UConn’s Dan Hurley tears into officials after costly technical foul, loss to Memphis

The UConn Huskies, two-time defending national champions, experienced their first loss of the 2024-25 season at the hands of the Memphis Tigers on Monday. The Memphis Tigers, led by head coach Penny Hardaway, secured a nail-biting victory in overtime during the Maui Invitational quarterfinals, with a final score of 99-97. However, the loss for the Huskies may have been exacerbated by the actions of UConn head coach Dan Hurley.

The game took a dramatic turn when Huskies forward Liam McNeely was called for an offensive foul with just 40.3 seconds remaining in overtime. In a moment of frustration, Hurley directed profanities towards an official, resulting in a technical foul. This allowed Memphis’ P.J. Carter to sink four crucial free throws, ultimately tipping the scales in favor of the Tigers and snapping UConn’s impressive 17-game winning streak.

Following the game, Hurley expressed his discontent with the officiating, particularly criticizing the crucial call made against McNeely. Despite his fiery demeanor, Hurley maintained that the call was unjust and had a significant impact on the outcome of the game. The coach’s emotional response to the call was evident as he dropped to his knees on the court.

In addition to the controversial call against McNeely, two other technical fouls were called on UConn during the game. One was issued to a trainer early in the matchup, while the other was given to forward Samson Johnson following a physical altercation with a Memphis player. Hurley voiced his frustration over the lack of calls in Johnson’s favor throughout the game, highlighting his ripped jersey as evidence of the rough play he endured.

Despite entering the game as the No. 4 team in the nation, the Huskies faltered in the face of the Tigers’ tenacity. Hurley’s impassioned reactions on the sidelines and post-game comments reflected the team’s disappointment in the loss. Looking ahead, the Huskies will regroup and face Colorado in the losers’ side of the bracket.

In conclusion, the UConn Huskies’ first loss of the season against the Memphis Tigers was a hard-fought battle marred by contentious calls and emotional outbursts. The defeat serves as a humbling experience for the two-time champions, who will now look to bounce back and reclaim their winning ways in the remainder of the season.