone is telling all of us how great we are nonstop. It is my job to bring a reality to the situation which is that everyone in college is starting over.

“We obviously have confidence from winning, but you have to have extreme urgency in this business.”

g.keefe@theday.com