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In the early weeks of his tenure as UConn's starting center, sophomore transfer Najai Hines struggled to meet the high standards set by head coach Dan Hurley. The pressure intensified on Friday night against a physically imposing Ohio State squad, especially with frontcourt depth already thinned by an injury to Nik Khamenia.
Hines' first-half stat line was modest: three points, all from the free-throw line, and a single rebound. He committed two fouls—more than his zero made field goals—and spent most of the opening period on the bench due to foul trouble.
"I didn't want to let my teammates, my brothers down," Hines said. "Right then and there (at halftime), I knew I was letting them down."
Whatever was said in the locker room worked. Hines emerged after the break a different player, asserting himself in the paint and knocking down a variety of shots. He finished with a career-best 20 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field.
Hurley credited a conversation with his father, Bob Hurley Sr., one of the most decorated coaches at any level, for the shift in approach. "I think I've been over-coaching him, I think we've been over-coaching him," Hurley admitted. "Credit Bob (Hurley) Sr. ... for just kind of telling me yesterday, like, 'Why don't you just coach him to get good position and then just let him shoot the shots in the post that he's comfortable with shooting, rather than the shots in the post that we think he should be shooting?' So I think that helped him today that the staff didn't over-coach him on his catches."
Hines echoed that sentiment. "I've been told to do certain things, and they just told me to rock out and do what I think is best," he said. "In a way, I felt relieved."
UConn had been tracking Hines since his high school days at Plainfield High in New Jersey, where Bob Hurley Sr. first saw him play. As a freshman at Seton Hall last season, Hines impressed in two games against the Huskies, making him an obvious target when he entered the transfer portal last spring—a seamless fit for UConn's system. But adapting to Hurley's demanding program is no small feat. Even Tarris Reed Jr., a first-round NBA Draft pick, questioned whether he could handle it during his first year in Storrs.
"It's very difficult," Hines conceded. "But I've adjusted. Having my brothers every day pushing me, my coaches—they may get on me but at the end of the day, they still push me, they still drive me to get better and at the end of the day, I know I'm being a better version of myself. So, physically it's difficult sometimes, mentally. But I'm here. I played a good game and they're gonna celebrate me for it, and then they're gonna also tell me what I did wrong and what I need to improve. It's nothing, just great culture here."
Oskar Giltay, another sophomore transfer, this time from Stanford, is undergoing a similar transition. The other half of UConn's new two-headed monster at center, Giltay grabbed three offensive rebounds in the second half, securing extra possessions that helped the Huskies seize control on Friday.
"Oskar's a battering ram. He plays so hard and he plays with such force and energy," Hurley said. "Six rebounds, 19 minutes, he's an excellent ball screen defender, he's gonna get better offensively. I thought he had some chances around the rim, probably should've ended up with six or eight points to go along with the physicality. The guy plays so hard, I've got so much respect for how tough of a guy he is."
Hurley then turned his attention back to Hines. "You just learn to be serious," he said. "I think just coming into a program like UConn that has championship expectations, not just for the season, but for every single day and everything that we do. He had great preparation at Seton Hall with Shaheen (Holloway), who's one of the best coaches, but until you get into the UConn program and you start to feel just the daily grind of the next thing that you have to do, whether it's in the weight room, on the court, in study hall, back on the court, back in the weight room—I mean, it's just the maturity, habits, getting that level of professionalism, preparation, getting himself in great shape. Just buying into the culture, becoming a UConn guy."
Key Analysis
The influence of Bob Hurley Sr., a Hall of Fame coach, proved pivotal in unlocking Hines' potential. By simplifying the sophomore's role and allowing him to rely on his instincts in the post, the UConn staff may have found a formula that benefits both Hines and the team moving forward. The adjustment not only boosted Hines' confidence but also underscored the value of trusting players to play to their strengths—a lesson that could pay dividends as the Huskies navigate a challenging schedule.
Originally reported by yahoo.