Dan Hurley isn’t one to mince words-and after Tuesday night’s dominant 92-60 win over Xavier, he made it crystal clear how he feels about his point guard, Silas Demary Jr., being left off the Bob Cousy Award midseason top 10 list.
“I really am not aware. But now I’m aware, and I’m gonna go (bleeping) nuts,” Hurley said postgame, with the kind of fire that’s become a signature of his coaching style.
And honestly, it’s hard to blame him.
Demary was everywhere in the win-17 points, eight assists, four boards, two steals-and once again looked like the engine behind a team that’s now 22-1 overall and a perfect 12-0 in Big East play. The Huskies are rolling, and Demary’s fingerprints are all over it.
“There’s obviously a lot of deserving players, but we’re one of the best teams in the country this year, we’ve played to it,” Hurley said. “Obviously our resumé says what our resumé says.
He’s played at an incredibly high level. I guess what hurts our players in these types of situations is the balance.”
That “balance” Hurley’s talking about? It’s the byproduct of a deep, loaded roster.
Demary isn’t out there chasing stats-he’s running the show. He’s the fifth-leading scorer on the team at 10.9 points per game, but he leads the Huskies in assists (6.2) and steals (1.7), and he’s fourth in rebounding (4.3).
He’s also having the most efficient season of his college career, shooting 48.2% from the field, a blistering 47.1% from three, and 81% at the line. Those are elite numbers, especially for a point guard who’s tasked with managing one of the most balanced offenses in the country.
“There’s just 10 point guards better than him?” Hurley asked rhetorically.
“Two-way players… I think the most important thing with Silas is he’s the quarterback of the team that’s got a chance to win some things this year, and he’s playing his way into becoming an NBA player. So yeah, I know right now he’s getting the attention of a lot of NBA teams and, again, I don’t know the other 10 players and I’m not gonna sit here and take shots at them.
But that’s (expletive). Just total (expletive).”
Demary’s cool, collected response matched the poise he shows on the floor.
“That’s an individual award, and that’s something I’m not really worried about,” he said. “I think the end goal is winning the national championship, and I think if I can come here and just do what I need to do with my teammates and we play hard every night, everything else will take care of itself.”
That team-first mentality is exactly what’s made Demary such a vital piece for the Huskies. He’s not just a floor general-he’s a tone-setter on both ends.
Since Big East play began, he’s been lights out from deep, hitting a league-best 56.8% from beyond the arc. That’s a massive leap from his 37.4% mark last season, and it’s changed the way defenses have to guard him.
“Toward the beginning of the year, people were going under (screens),” Demary said. “I think last year I shot a good percent, so it was just getting my confidence back and then just being able to pick and choose the spots where I can let it fly.”
He credits film sessions and conversations with the coaching staff-and with veteran forward Alex Karaban-for helping him find those moments within the flow of the offense. And when he picks his spots, it’s not just about scoring. It’s about keeping everyone involved.
“He’s the quarterback of a very talented team with a lot of weapons out there,” Hurley said. “So it’s not easy to figure out how to get your own, how to shoot, score, create, get to the rim, get your own, but then also get Braylon (Mullins) enough shots, get Solo (Ball) enough shots, get Alex enough shots, get the centers the ball, get your guys off the bench shots.
It’s not easy to be a quarterback on a team that’s got the type of guys we have on offense. But while he’s done that, he’s changed our defense completely.”
That last point is key-Demary’s defense has been game-changing. At 6-foot-4 with a strong frame and quick feet, he’s a nightmare at the point of attack.
He pressures the ball, disrupts passing lanes, and rebounds like a wing. That two-way impact is why he’s now ranked No. 7 nationally in EvanMiya.com’s Bayesian Performance Rating, the highest mark in the Big East.
So yeah, Hurley’s frustration is understandable. Demary might not have the flashiest box scores every night, but he’s doing everything-and doing it at a high level-for one of the best teams in the country.
And while the snub stings, there’s still plenty of season left. If Demary keeps playing like this, it’ll be hard to keep him off any list.
Challenge turns chaotic
In the second half, Hurley tried to challenge a call after a collision between Malachi Smith and Xavier’s Anthony Robinson sent the ball out of bounds. The refs initially gave possession to Xavier, and Hurley went to the monitor hoping to flip it. Instead, things took a sharp left turn.
Not only did Hurley lose the challenge, but Smith was hit with a flagrant foul after review-and walked off with a bloody nose.
“Worst case scenario,” Hurley said. “I didn’t know that was possible.
Plus, I looked over at Malachi who was coming off the court and he might’ve had his nose broken… I thought (the challenge) was just about possession, and when you’re looking at the iPad, you’re looking for possession. You’re not looking at it saying like, ‘They could call a flagrant.’”
Still, even that bizarre sequence couldn’t take the shine off another dominant night for the Huskies, who extended their winning streak to 18 games. Next up: a marquee showdown with St. John’s at Madison Square Garden on Friday.
And if Silas Demary Jr. keeps playing like this, the Cousy Award committee might want to take another look.