Dan Hurley has made a habit out of chewing out the officials on the UConn Huskies way to back-to-back national championships in men’s college basketball. On Monday, the refs finally got the last laugh on Hurley, and it cost his team the game.
The Memphis Tigers beat UConn, 99-97, in overtime in the opening round of the Maui Invitational. Memphis led by 13 points with only four minutes in regulation, but the Huskies stormed back to force overtime behind some clutch shot-making from freshman Liam McNeeley and sophomore Solo Ball. The fireworks really started in the extra period.
UConn had the ball with the score tied at 92 with about 40 seconds left. Star forward Alex Karaban missed a go-ahead three-pointer. McNeeley soared for the offensive rebound over a Tigers defender, but the refs called an over-the-back foul. Hurley lost his mind, and was given a rare technical foul by the refs. Watch Hurley’s outburst here.
Memphis guard PJ Carter went to the line for four straight free throws — two for the technical foul on Hurley, two for the foul on McNeeley — and knocked them all down. That was ball game.
Here’s a look at the offensive foul called on McNeeley:
Hurley was working the refs throughout the game like the he always does. The refs allowed him to get away with it before T’ing him up in crunch-time and changing the complexion of the game.
Hurley blasted the officiating after the game. Watch his comments here:
Dan Hurley’s thoughts on today’s officiating:
“I had a lot of issues with what went on. That over-the-back call… there was a Memphis player that made a half-ass effort, Liam McNeeley high-pointed the rebound, and for that call to be made… was a complete joke. I may have lost… pic.twitter.com/w5AxFsZF5d
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) November 25, 2024
“For that call to be made at that point in the game is a complete joke,” Hurley said of the over-the-back call on McNeeley.
Hurley also refused to accept accountability for costing his team the win. These are two amazing quotes:
Dan Hurley tells @CBSSports he doesn’t feel his OT technical cost UConn the game.
“I think it was the shitty calls,” he said, adding, “I would expect to come to play in an event, and I don’t know too many back-to-back national championship teams that get that type of a whistle.”
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) November 25, 2024
Hurley told me he believes he got the T in OT not because of cursing at the official, but because he fell to the ground in disbelief over McNeeley’s over-the-back call.
He’s also aware of how his behavior came off.
“What I gave the cameras today was Oppenheimer,” Hurley said.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) November 25, 2024
UConn had three players foul out in the loss. Memphis breaks a 17-game winning streak for the Huskies dating back to last season. It’s the first time UConn has lost since Feb. 20.
