Giving the remarks out back in mid-March, UConn head coach Dan Hurley limited any expectations people were forming about the team securing a three-peat. “This team has faced a lot of challenges. We’ve had to battle the whole year. So am I supposed to be going into this NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed again and being in a dominant position again? I’m not entitled to that,” he said. Sure, the squad had accomplished the impossible task of winning back-to-back NCAA championships. However, Hurley himself realized the competition was tougher this year. In the end, he was right to feel cautious, as UConn’s hopes of a three-peat recently came crashing down after its recent loss against the Florida Gators. Though Hurley seemed prepared to handle the disappointment, it was no surprise that finally facing it got the head coach emotional.
However, while Hurley is pretty infamous for his angry rants, he has openly admitted that he cries just as much. Last year, he told FOX Sports’ John Fanta, “I’m a crier. I laugh, I yell and I cry. Jim Valvano said that’s a full day.” So, it did not come as a shock that when the Head Coach, who otherwise seemed prepared to handle the disappointment, had to finally face the truth, it made him emotional. And the full day? Barring the laughing part, it too unfolded just like he said. As he walked off the court yesterday, he erupted into a yell, warning the next team to play on the same court.
Minutes later, in a post-game Q&A session, the anger gave way to tears and he looked visibly downcast. Despite how he was feeling, Hurley gave the credit to the rival squad and his players. Throughout it all, Hurley kept a graceful composure and refrained from putting any sort of blame on his team. And was able to pull out a small laugh when the interviewer said that the team ‘mucked it up’.
“This year has been a…. it’s been a real battle. We’ve battled and, you know, we’ve had to battle and battle and battle and, you know, at times, you know, I don’t think we liked each other a whole lot with some of the things we had to go through together,” said Hurley. “But I don’t think I’ll ever love a team more uh than how hard they fought for what we were trying to accomplish and for the the honor they played with today”.
“I don’t think I’ll ever love a team more”
Dan Hurley loves the way his @UConnMBB team battled today.#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/auOZtPOAZe
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 23, 2025
UConn Huskies’ recent loss not only brought down the hope for a three-peat. It also ended the 13-game tournament win streak that tied Duke’s record from 1991-1993 as the longest in modern men’s college basketball history. Against Florida, a No. 1 seed, UConn showed flashes of its championship pedigree. The Huskies led 52-46 with 10 minutes remaining, stifling the Gators’ offense to 35% shooting through 30 minutes. Freshman Liam McNeeley scored 22 points, while Karaban added 14.
And as emotional as Hurley was, he knew his team had fought and it seemed like he didn’t have many regrets. “There’s some honor, I guess, in the way that this went down,” Hurley said. “It’s a tough loss. We played in a manner that gave us a real chance to win. Credit Clayton. He made some NBA-level 3s off the dribble to beat us. It took that for somebody to put us down in this tournament after winning obviously a bunch in a row.”
Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr. made a 3-pointer with 2:48 minutes remaining. This gave the Gators squad a 62-61 lead, aka its first lead of the second half. The 3-pointer was followed by a Will Richard dunk off a Liam McNeeley turnover. While Solo Ball’s 3-pointer tied the score back up, Florida then went on that 8-0 run by focusing on a couple of key offensive rebounds. UConn battled on, but the Gators eventually secured the win by a 77-75 score.
Now, Hurley’s tears weren’t just about the loss. They were about feeling drained after having put all his passion into something and realizing that tomorrow, he wouldn’t have the same thing to look forward to. They were telling of a coach who pours himself into his craft. As he told CBS’s Jon Wertheim earlier in March, “If you’re only in it for the championship pursuit and none of that other stuff means anything to you anymore… then you should get out.” Hence, his fans can rest assured that he is not getting out, he’s just facing a normal offseason to get back to himself as a coach.
It was certainly nice to see Dan Hurley being graceful during the post-game Q&A session. However, it was also a bit surreal. After all, his mood in the immediate aftermath of the game was a contrasting one. But, we guess, it was just so his full day could turn a full corner.
Dan Hurley gave an angry warning to Baylor amidst referees’ alleged wrong calls
When the hopes for a three-peat are evaporated in the wind, one needs to pass the blame somewhere. Dan Hurley chose the on-court officials. Throughout the game, the UConn HC was reportedly upset with the referees and the calls against UConn. Especially when Alex Karaban drove the baseline and missed a layup amid heavy contact and well, no whistle. “The Karaban drive on the baseline, you know, there was a lot of contact there,” Hurley fumed to reporters.
Rightfully so, after all, the Huskies had a 61-59 lead with 3:05 left in the game at that point. Losing the advantage allowed Walter Clayton Jr. to hit a 3-pointer, and a turnover allowed a dunk from Will Richard, thereby giving the Gators a 64-61 lead. In light of this, Hurley decided to give a warning to the Baylor Bears, who were set to face Duke next.
“I hope they don’t f— you like they f—— us. I hope they don’t do that to you, Baylor.”
Dan Hurley walking off the court:
“I hope they don’t f*** you like they f***ed us, Baylor. I really hope they don’t” pic.twitter.com/H9Iz81utv8
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 23, 2025
UConn committed 21 fouls to Florida’s 17, yet shot 19-of-22 from the line compared to Florida’s 22-of-34- numbers that made Hurley very angry. Analyst Seth Davis also took a playful jab, tweeting, “If y’all were tired of Dan Hurley’s chirping before this game……“. And the Baylors did end up losing, so luck was truly not on Dan Hurley’s side.
It’s too early to know where the head coach goes from here. Whatever it will be, however, he will definitely be using the memory of the recent loss to fuel his drive.
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