UConn coach Dan Hurley brings some championship mojo to Yankee Stadium: 'It's about the culture'

NEW YORK — The word "January" was essentially a curse word around the UConn men's basketball program. Until, of course, the Huskies exorcised the demons of January, 2023 with a perfect January, 2024.

For the New York Yankees, will "June" and/or "July" become words not to be spoken? Or perhaps the nadir on an otherwise championship calendar?

They can only hope. The Bronx Bombers had lost 15 of their previous 20 games heading into Saturday's day game against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. Perhaps the most brutal had occurred barely 12 hours earlier, when the Red Sox, down to their last strike, turned a two-run deficit into a two-run lead in the blink of an eye.

And so, on Saturday, there was Dan Hurley to bring a little championship mojo to Yankee Stadium. Hurley tossed out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game, and also offered some unsolicited advice to the struggling Yanks.

"I know they're in a tough stretch," he noted. "We went through a really tough stretch the January of the first year we won it. Getting through those tough stretches, coming together as a team, getting back to your identity as an organization and staying together gives you a chance to really form a strong team when you go through the struggles."

Since that infamous 3-6 January of 2023, UConn has gone a remarkable 51-5, copping a pair of national titles while winning every NCAA Tournament game by double digits. The Huskies also went 9-0 in New York City last season (7-0 at Madison Square Garden, 2-0 at Barclays Center) and just a couple of weeks ago had two players taken in the NBA Draft lottery and four players selected overall.

The Yankees can only hope to go on a similar run.

"They've had a tough last 20 games, but in the end, it's about the culture of the team," Hurley continued. "Turn off the external noise. Obviously, it's incredibly hard to do in New York. But, to win championships, you've got to go through some hard (stuff). And they're going through it right now."

Hurley's first pitch resembled a Bill Lee eephus pitch, rising a good 15 feet in the air before landing in the mitt of a ball boy behind the plate. To be fair, the coach was dealing with some some injuries: shoulder soreness, and an inflamed elbow from hoisting up too many halfcourt shots during practice.

"I'm playing hurt," he said before his first pitch.

He's not the only one. Alex Karaban has been dealing with a foot injury for about a week or so, and was recently sporting a walking boot. And highly-touted incoming freshman Liam McNeeley sprained an ankle while working out back at his Texas home on the Fourth of July.

"He should've just grilled like normal people, or sat by a pool," Hurley noted. "But, he's a cyborg."

Hurley and his staff took in a pair of players out of the transfer portal, guard Aidan Mahaney of Saint Mary's and forward Tarris Reed Jr. from Michigan. But otherwise, the staff is confident in the players returning, particularly a group of sophomores that hope to take the next step.

"They're right where we want them to be," Hurley said of Jaylin Stewart, Solo Ball and Jayden Ross. "We've got some time before November to get them all the way there. But we've been heavy on them. We were not as active in the portal as a lot of other programs. We trust our player development and our evaluation of their talent. My job as a coach is to make sure they're in a position to keep us where we're at as an organization."

Hurley was accompanied by his wife, Andrea, his father, Bob Sr., and sons, Danny and Andrew. Assistant coach Luke Murray also attended the game.

Hurley's father and older brother, Bobby, were huge Yankees fans growing up. So, Dan had to be the contrarian and rooted for the Kansas City Royals and George Brett. But he certainly holds an appreciation for Yankees history.

Hurley wore No. 15, in honor of Thurman Munson, for his first pitch. And he said he was in awe walking through the Yankee Stadium hallways, seeing pictures of iconic players and championship teams.

He now lists the Yankees as his second-favorite team — tied with the Red Sox, both ironically and awkwardly. Hurley and his team were at Fenway Park a few weeks earlier, where Karaban threw out the first pitch. On Saturday, Red Sox manager Alex Cora snuck up behind Hurley while he was giving an interview to say hello.

"These are the cool moments you get where you can really enjoy the accomplishment," Hurley remarked. "But then, the world is waiting for you pretty quickly."

The Yankees have known that all too well over the past few weeks.