Dan Hurley Publicly Calls Out UConn’s Blunder but Banks on 19YO Freshman’s Return for Clear Path Ahead

The UConn Huskies might have avoided a disastrous home loss, but it sure wasn’t pretty. After Dan Hurley had called for his team to be a bit more ‘nasty,’ the Huskies had a chance to really capitalize on Butler’s mistakes. You’d think that with Butler having one of the worst turnover rates in the Big East, the Huskies would’ve stepped up their game. But no! The defense wasn’t where it needed to be, and the Huskies almost let one slip away.

It wasn’t the first time UConn’s defense was a major issue, but this time, they narrowly escaped with an 80-78 overtime win. Hurley, though, wasn’t shy about calling out his team’s mistakes. He was straightforward about his team’s performance, saying that he’s not sure if they’re “good enough right now.” 

He pointed out that while they did manage to take a 15-point lead, they couldn’t keep it. He went on to say, “We make too many mistakes. Defensively. We’ve committed other fouls. We got doubled up at the foul line.” The Huskies were in foul trouble again, as they’ve been all season, and the numbers from the free-throw line (9-14) weren’t in their favor.

The Bulldogs were at the charity stripe way more than they were (19-28). So while the coach was glad they got the win, he knows there’s a lot to improve on. He highlighted that with the right players back, things could turn around for the Huskies. Specifically, he’s holding out hope for Liam McNeeley’s return. 

Hurley talked about how much the team needs him, mentioning in the post-game conference, “Hopefully if we’re able to get Liam back and healthy and get him out there with Solo and AK, we may be able to get a 15-point lead and put someone away.” It sounds like he’s really banking on the 19-year-old to fix a lot of what’s going wrong right now. 

And why wouldn’t he? With a sturdy frame and constant pressure to become a better defensive player, the freshman forward has been great on the defensive end, guarding multiple positions. But when will he actually be back? Liam McNeeley’s injury came at a terrible time for the Huskies. He hurt his ankle in their game against DePaul. Hurley confirmed that the freshman will be out for “weeks,” not days.

Hurley’s optimism about Liam’s return by the end of January is the only thing keeping the coach hopeful. If the freshman can come back and get things rolling with the team, maybe UConn can start dominating the way they should be.

But for now, UConn’s been struggling without him. They are in the second percentile for defensive rebounds and the eighth percentile for steals. They’re also ranking dead last in free-throw attempts. With all these issues stacking up, it’s no wonder Hurley’s frustrated…a bit too much.

Dan Hurley goes to bat for his team… and the refs

Dan Hurley isn’t just fiery on the sidelines; he’s not afraid to speak his mind. Known for his passionate personality, he has made headlines this season for his, let’s say, “colorful” interactions with referees. He made it crystal clear after the game that he was not afraid to show his frustration.

During this game against Butler, Hurley went off on one of the referees. After a controversial call, he didn’t hold back. He shouted, “Don’t turn your back on me. I’m the best coach in the f— sport.” It was just another example of his fiery coaching style, something fans have come to expect from him over the years.

This wasn’t the first time Hurley’s emotions boiled over. In UConn’s loss to Memphis in the Maui Invitational, Hurley was hit with a technical foul for his vocal displeasure over an offensive foul call. He even dropped to his knees in frustration. 

And while you might think he’d have a more measured response, that’s just not Hurley. The coach’s antics might be controversial, but they also show just how much he cares about the success of his team. 

So all in all, the Huskies escaped what could have been an embarrassing loss, but they’re far from out of the woods. With Liam McNeeley hopefully returning soon, they’ll need to clean up their defense.