UConn is the Michael Jordan of basketball! - Stephen A. on their back-to-back DOMINANCE | First Take

Stephen A. Smith, Shannon Sharpe and Seth Greenberg join Molly Qerim on First Take to react to UConn winning back-to-back National Championships. Then, the panel debate Dan Hurley vs. John Calipari's coaching models.
0:00 UConn vs. Purdue reaction
4:30 What has UConn proved with back-to-back titles?
6:00 Dan Hurley's coaching record
8:00 Dan Hurley vs. John Calipari's model
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[@tigerhoods7927]

I don’t think UConn fans have to worry about Dan Hurley leaving for Kentucky😂

[@NoNo-ng9sl]

UCONN is a bona-fide blue blood now. Imo, more than IU or Arizona now. There is no reason for him to leave.

[@mrmanoriginaltakes]

Why UConn is a blue blood now.

[@justbuzzed8313]

Thats right... If its about money he gets paid enough at Uconn and will get a hefty raise.. If its about school history and prestige, Uconn is steeped in it now, if its about recruiting, Uconn is good there...why would he leave? He wont, no worries...👍🏻👍🏻

[@xxyyzz8464]

Kentucky far less prestigious a program. KY has a lot of championships (same with UCLA) that should have asterisks, winning back in the day when the tournament only had 25 teams and a no. 1 got a bye, started in the sweet 16, and parity was so poor that the first game was often a cake walk, so you just start at the elite 8 basically. UCONN has won all of their championships in the modern 64+ team era with strong competitive and parity across men’s ncaa basketball. No other program can boast that.

[@Stonecoldalston]

@@justbuzzed8313and he’s from Jersey City so he’s close to home

[@cartert6744]

4:39 “I would’ve shot it” 😂 Shannon never fails to be funny

[@cp3low879]

6 for 6 in title games?! Crazy stat

[@Zenigundam]

Mostly due to their opponents Other than the '99 UConn team that beat a Duke team that dominated the ACC and college basketball, UConn has been heavily favored in every other title game (Ga Tech, Butler, San Diego State, Purdue). If I remember correctly, the victory over UK was the closest spread. You can't control whom you play in the championship game, but they definitely haven't had difficult opponents due to the luck of the NCAA tournament. Purdue didn't belong. They beat up on a very weak Big Ten and had mediocre athletes at every position. I'm not convinced that Smith and Loyer would start at a lot of other schools.

[@SmooveClipsss]

@@Zenigundambros trying to discredit 6 nattys

[@YT-ol7ss]

@@SmooveClipssstbf bron fans been trying to discredit Jordan’s six finals for years

[@jhhxxvii]

@@Zenigundamyou are most likely a lebron fan

[@Bankai2169]

@@Zenigundam but look at who they had to beat to get to the championship game. They beat Duke in 04, Kentucky in 11, the #1 overall in Florida and then Kentucky again in 14, and no one was giving them problems the past two years (just ask Illinois). Don’t cherry-pick facts

[@PressureFlipperZ]

ESPN still using MJ for clickbait years later Jordan is the goat 🐐

[@PbjayPbjay]

🐐 🐐 🐐 🐐 🐐 #23

[@RoadtoGloryNetsJetsUnited]

​@@PbjayPbjay🤣💯🐐

[@TeflonPurpp]

We DONE with the 90s

[@King__Tone]

@@TeflonPurppold heads trying so hard to keep the past relevant lol

[@ThatDoesntWorkForMeBrother]

I’m convinced ESPN is mailing MJ royalty checks for every time one of its shows mentions his name.

[@steplaland]

Add the women’s uconn team record in finals game, 17-1. Uconn is the Michael Jordan of college basketball schools.

[@MrNaturalSez]

"UConn is the Michael Jordan of college basketball?!? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard... and I work with Shaq!!!" --Charles Barkley

[@samc3030]

isn’t michael jordan the michael jordan of basketball?

[@calebbraswell9109]

“college basketball”***

[@austingreen1274]

😂 Astute point

[@Marshmallow-ht8me]

Jordan is the standard for basketball period. 🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐

[@user-ju7gh5ed8e]

Yall Jordan glazers make me laugh everyday. They 6-0 in championships over a time span not the best team ever college basketball 💀

[@leevenom4566]

Bill Russell 🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐

[@Marshmallow-ht8me]

@@leevenom4566 you must have Mr. Russell as the GOAT then right?

