Dan Hurley was irate with college basketball officials at the Maui Invitational on Monday. The head coach of UConn melted down in a fit of rage and picked up a technical foul less than five minutes to the game.
Mind you, this incident took place at 9:30 in the morning while he was wearing a Hawaiian-themed shirt.
Maui was unable to host its legendary college basketball tournament over Thanksgiving week last season because of wildfires that tragically devastated the region. It made its triumphant return to the Lahaina Civic Center in 2024. Huskies fans packed the gym for their opener against the Memphis Tigers.
Hurley is known to be one of the most explosive personalities, not just in his sport, but all of sports. The two-time reigning national champion is something of a throwback, no-nonsense coach who will not shy away from conflict. He often blows up on the officials when he thinks his team is being treated unfairly.
UConn was called for four fouls in the first four minutes on Monday— two of which on senior center Samson Johnson. Memphis, meanwhile, was tagged with just one. The discrepancy did not go over well with Hurley, who made sure to let the nearby referee know that he was displeased.
It's 3 minutes into the game
— Ryan Cassidy (@ryancassidycbb) November 25, 2024
Here's Dan Hurley pic.twitter.com/hvxZTxTUvo
Officials initially told the 51-year-old to settle down. He did not listen. His diatribe continued throughout the entire four-minute timeout. The Huskies huddled without him. Hurley kept yelling.
To make the whole thing even funnier, ESPN’s broadcast team came back from break and told the story of how every head coach at the Maui Invitational was paired with a local school kid for a free-throw shooting exhibition over the weekend. It was supposed to be a wholesome moment from Hawaii.
As soon as the story concluded, the camera cut back to the UConn sideline. Dan Hurley was still fuming and his bench picked up a technical foul. Not him. His bench.
UPDATE: Dan Hurley is still angry!
The game ultimately continued into overtime and Memphis won by two. Hurley received a lot of blame for the loss because he picked up a technical foul with less than a minute left in the extra period. The Tigers went on a run from there.
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
However, the head coach himself does not believe he is at fault. Hurley went scorched earth on the officiating — throughout the entire game — during a fiery press conference.
Dan Hurley's thoughts on today's officiating:
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) November 25, 2024
"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
Dan Hurley is the character college basketball so desperately needs. Not only is the best coach in the country at the moment (two rings in two years), he brings an old-school mentality to a new generation. It is must-see T.V. every time Hurley and the Huskies are on the floor!