NCAA Basketball: Who should Dan Hurley choose between UConn or Pitt?

Rhode Island Head Coach Dan Hurley is the hot coaching name out there on the market. If he decides to leave, where would be his next destination?

The season for Rhode Island ended this past weekend is a loss to Duke, a game where the Rams were just simply outclassed at every position. But it doesn’t take away the historic nature of the season, with the team having their highest rankings in 70 years, among other accomplishments.

The team will be completely different, with four of Rhode Island’s top scorers all graduating. So naturally, it makes sense that Dan Hurley, the head coach of the team would have his name on the coaching carousel. With the A-10 team having to rebuild, it makes complete sense to move on, this time to a power conference team.

According to multiple reports, there are two former Big East programs that are heavily interested in his services – UConn and Pittsburgh.

Both teams are located northeast, a recruiting area that Hurley is familiar with. There’s no telling which team he’ll pick, assuming he leaves. But here’s a pros and cons of Pitt and UConn as they stand today.

UConn Huskies

Pro: Returning talent (if most don’t leave)

If Hurley comes to UConn and the current players stay, there’s some serious talent to work with. Only one senior will leave from the main rotation, and Jalen Adams is on the shortlist for AAC Player of the Year next season if he returns. In what appears to be a down league, Hurley could make this a contender sooner than later.

Con: Recruiting in the AAC

Being in this conference has had a negative impact on the program, particularly with recruiting. Without a Hall-of-Fame head at the helm, it’s hard to get guys to come to UConn in a league not on par with the Big East. Pitt is down but is based in the ACC. Hurley would have to decide whether there’s a ceiling for the Huskies in the AAC.

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Pittsburgh Panthers

Pro: ACC and low expectations

After going 0-19 in the conference last season in the disastrous Kevin Stallings era, Pitt fans simply want hope for the next couple of years. A conference title isn’t expected, rather just competing for an NCAA tournament bid. It’s much easier to overachieve for Pitt than UConn.

Also, the ACC might be stronger than the AAC, it’s also more credible and stable, a big benefit for a coach.

Con: Starting with nothing

After the firing of Stallings, 10 players for the team have decided to possibly leave the team. The most promising player, freshman point guard Marcus Carr is definitely gone. Hurley would come here with an empty slate, and could easily have another 0-18 roster. He’ll have a clean slate, but could be ever reasonably made Pitt a contender from literally the ground up?

Who should Hurley choose?

For full and complete disclosure, I’m a Pittsburgh native and Panther fan, so my bias would lead me to say the home team. But if I looked at this from an objective standpoint, I believe UConn is the no-brainer, even if Adams elects to depart the program.

Pitt might be in a better situation conference-wise, but it’s hard enough for teams such as Boston College, Georgia Tech, and Louisville with NBA talent to win, let alone a team barely with D-1 players. It’s never been a great recruiting job for Pittsburgh, so relying on talent development (and some luck) is key.

Next: Ranking the Sweet Sixteen teams

There are flaws with the UConn job, but the Huskies are miles away from Pitt in terms of participating in the Big Dance. It could take nearly 10 years to get Pitt where they were with Jamie Dixon. Will Hurley want to wait that long?