[@user-ju7gh5ed8e]

@DJMvPGoat 1) why don’t they call the UCLA teams the goat cuz they won 5 straight title? There was a time where they went 5-0 in 5 years but ain’t no one calling them the Jordan of the basketball. 2) Kobe has 1 MVP in 20 years and wasn’t the best player on his own team in his first 3 rings. That was Shaq. Sit this one out young blood. Let the grown up talk ball

[@mattmolt-bb1iw]

@DJMvPGoat Kobe only has 2 final mvps and didnt win a playoff series after age 33 stop

[@KNByam]

UCONN, the UCONN of UCONN basketball.

[@IOSALive]

ESPN, This is amazing! I can't stop smiling!

[@tristanmordecai9133]

Would love to have Stephen A learn about Cale Sanderson. Undefeated entire college wrestling career 4 time nation champ, Olympic champ, went to headcoach Penn state and have won 11 nation titles in the last 13 years and 13 in his 16 years as their head coach.

[@tigerhoods7927]

UConn bodied Purdue, solar eclipse, SC beat Iowa. Nature is healing

[@steplaland]

The Hurley family can flat out coach.

[@kgkg4118]

Is he related to Bobby Hurley?

[@dazzypeters6793]

​@@kgkg4118That's his brother

[@bradleyburton2664]

I don't think you'll ever see 2 brothers do what they've done. One brother wins back to back as a player, and the other wins back to back as a coach.

[@steplaland]

@@bradleyburton2664 you know their dad is a legendary high school coach. Absolute legend.

[@bradleyburton2664]

@steplaland oh, I'm sure. I didn't know that, but can totally believe it.

[@drew4564]

Well I can still say that the last team to beat UConn in the tournament was where I went to college NMSU Aggies

[@desireerdawson933]

I told someone uconn would win it all and by 15 points like last year. I love ❤️ Zach Edey. It broke my heart ❤️ to see him lose 💔, but i knew uconn would tear them apart. Hope purdue make it back to the final four. Good luck next March.

[@bobfttw]

The only time we've lost a national title game is when SC beat the womens team a few years back. Enjoy it my fellow UConn fans and or fellow alums. We are extremely blessed.

[@crazyman8472]

“Folks, you gotta believe, because just when people say you can’t, you *can*…” 😎 -CBS broadcast, 1999 “WE SHOCKED THE WORLD! WE SHOCKED THE WORLD!” 😁 -Khalid El-Amin, UConn, 1999 National Champion

[@rubenbon5475]

ESPN should pay Jordan for how many time they use his name for views

[@W2Tymes]

Everyone can win by using the portal, but when that coach in Colorado wants to do it, it's unfathomable 😂

[@dennisfairlie7080]

Purdue won the Center contest but lost both the Forward and Guard contests…”Excellent and Balanced” teams tend to win….

[@stephcurran1724]

New England is the basketball capital of the word nuff said

[@kingcollins3965]

Stop smoking crack!

[@JS96919]

Michael Jordan was from Chicago

[@openyoureyes0421]

“New England is the basketball capital of the word?! 🤔 kid I suggest u put the drugs down and stay in school

[@Thouplispthy]

@@JS96919no NC

[@Thouplispthy]

Not really it’s NC

[@jasonisaac9614]

Do we have to compare everything to mj? Is Home Depot's primed exterior doors on the 3rd shelf the Michael Jordan of exterior doors? It's getting ridiculous

[@theonlyplace7556]

😅

[@MrsFrizzleGaveMeLSD]

No those are the Lebron James of exterior doors, your thinking of the exterior doors at Lowes on the 2nd shelf

[@coonnfriend]

Yes it is

[@mathewsbusiness1263]

🤣💀🪦

[@MrsFrizzleGaveMeLSD]

@DJMvPGoat When in his comment did he say Lebron was better? Stop assuming stuff and learn to read son.

[@keidrienwadley21]

UCONN has been very impressive with the way they have basically manhandled in the tournament last 2 years. The way he coaches that team is 2nd to none. I can definitely see him leaving for Kentucky because they may pay him A LOT of money and it would actually give a bit of a better pool of recruits. Coach Cal did a great job with developing players for the next level, but Coach Hurley does a great job with actually developing winning basketball as a team. I don't think he necessarily needs to leave UCONN because he has built something special. Kentucky just would benefit with actually making consistent deep tournament runs.

