People Who Hate Dan Hurley and UConn Hate Sports!

The 2026 Big East regular season ended in one of the most confusing ways possible.  The Huskies dismantled their rival St. Johns at home on February 26th behind Tarris Reed Jr.’s 20 point 11 rebound and 6 block effort.  A game that reminded the country that when UConn wants too it can simply punish opponents.  St. Johns missed its last 24 FG attempts and scurried to the buses more embarrassed than Jim Levenstein after his night the Nadia. Ten days later it was the Huskies turn to blow their load too early as Shaka Smart’s measly Marquette Golden Eagles sucked the life out of UConn fans, and gave the Big East crown to St. Johns.  Dan Hurley didn’t bust a nut that night (well not during the game anyway), but he did ejaculate bodily fluids all over referee Jon Gaffney’s head without making any actual physical contact (I’m not touching you).

This sparked the usual college basketball blowhards to start chirping about Hurley's antics.  From the outsider's perspective I get it.  It appears out of control and childish.  Why can’t he just take the loss, shake hands, and walk off the court? The people saying this are the same people that get kicked out of their 6-year-olds soccer game for yelling at the 12-year-old referee for missing an out of bounds call.  The point is the best part about sports is the emotional rollercoaster you get to ride during the heat of competition.  Sometimes it gets the best of you, and you look like a fool on national TV.  But when you pour everything, you have into making yourself and the group of people around you into the best possible versions of themselves and the results don’t work out the way you expected you should be angry.  In a culture that loves mediocre effort but expects maximum results it's no wonder people find Hurley to be too much.  

If you listen to the players at UConn however they will tell you the true story.  It's not out of fear that these guys back their coach: It's out of understanding.  They see how much Hurley and his staff invest in them. The hours of preparation, the consistent level of energy brought to each practice, the endless film study and game prep.  All done for them.  To help them reach the top of the mountain and achieve greatness not just in basketball.  That's why they offered to pay the $25,000 fine Hurley got after being ejected against Marquette.

The best part is if things go as planned in a couple nights, we will have UConn v St. Johns in the Big East Tournament Final.  The rubber match we all want to see that promises to be a spectacle at Madison Square Garden.  A night that will be fueled by anger, determination, and grit.  Matched with equal amounts of sportsmanship and respect.  If that doesn’t sound appealing to you than you can always tune into the ACC Tournament.