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Meet UConn’s new European big man, who’s finding a home with Dan Hurley
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- Meet UConn’s new European big man, who’s finding a home with Dan Hurley
STORRS — Oskar Giltay had seen the videos on social media, the 30, 60 or 90-second windows into Dan Hurley's intense, volatile persona. He knew he wanted to play for the most successful coach in college basketball right now, but wasn't entirely sure what would be in store when he left Stanford and transferred to UConn.
Now he has the context to Hurley's madness, in or out of March.
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"Before I got to know him, I was more nervous about it," Giltay said. "Because I'd seen some videos on TikTok. Since I've been here, he means everything in the best way possible. He means everything to make you better, so you want to listen to what he has to say because you know he wants to make you better. It's way better than I expected."
Giltay gravitated to UConn, and vice versa, after Eric Reibe transferred out to Southern Cal. It was essentially a trade of European-born centers who will work alongside the presumptive starter. Reibe, from Germany, played in 40 games, averaging 13.7 minutes last year, holding things down when Tarris Reed Jr. was injured or in foul trouble, showing several flashes of intriguing ability. Though he figured to play a larger role in 2026-27, he transferred out.
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In Giltay, 6 feet 11 and 240, UConn has an agile big man who made his presence felt as a freshman in the ACC with his defense, averaging 1.4 blocks per game, despite playing 14 1/2 minutes. He averaged 3.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and shot 62.7 percent from the floor.
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"We wanted to have a complimentary center that brings a different skill set, a guy that brings more speed, more mobility," Hurley said, "and a different look at center."Na'jai Hines, transfer from Seton Hall, will be the primary post player. Both he and Giltay are sophomores, playing into UConn's method of getting transfers in early in their careers for development, especially big men.
Giltay, born in a small town in France, grew up in Bilzen, Belgium and played all across Europe. At Stanford, he played the post position more conventionally; at UConn, where Hurley likes to implement ideas culled from Europe, Giltay has a comfort level. He's one of four with European roots joining the roster, including Nils Machowsky (Germany), Egor Amosov (Russia) and Elmir Dzafic (Bosnia and Herzegovina).
"Coach Hurley just wants me to use my mobility, run the floor, set screens, get rebounds and really just use my motor as a weapon against other teams," Giltay said. "… My coach in Belgium taught me a lot, the hand-off game, a lot of details and it's all coming back now. It's pretty similar to European style basketball, a lot of screens, hand-offs, the big (men) don't necessarily stay underneath the rim, they get out to the perimeter and they're more involved in the game, so that's great. My role (at Stanford) was to play underneath the rim, make space for the guards. It's a different type of play."
Giltay injured his ankle in the first scrimmage this summer, and didn't get back on the court until the last week of summer sessions. He played full out in the practice and scrimmage open to donors last Friday, and he helped "Team Gray" to a victory.
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"I was impressed with Oskar today, based on the fact he missed six weeks and this was this first live week," Hurley said, "and he was able to be productive really his first time running with the team."
Giltay's first language was Dutch, with a little German. Playing with American players in with Hugo Limburg United club Belgium, his practices were mostly in English, so he has no language barrier here. So far from home, he enjoyed the spectacular redwood-lined campus at Stanford, and learned to be self-sufficient on the long road trips all the way back to the East Coast in that mega-conference.
"It made me become more independent, more structured," Giltay said. "When we were on the road with Stanford, we were gone a whole week, so you had to plan everything ahead. Made me more structured, more individual, take care of myself."
He was looking to be more "basketball focused," he said, when the opportunity to come to UConn and play for Dan Hurley presented itself.
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"I would say he's awesome," Giltay said. "He pushes everyone to be their best, he cares about the details, he teaches you a lot about the game, motivates you. He's one of the best coaches of all time in college basketball, it's an honor to be able to play for him, so you want to give everything you've got for him."
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