Throughout his coaching career, Dan Hurley has never been one to go easy on the officials. And honestly, officials give him plenty of leeway to complain. But every ref has their limit, and on Monday, Hurley crossed that line at the worst moment.
It essentially lost his team the game in the process.
In the opening round of UConn’s Maui Invitational matchup with Memphis, the Huskies overcame a double-digit deficit in the final 2.5 minutes to force overtime. Momentum was clearly on UConn’s side. But when Liam McNeeley was called for an over-the-back foul, Hurley couldn’t help himself.
Rather than let the (correct) call go in a tie game, Hurley berated the officials. And it doesn’t take expert lip-reading skills to see that Hurley got personal with it too.
Oh my god a ref FINALLY stood up to Dan Hurley and gave him a tech pic.twitter.com/aCL1RD4Ana
— NCAA Buzzer Beaters & Game Winners (@NCAABuzzerBters) November 25, 2024
Hurley was called for the technical, which sent P.J. Carter to the line for four three throws. He made all of them.
What would have been a one-possession game, turned into two just like that. And it had nothing to do with the players on the court. UConn was able to get a final look at the end, but those two points were so costly in the 99-97 loss.
Hurley’s antics completely changed that game.
