Sports

Dan Hurley Appeared To Make Contact With A Referee Moments After UCONN’s Go-Ahead Shot

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© Geoff Burke-Imagn Images


The UConn basketball team is headed to the Final Four after beating Duke in dramatic fashion over the weekend. Dan Hurley’s antics in the closing moments of that contest are now being scrutinized.

The head coach appeared to contact a referee after celebrating the Huskies‘ game-winning shot. Did the apparent headbutt warrant a technical foul?

That question has the internet split. It would’ve provided a sour end to an incredible comeback bid had Duke won on late free throws. There are some, though, that believe Hurley violated the rulebook.

Dan Hurley appeared to headbutt a referee.

The Huskies trailed for the large majority of its Elite Eight matchup with the Blue Devils. They looked destined for an NCAA Tournament exit early in the contest.

Duke led by 19 in the first half, and 15 at the halftime break. No top-seeded team had every blown a lead so big.

UConn erased the double-digit deficit across the final 20 minutes of action. It ended the game with a go-ahead three-pointer just before the buzzer.

Duke had the ball with a two-point lead on that final possession. All it needed to do was hold on and get fouled to ice the game at the free throw line. Instead, it turned the ball over to give the Huskies a chance.

The UConn bench erupted after Braylen Mullins’ shot went in. Players briefly ran onto the court before scurrying back to the sidelines to avoid a technical foul.

Dan Hurley lost control in a moment of shock.

Was a technical foul warranted?

The NCAA Rulebook discusses making contact with an official. A Class A Unsporting Technical Infraction occurs if bench personnel commit an unsportsmanlike act to include:

Disrespectfully contacting an official or making a threat of physical intimidation or harm to include pushing, shoving, spitting, or attempting to make physical contact with an official.

–Rule 10 / Section 3 / Art. 2h

One could argue that Hurley’s actions were intimidating, though he was not threatening to harm the referee. It’s also not 100% evident that he made contact. Maybe the angle made it look worse than it was.

Whatever the case, the internet quickly reacted to the clip.

Former Wisconsin player Sam Dekker said, “I have no bias here. This is a tech 10/10 times.”

Sportscaster Chris Williamson wrote, “Anybody else doing that in THAT moment would’ve gotten a tech there.”

Others disagreed. They were glad the game was not decided at the free throw line.

“The ref clearly is talking to Hurley, but the building is so loud Hurley leans in to hear what he’s saying,” commented this fan. “This is a nothingburger.”

A technical foul was not called on Dan Hurley. UConn won the game, 73-72. The Huskies will now move onto the Final Four to face Illinois.