For UConn's Hurley, pain is part of the game

Feb. 15—Dan Hurley doesn't want you to die if you play basketball for him.

The UConn coach wouldn't mind a few near-death experiences, however.

And because he was pretty sure his Huskies would be close to dead and buried if they didn't beat Xavier on Saturday, Hurley was hoping his Huskies would summon the courage to look death in the eyes this weekend.

The coach got his wish, as UConn came up with a true gut check of a victory, topping Xavier 80-72 Saturday afternoon at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati.

Entering the game having lost four of its last five games, Hurley broke out a couple of his favorite sporting war stories to help his players understand what he expected from them, including one about former Rhode Island point guard Jarvis Garrett.

A number of his players were nursing minor injuries, and some more serious ones, so Hurley thought it time to regale them with a few tales of basketball heroism.

Garrett lost a couple teeth after an inadvertent head butt from an opponent in a game against St. Joe's during a URI game Hurley coached in 2016. Garrett was forced to wear a mask something like a 1970s hockey goalie might sport — it was the style made famous by Jason in "Friday the 13th" is how Hurley remembers it — and couldn't drink water during the games.

"One of the most gruesome, strange masks you've ever seen. He couldn't take it off the whole game it was so cumbersome. He'd have to drink through a straw in one of the holes that he would breath through during time outs," Hurley said.

Garrett also apparently played with ulcers and alarmingly lost 15 pounds in short order during the season.

"He almost literally played himself to death," Hurley said.

UConn forwards Isaiah Whaley and Tyrese Martin, each of whom was nursing a sprained ankle, probably would have felt sheepish if they opted out of playing Saturday upon hearing such a story.

"I just wanted to talk to the players about what needs to be sacrificed," Hurley said. "You don't necessarily have to play yourself to death. But I tried to give them an example of someone his coach would never forget, that his teammates would never forget."

If UConn (9-5, 6-5 Big East) goes on to make the NCAA Tournament and perhaps makes a run in the event, perhaps they'll remember Martin and Whaley, not to mention the newly minted Akok Akok, toughing it out to play against Xavier.

Yes, UConn guard James Bouknight missed his eighth straight game while recovering from an elbow surgery, but his absence did not appear to be his own decision and was likely one made by Bouknight's surgeon for him. Bouknight warmed up with his teammates, spent much of the game bouncing around the UConn bench, and nearly leapt onto the court in celebration after Andre Jackson's second-half breakaway dunk.

The Huskies scored more points than they had in any game previously in the calendar year, mostly because they made a season-high 11 3-pointers.

Well, Hurley would put the offensive output largely down to toughness, not shooting prowess.

He praised Martin and Whaley as "warriors" — the duo combined for 27 points and 19 rebounds — for playing through some pain.

"That's what you're supposed to do as an athlete. You're supposed to sacrifice for your team," Hurley said. "If you can give us 80 percent, get out there and give us 80 percent. If you can give us 70, give us 70. That's what warriors do."

R.J. Cole was the offensive star for UConn with 24 points and seven assists, and deservedly was showered with praise from his coaches and teammates for not pouting when asked to come off the bench.

But it was another display of toughness that was perhaps just as key to UConn's victory. Akok gave the Huskies a huge boost in his first game back from a shin injury with seven points in a key three-minute span in the first half.

Hurley, using a slightly rugged description of those qualities he values most, says his current Huskies are on their way to meeting his expectations.

"My programs are built on rugged, tough-ass dudes that refuse to lose and will rip the ball out of someone else's hands," Hurley said. "We've obviously got to continue to develop that mentality."

The Huskies can ill-afford to wait until Bouknight returns to games, though it may be any day now, if they want to make something of their season.

That being said, even the death-defying coach is looking forward to seeing his team healthy and whole very quickly.

"When we're fully formed, we're probably a really good team," Hurley said. "When the band is fully back together again, hopefully we'll be able to prove that."

Neill Ostrout is the sports editor of the Journal Inquirer. He has been covering the UConn men's basketball team for 26 years.

Neill covers UConn men's basketball and UConn football teams, and he keeps a finger on the pulse of Connecticut sports. For live game updates, and more insight into UConn athletics, player transfers, and team changes, follow Neill on Twitter: @NeillOstrout, Facebook: JINeillO, and Instagram: @NeillOstrout.