Dan Hurley’s dream of a three-peat is over. The UConn Huskies fought hard, but it wasn’t enough. The Florida Gators stormed back from six points down to pull off a thrilling two-point win. Hurley was chasing history, hoping to become the first coach since John Wooden to win three straight titles. Now, that dream is gone–and he’s definitely not happy about it.

As Hurley and his Huskies walked off the court, the Baylor Bears were getting ready for their game against Duke. Frustration boiled over. The back-to-back champion snapped. “I hope they don’t f*** you like they f***ed us, Baylor. I really hope they don’t,” Hurley said on his way out.

Hurley’s emotions often get the best of him. He was rattled, frustrated, and it showed as he walked off the court. But in the postgame press conference? He kept it honorable. He addressed the issue head-on. The no-call on captain Alex Karaban’s drive? A game-changer. There was clear contact, but the whistle never came. Hurley made sure everyone knew it.

The Huskies led 61-59 with just over three minutes left. Then, chaos unfolded. Karaban drove in for a layup. No call! Florida wasted no time. Walter Clayton Jr. pulled up from deep. Splash! The lead flipped! Moments later, disaster struck again. A costly turnover resulted in a Will Richard dunk. Just like that, Florida was up 64-61. The game had completely shifted.

Hurley was in shock. A game that once felt like a sure UConn win flipped in just two plays.

Minutes after his fiery exit captured on the fan cam, Hurley sat down with CBS’ Tracy Wolfson for a postgame interview that laid bare his emotions. The dream of a three-peat? Gone. But through the heartbreak, he still had plenty to say about the Huskies’ season. Fighting tears, he delivered what many saw as a plea—not just for his team, but for the legacy they’d built.

“I thought we played with tremendous honor,” Hurley said during a postgame interview. “We played with the heart of a championship program, a program that’s gone back to back. For a team to end what we really wanted to do, they were going to have to put us down.”

“I just love ‘em. Just love ‘em,” Hurley said of his team. “This year’s been a real battle. We’ve battled and we’ve had to battle and battle and battle. At times I don’t think we liked each other a whole lot with some of the things we had to go through together but I don’t think I’ll ever love a team more than how hard they fought for what we were trying to accomplish and for the honor they played with today.”

Hurley held back tears at the press conference, and rightfully so, revealing a coach torn between rage at the officiating and pride in his squad’s resilience. That duality—anger and honor—defined Hurley’s night and cemented the game as a memorable chapter in his UConn tenure. This run has been nothing short of remarkable. Winning back-to-back championships despite losing key players each year? That’s legendary! Following it up with a respectable Round of 32 finish? Not a bad way to cap off an unforgettable era for UConn basketball.

It’s just the beginning for Dan Hurley at UConn

This isn’t the end for Dan Hurley at UConn. He just signed a new 6 year $50 million deal to stay at Storrs. He will be hoping to get right back on track to win another championship next year.

Hurley’s tenure at UConn mirrors the program’s storied past under Jim Calhoun, who won three titles over 26 years. Hurley, in just seven seasons, has already secured two championships and rebuilt a program that was unranked and reeling when he arrived in 2018. This year’s 24-11 finish—despite a No. 8 seed and early exit—still reflects a resilience that echoes UConn’s 2011 title run as a No. 3 seed under Calhoun. Hurley’s new six-year, $50 million contract, signed in June 2024, signals the university’s faith in his vision. If history is any guide, this loss to Florida won’t derail him—it’ll fuel him.

UConn already boasts one of the best recruiting classes for 2025. Five-star shooting guard Braylon Mullins leads the charge, joined by three 4-star recruits–Eric Reibe, Darius Adams, and Jacob Furphy. But the work doesn’t stop there. If UConn wants to surround these talented newcomers with experience, they’ll need to make some smart moves in the transfer portal.

Luckily for Hurley, with UConn’s March madness run over for this year, the 52-year-old can fully focus on the transfer portal which opens this Monday. A few smart recruiting moves, and UConn could be right back in the championship conversation next season. Stay tuned for more updates!