[@bradleyburton2664]

Nah, he better sit tight. That would be like Coach K leaving Duke to go to Kentucky after winning back to back. That man ain't going anywhere.

[@gforcetv8005]

If the competition doesn’t step theirs a strong chance they can 3peat next year

[@marcelmckissic599]

Why Shannon be wanna argue ever segment 😂😂

[@samsmith6985]

Caitlin Clark is the Christian Laettner of c😊ollege basketball

[@frozenjag89]

You must have never met an old head black man they always going to argue about something, lol

[@loststoryproductions]

He starts most conversations with No even if he agrees. So you know he gonna argue lol

[@davidblack1639]

Another day another reason why ESPN is falling off so fast. Mj didn’t play for any of these schools but hey hold on to the past. This is why people want to be done with the 90’s

[@elimendoza820]

U sound like a idiot mj the goat that's why n forever they'll bring him up go watch oxygen channel

[@GoatedAtNFS]

I hate when they do these type of comparisons, he was paid to say this

[@Sicnesses23]

Yes he gets paid to do that wow imagine he gets paid to talk sports. Almost like you get paid for your job. Wow mind blown 🤯

[@marcuscooper8809]

Shannon Sharpe looks very humble 😂😂😂

[@justbuzzed8313]

I think Clingan did a good job keeping Edey out of his comfort zone (under the basket) and away (7-8 feet and farther) especially early on, and Edny was still making them awkward one handers and thats what kept Purdue in the game the first 15 - 20 minutes or so. Then Uconn's superior talent, man defense, 3 point defense, shooting, ball pressure and game pace took over (and I probably left out 5 more things they did well) ...They let the big man get his inevitable points but wiped out the rest of Purdue's average team...Purdue didn't know what hit them and had NO chance...I have been following Uconn since the Cliff Robinson/Tate George days (yup, lol) and this Uconn team (and last years) are their best & most likable teams and rank as two of the greatest in college basketball...e v e r...

[@thiccpotato1147]

Cringe comparison lol

[@sportgeek2028]

Dominance

[@kavindyadecosta8141]

So a gambling scandal will come out and Uconn takes a couple of years off?

[@lastshallbefirst5516]

Yep .. and then 3 peat like the goat

[@olivergamble838]

glazing

[@jeromedanielson4422]

6 titles, how's that for simplicity?

[@manny31115]

Shout out Jersey city , nj 🫡

[@zorrotv128]

More like the 94-95 Houston Rockets 🤣💯

[@JS96919]

How can a team be a player? That makes literally no sense at all

[@VeganIcedTea-yh5jh]

Running out of things to say

[@StoryMode-tx3wb]

Gee, I didn't realize an entire team could be one player. ESPN is just genius...what will they invent next for our awe.

[@comeonman9138]

ESPN is a mess. THIS GUY is their top guy. 😅

[@producedbybigsaybeats]

When it comes to bball chips anything other than Bill Russell is uncivilized

[@producedbybigsaybeats]

@DJMvPGoat never was the standard of winning he was hype and built up by the NBA to go global bro be for real

[@carlscott7500]

Surely Purdue got beat soundly. Stephen A. Smith made a comment about Edey not scoring for 10 minutes. Keep in mind plz that ur guards have to get you the ball and they have to get it to you in good scoring position not just get you the ball but in good scoring position especially a center..Thx..

[@HeatherGarcia-di9se]

Edey got tired after first 15 minutes 😂

[@chadrickmeridy4525]

Bruh he was the entire offense! 37 points out of 60??! Where were the other four on the court and the bench???

[@HeatherGarcia-di9se]

@@chadrickmeridy4525 that's wat I was getting at 😂n supposedly smith smh lol

[@jasonkushner3318]

Best 5 Teams of all time: 1) UConn - 6 Titles since field expanded to 64 teams, best 30 year run in NCAA History 2) Duke - 5 titles since field expanded 3) UNC - 4 Titles since field expanded, 5 since 1960 4) Kentucky - 3 Titles since field expanded, 4 titles since 1960 5) UCLA - 1 Title since field expanded, dominant run from 1964-1975

[@bradleyburton2664]

Don't forget about Villanova winning 3 since the expansion.

