Dan Hurley’s decision to turn down a $70 million offer from the Los Angeles Lakers seemed like a move to secure his place among the coaching elite. But after UConn’s crushing 68-62 loss to, a 72-year-old Coach, the basketball world is questioning if his gamble paid off. With a legacy-building opportunity in the NBA now slipping through his fingers, some fans aren’t holding back in calling out Hurley’s choice. Did he make a monumental mistake?

As the basketball community responded, one fan sarcastically quipped on X, “I just realized Dan Hurley could be coaching Luka right now. Yikes.” This comment referred to Hurley’s decision to turn down the Lakers’ job just months earlier.

Last June, Hurley had been offered the Lakers’ head coaching position but ultimately rejected the opportunity to pursue a third consecutive national championship with UConn. But now, fans couldn’t ignore the irony. Hurley had chosen to stay at UConn and coach college basketball, yet the loss to Pitino’s St. John’s felt like a slap in the face.

As Hurley sat in the aftermath, trying to explain away his team’s failure, his words rang hollow. “If you had told me, we’d out-rebound those guys by 10, I would have said, ‘What are you on?’” he said after the game, seemingly grasping at silver linings. But fans weren’t buying it. After all, UConn had dominated the boards, yet still lost the game. It was a defeat that made Hurley’s earlier words in late January of this year—“Don’t turn your back on me, I’m the best coach in the f—— sport”—seem all the more ironic. The Huskies’ mistakes and Pitino’s experience were evident, and fans wasted no time weighing in.

From $70 Million to a bitter loss: Fans roast Dan Hurley as Pitino’s experience outshines UConn

One fan twisted the knife, saying, “Dan Hurley, thanks again for passing on the Lakers job. Sincerely, @jj_redick. Go, Duke.” And just like that, the floodgates opened. The online reaction was brutal, with critics lining up to take their shots. Hurley has always carried himself like a top-tier coach, but with the Lakers’ future looking brighter after the Luka trade, his decision to stay at UConn has become prime fodder for haters eager to remind him of what he left on the table.

Then, the jabs kept coming. “Rick Pitino is that guy, Dan Hurley doesn’t have shit on him,” said one fan, summing up the sentiment of many online. Fans weren’t just poking fun at Hurley’s loss—they were outright comparing him to Pitino’s legacy.  With two championships to his name and a coaching career that includes stints with Boston Celtics and St. John’s, Pitino’s experience far outweighs Hurley’s. While Hurley has two consecutive championships, his 157-65 record at UConn and 308-170 overall pale in comparison to Pitino’s 751-306.

Hurley’s rejection of the Lakers’ $70 million offer became the perfect target for fans who couldn’t help but relish his fall from grace—especially after he had promised to return with a three-peat to prove everyone wrong.

For UConn, the game was a harsh reminder that sometimes, even the best teams can be outplayed by veteran coaching. While Hurley may have outlasted many of his rivals in the NCAA, this loss showed that no matter how many championships he’s won, he’s still learning the ropes.

One fan even went so far as to say, “Dan Hurley turned down $70 million from the Lakers just to get schooled by a 72-year-old Rick Pitino at home.”

Sure, Pitino might be 72, but let’s not forget that age is just a number when you’ve accomplished what he has. With two championships in 1996 and 2013, seven Final Four appearances, and multiple conference titles, Pitino’s resume dwarfs many in the game. He’s coached the Boston Celtics, led St. John’s to greatness, and boasts a coaching career that includes three Big East tournament titles, five SEC tournament wins, and more. It’s a loss to a coaching legend if nothing else.

One final comment from a fan summed up the mood perfectly: “My man Rick Pitino beat the hell out of little Dan Hurley. This is what happens when MEN meet little tool bag boys. St. John’s runs the Big East. Thank you Rick Pitino. Thank you so much. @StJohnsShirtGuy.”

But let’s pump the brakes on labeling who the “men” and “boys” are here. Both teams gave it their all, but St. John’s simply outplayed UConn in key areas. From a 75% free throw shooting performance to UConn’s 63.6%, St. John’s also out-assisted UConn 12 to 11, recorded 9 steals compared to UConn’s 4, and committed only 2 turnovers to UConn’s 7. The Red Storm ran the fast break better, too, with 12 points to UConn’s 7, and dominated the paint with 26 points inside compared to UConn’s 22. It was a game of execution, and Pitino’s squad executed better.

With St. John’s riding a 10-game winning streak, Hurley’s loss became a focal point for fans across the basketball community. His $70 million rejection had many questioning whether he had made the right choice. Was he better off accepting the Lakers’ offer, where the competition would be even fiercer but perhaps less humbling?

In the end, the final score was a testament to the power of experience. While Hurley may have been tempted by the allure of the NBA, it was Pitino’s game plan that left a lasting impression. And for UConn fans, it’s back to the drawing board.