MILWAUKEE (AP) — UConn coach Dan Hurley has added another chapter to his history of battles with officials as March Madness looms.
Hurley was ejected after picking up two technical fouls with one second left in the fourth-ranked Huskies’ 68-62 loss to Marquette on Saturday. Hurley argued that UConn’s Silas Demary Jr. was fouled by Marquette’s Ben Gold as he drove to the basket with the Huskies trailing 64-62.
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Hurley approached John Gaffney and pressed his chest against the officer’s right shoulder to express his displeasure. Hurley said he never bumped into Gaffney, although some replays suggested otherwise.
“You can screenshot anything you want,” Hurley said. “I don’t feel like I have any connection to John. I don’t believe I have a connection.”
DeMarie’s breakaway was not called a foul. Marquette’s Chase Ross grabbed a rebound, was fouled and then hit four of six free throws to seal the victory and prevent UConn from sharing the Big East regular-season title with No. 18 St. John’s. Two of the free throws were due to on-field fouls and the other four were due to technical fouls.
Hurley did say he yelled, “Foul! Foul!” to the back of Gaffney’s head, which advocated bullish gold. But he repeatedly said he did not believe he encountered the official. Cameras show Hurley shaking his head as he leaves the floor after being ejected.
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“We are aware of the situation and are reviewing it,” Big East spokesman Mike Laprey said in response to a message seeking comment on the incident.
Because Hurley believes he did not make any physical contact with the official, he is not expected to face any additional disciplinary action before Wednesday’s Big East Conference championship game in New York. UConn is waiting to see which team it will face in Thursday’s Big East quarterfinals.
“I’ve been evicted before and I’m back there,” Hurley said. “This is not my first rodeo.”
This is of course true.
As Hurley led UConn to back-to-back national championships in 2023 and 2024, cementing himself as one of the top coaches in football, his frequent run-ins with officials have become a common sight on social media. Perhaps the most high-profile example came last year, when cameras showed Hurley loudly criticizing referees as he walked into the tunnel following UConn’s NCAA tournament loss to Florida last season.
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“Listen to our referees, that’s what this league is about,” Hurley said. “I won’t comment on that.”
Hurley had just made that comment, adding that Saturday’s second foul on UConn’s Talis Reid Jr. was “a joke” and “a really bad call.”
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