[@jasonkushner3318]

@@bradleyburton2664 I almost put them as #5 over UCLA and their nonsense 3 win titles in fields of 16 Teams. I think Nova could easily be #5

[@bradleyburton2664]

@jasonkushner3318 Yeah, I'm just saying based on the expansion since 1985. Like NCSTATE hasn't been to the final 4 until this year, and the only other 2 appearances they had were pre-85 when they won the title twice. The expansion has made it much more difficult. Wooden wasn't the only one repeating pre-85 like people might think or assume.

[@mrj1000]

talk to me about uconn puppies when they've matched UCLA's record from '64-'75, 10 national titles, 7 straight, 4 undefeated seasons

[@christopherbiddle8127]

Was the NIT bigger back then?

[@JustinChristopher-ov7gw]

ESPN, I am disappoint. What does LeBron have to say about the championship?

[@kingcollins3965]

Duke and Florida would bothe beat UConn back to back teams lol. Shannon smoking crack with SAS.

[@uthamanj]

2008 - 09 UNC team beat everyone by double digits 🤷🏾‍♂🤷🏾‍♂🤷🏾‍♂🤷🏾‍♂

[@LemonPepperStepper]

I came here to say this 😂

[@zacharyjacobs4486]

Come on

[@uthamanj]

@DJMvPGoat Shannon basically said, he's never seen a team beat all their opponents by double digits like UCONN......UNC literally did that 🙄🙄

[@quis363]

I feel like the mj comparison was more of a joke jab at Shannon cause lebron and what not lmaoo

[@gradel888]

UConn is the chiefs of college basketball and we’re getting sick of them along with the women winning basketball championships every year or every other year

[@daviddauda304]

Why would Dan leave he's the highest pay government job in state of Ct. And is about to get a huge pay raise. And you can tell he loves his job here and why would he, when he can maybe have more national championships.

[@marasa6624]

Stephen a be hating any players that’s not black

[@desireerdawson933]

Not true

[@UCONN_HUSKIES]

CONNECTICUT ☝🏿

[@ow2908]

Slow news day i see 😒

[@AliFrankTheTank]

6-0 🐐

[@_EmmaGrace789]

Le-steroids didn’t play hard for a championship against the Mavericks

[@makhabzaranamane6869]

This is getting ridiculous

[@gmel4967]

Three peat,,, bayybee!!

[@andrewprickett5171]

Back to back like Jordan 96,97

[@LuckyShowTime]

We’re comparing teams to MJ now?? 😂😂😂

[@bendover3653]

So Michael Jordan's not the Michael Jordan of basketball? 😂

[@stanzre]

College basketball

[@weyo14]

So they lose until scotty pippen joins, lakers, pistons get old ?

[@Stonecoldalston]

Dan Hurley not going no where he’s building a dynasty at UConn and he’s from Jersey City so he’s close to home

[@InfiniteCoreXD]

Molly bout to make Stephen a Fall asleep he been had that enough

[@Heylookitskevvin]

Ong bro 😭😂

[@dantheman8152]

Ok.....

[@marlonperkins9536]

UNC 2009 Shannon!!!

[@jamesonedwardsii4943]

Michael Jordan gets compared to anything 😭😭😭 I’m the Michael Jordan of taking dumps I never miss! 💯

[@balachow]

now they are just lebron of college. u need a 3 peat to be the mike of college

[@Ishmaelgaynor]

A man goes for 37 And thats held in check SMH

[@erikhopkins9488]

was uconn the michael jordan of college basketball when they were losing???

[@christopherbiddle8127]

He was saying MJ went 6-0 In finals like UConn. He was half joking

[@terancesmith2956]

UConn Michael Jordan of college basketball. Not lebron of college 😂

[@sportgeek2028]

UConn UConn UConn

[@freshprinceshaun]

This take makes no sense SAS but whatever its his show lol

[@xavier7clo]

Why not the LeBron James of bball

[@philb.1502]

Because Jordan's the GOAT!! What did you think?

[@Dwade1234560]

Huh

[@Redaku418]

Yo did that bald guys voice change up

[@MadMan-vu2gl]

The most overused term in sports history. Micheal jordan of this or Micheal jordan of that. It's meaningless now.

[@K-xb2qz]

I called UConn the Sam Antonio Spurs of basketball because they would win every 3 years or so but i can't say that now because they just won back to back. Something we never did( Spurs) Should have. Derek fisher. 😡. 😂. So the Micheal Jordan narrative for Uconn is accurate. They're 6-0 in championship games. UConn is unbelievable. Wow!

