""I just think I did a bad job with some of these guys, like Jaylin Stewart is a heck of a player," Hurley said of his bench usage. "When we were winning those big non-conference games (against) Florida, Illinois, BYU, and they were healthy, he was a big part of it. I just did a bad job as a coach of connecting with my player, letting him know I got confidence in him.""
""Sometimes, as a coach, when a guy's playing bad, especially bench players, 'These guys stink, I'm not playing them, or I'm going to have a quick hook,'" Hurley said. "I think I've mismanaged my bench. Probably for the last two weeks, and I gotta get those guys on the court because they're a big reason why we had some of the best non-conference wins than anyone this year.""
UConn's 18-game run ended as recent losses revealed bench-management problems that curtailed role players' minutes. Jaylin Stewart’s earlier non‑conference contributions — physical defense, perimeter versatility, and rest flexibility for starters — diminished as his court time decreased. The bench’s limited use preceded losses, but returned impact in a 73-63 win over Villanova when Stewart hit two threes and the reserve unit outscored the Wildcats. The performance exposed a self-inflicted issue unrelated to effort or talent. Responsibility for the mismanagement was accepted, and a corrective plan to restore bench minutes aims to recapture the earlier success.
Read at EssentiallySports
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