Dan Hurley specifies key factor in UConn's chances to pull off three NCAA championships in a row

UConn coach Dan Hurley was not satisfied with the team's performance in their win over Butler on Dec. 21, even though they won 78-74. They allowed the Bulldogs to shoot 42.6% from the field.

The team's inability to get defensive stops and rebounds is holding them back. In their last five games, UConn conceded at least 70 points in four of them, giving 74.2 points on average during that stretch. Despite these defensive struggles, they won all of those games.

Dan Hurley, who led the Huskies to national championships in consecutive seasons, believes that UConn needs to make significant progress in its defensive identity.

"We got our confidence back but we know that if we don’t start defending at a much higher level, we’re not gonna be in contention for the championships," Hurley told NJ.com. "We’ve got the No. 2 offense in the country, but our defense has not been where it needs to be."

UConn has become known for its lights-out offense under Hurley, averaging 83.9 points per game this season but their defense has lagged behind, ranking 92nd nationally in points allowed per game.

They started the season ranked No. 2 and only conceded 51 ppg in the first four games before the disastrous, Maui trip, where they surrendered an average of 85.7 ppg, losing all three games to Memphis, Colorado and Dayton.

Can Dan Hurley's UConn win a third straight national title?

Despite their struggles this campaign, Dan Hurley's men have the talent and the coaching to potentially pull off a third national championship in a row.

At the start of the season, UConn was projected as the favorite to win it all. However, the Maui Invitational exposed some flaws in their armor. Some fans even wrote them off as a legitimate contender, considering their inconsistent play and porous defense.

But this is a team that has proven itself on the biggest stage, capturing back-to-back national titles under Hurley's guidance. Their struggles are evident since they lost almost all of their starting lineup from last season.

However, the No. 11 Huskies have shown resilience by winning six straight games since their Maui setback. Junior forward Alex Karaban has emerged as a major contributor, averaging 16.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Freshman star Liam McNeeley follows at 13.9 ppg.

At this stage last season, UConn had an identical 11-2 record before embarking on a historic title run. So given their pedigree and the proven coaching of Dan Hurley, they cannot be counted out of the title race, provided they shore up their defense.