[@dagoat2616]

Shannon carry First Take

[@shungun4112]

Why you think Steven a sh#t brought him over

[@jreyno264]

Please stop with the mj takes

[@frederickx5173]

NCAA ruined sports

[@brandoncool63]

All this talk about Dan, He was average at URI.

[@Bankai2169]

A team needs good players in addition to a good coach. URI only had two players that were able to play at a professional level in Hurley’s tenure

[@stevenstocker7425]

Coach K was horrible at army from 1975-1980. What is your argument? Hurley took a dead UConn program and rebuilt them into once again the best basketball school in the country.

[@brandoncool63]

@stevenstocker7425 You're making my point. It's all about the players, not the coach, and uconn is never dead bro.

[@kstrazz3552]

@@brandoncool63 Why did Calipari only win 1 at Kentucky then?

[@nickcothran3307]

What is he talking about? Edey was doubled almost every time he touched ball in 2nd half. Some in 1st as well.

[@KjosephB]

Is he high?

[@mal723]

UConn Huskies, UConn Huskies, UConn Huskies!! U-C-O-N-N, UConn, UConn, UConn! Basketball Capital of the World!

[@treyhardy51]

Not the bulls but the Michael Jordan’s… we never letting this go huh?

[@jordancarrier191]

you sound dumb.

[@thomasprince7487]

UConn will give Hurley a big raise He’s going nowhere Plus he made all his bonuses 1.5 mill

[@user-lt3th5vd6o]

Definitely not more impressive then the Gators back to back. The UF hate is deep at ESPN

[@kstrazz3552]

Florida brought all the starters back Uconn lost 3

[@user-lt3th5vd6o]

@kstrazz3552 basketball school 😆 we won in football in between back to back titles 😆 stop it. No l

[@phillipharris687]

They are all the Michael Be Jordan’s from the Yellow Pages. C’ Mon Steven A. WSSU taught you better than that.

[@jmoney8448]

Yea but they’re still not uk

[@stevenstocker7425]

Your right. If you track based on winning over the past 25 years UConn is way better. And they beat Kentucky twice in the final four. 2011 and 2014. Now I know why you said this stupid comment, you are just a Kentucky fan.

[@sheltonwilliams9656]

Stephen A desperately trying to keep MJ name alive 😂😂😂😂😂 what you worried about and more importantly who paid you ? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@KingHampton-ul1iw]

KLUTCH SPORTS CEO IS THAT YOU

[@martellmiller3340]

Please stop it with the mj comparisons. And im die hard mj fan but come on yall gotta come with better content

[@ozonespec]

The Jordan championships thing is so overrated!!! I hate it!! This is a team sport. It's not tennis or golf. All the pieces have to work together to win a title. MJ had the best team all 6 championship runs. When He didn't have the best team, He lost! Period!! Stop with the 6 titles crap! sick of it!! Other all time greats don't get the respect they deserve because of the stupid Championships argument!!!

[@philb.1502]

Name one UConn player who will do anything in the NBA!! Name one!! Nobody cares!

[@RealJClay]

Stephon Castle will be a top 5 pick

[@spokcam]

The “Bulls” won those championships not “Michael Jordan”. Basketball is a team game. Teams win championships. And the Bulls went 6 for 6 in the 90’s. He may have been the best player. But he doesn’t win without his teammates. Jordan would tell you that himself. So what SAS is saying doesn’t make sense.

[@chrisgray2824]

The chic is annoying

[@meenolane7810]

This a bad topic. Just talk bout them winning. MJ ain’t nothing to do with this

[@marcusg1021]

Jordan glazing by this clown, once again.

[@troyfireball4687]

When greatness is talked bout in sports it’s Jordan stop the Stupid greatest of all time debate nobody compares anybody career to lestatpadder Shannon needs to pay his stat guy more that’s the only reason he be on basketball takes cause all he does is throw stats out there

[@T_Mula23]

Jordan ain't the only great player pucci go hate somewhere else

[@troyfireball4687]

@@T_Mula23 somebody hurt you it’s ok no hate just facts don’t get your panties in a bunch

[@JodyMan-io9yn]

We talk about Edey but UConn Center not very good he will be a role bench player