One thing about the Huskies? Win or lose, it’s Dan Hurley’s reactions that gather attention. UConn led the way in their Big 12/Big East clash against No. 15 Baylor, even without Alex Karaban. But while the Huskies had been putting in work on the court, the buzz wasn’t just about their gameplay—it was about Hurley’s surprising sideline behavior. The fiery coach showed a different side, but the public opinion? That’s still the same old story.

On the court, sophomore Solo Ball stepped up big time in the first half, knocking down three 3-pointers to lead UConn with nine points. Freshman Liam McNeeley chipped in seven points, went 5-of-5 from the free throw line, and grabbed four rebounds. Baylor, though, was a beast in the paint, shooting 59% from the field, compared to UConn’s 42%. 

Even so, the Huskies out-rebounded the Bears 15-10 and managed to go on a 9-0 run. Well, off the court, a page covering Baylor’s athletics didn’t hold back, claiming, “Dan Hurley has bullied the referees into submission. These are some awful calls going against us. Has completely shifted the game,” as Huskies took the lead. 

And while the UConn coach was caught cheerfully chatting with a ref- rare footage- the internet didn’t buy it. Well, looking at his track record, it wasn’t exactly a surprise. The tide began turning after UConn’s tough 99-97 overtime loss to Memphis in the Maui Invitational. 

The 51-year-old coach’s fiery reaction to a controversial “over-the-back” foul on Liam McNeeley and the technical foul that followed sparked frustration among fans. The call gave Memphis free throws at a critical moment, and Hurley’s postgame outburst only made things worse, leaving supporters disappointed. 

Since then, the lore has continued. Even though this game showed a softer side of Hurley, hugging a ref, the tension around his fiery reputation remains. Fans can’t quite believe these moments of calm, and they are at it again. 

Fans sound off despite Dan Hurley’s new ‘friendly’ behavior

They say you can’t hurl fire and then soothe it with a gentle breeze, and that’s exactly what fans are calling out Dan Hurley for. Over the years, his fiery personality has earned him both praise and criticism, but the recent antics? Fans aren’t having it. “Dan Hurley has become extremely unlikeable in the last week or so. Hugging the refs after screaming curses at them is funny,” one fan quipped.

Others believe the Huskies HC’s courtside influence has crossed into bullying territory. “Dan Hurley screams obscenities at the refs, and they turnaround by giving him the calls that he wants. Unbelievable,” another fan remarked. Whether or not that’s true, fans see Hurley as someone who uses his intensity to sway the game.

And then there’s the question of fairness. Fans watching Baylor’s clash against UConn couldn’t help but feel the scales were tipped. “Just tuned in, and man, Baylor gonna have to beat the refs too, it seems,” one viewer wrote on X, suggesting the officiating was favoring UConn. 

The frustration isn’t new. Fans were quick to recall UConn’s loss to Memphis, where Hurley’s refusal to accept defeat turned into a fiery rant against officiating. One fan compared it to a similar situation, saying, “This same shit happened between UH vs Alabama, I hope BU can somehow escape with a W.”

For some, Hurley is simply a nightmare for officials. “Being a ref would be pretty cool. But seeing on your schedule you gotta deal with Dan Hurley might be enough to no call/no show,” joked another fan, highlighting how tough it must be to manage his intensity. 

He even once jabbed a referee, saying he didn’t realize they were a college official. Something fans saw as an insult. But we know for a fact that the coach’s reputation as a tough-to-handle coach isn’t going anywhere. All he seems to care about is his three-peat dream. Chasing another title is what fuels him, and no amount of criticism is likely to change that.