UConn men’s basketball Coach Dan Hurley’s latest antics with the officials were captured on broadcast cameras Tuesday night, as the Huskies outlasted Butler in overtime to win their 15th straight game at the XL Center in Hartford.
The veteran coach, who led the Huskies back-to-back national championships over the past two seasons, he has become known for letting officials know exactly how he feels. Tuesday night was no different, but Hurley’s choice of words against an official immediately became a viral moment on social media.
UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley watches from the sidelines as they take on the Butler Bulldogs at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on January 21, 2025 in Storrs, Connecticut. (David Butler II-Imagn images)
Late in the first half, with UConn leading by 10, Hurley approached a referee after he felt a foul should have been called on a defensive rebound attempt.
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But as Hurley made his case, the referee turned his back on the coach. That’s when the broadcast picked up Hurley’s epic one-liner.
“Don’t turn your back on me, I’m the best coach in the damn sport.”
Hurley did not deny making the comment in his postgame presser, explaining that he was looking for more “communication” from the officials.
“Did I say that,” Hurley replied with a grin. ‘Oh yes. I’m going to sound like an asshole here. I also want some level of communication.”
UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley watches from the sidelines as they take on the Butler Bulldogs at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on January 21, 2025 in Storrs, Connecticut. (David Butler II-Imagn images)
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Hurley went a step further to defend himself, adding that his interactions with officials are not unique, but his camera time is.
“I just wish they would point the camera at the other coach more often,” he continued. “I just wish they would show that other coaches lost their minds with the referees in others Big East Games that I coach where I look – going into a timeout where I don’t talk to officials. I see the other coaches as demonstrative as I am.
“But of course I made the camera for myself. I’m not the victim. I just wish they didn’t have the camera with me 90% of the time. Unless they feel like the driving ratings and more are a –holes on Twitter where clips of me can be posted from a game and they (can say) ‘Look how big of a monster he is. He’s yelling at a referee again.’
Alex Karaban, #11 of the Connecticut Huskies, reacts after scoring and fouling during overtime of an NCAA basketball game at the XL Center on January 21, 2025 in Hartford, Connecticut. The Huskies defeated the Bulldogs 80-78 in overtime. (Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
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UConn had won 28 straight at home before losing to Creighton on Saturday, but they rebounded on Tuesday behind the performance of Solo Ball, who scored a career-high 23 points in the 80-78 overtime victory. above Butler.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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