As if the “F—k Dan Hurley,” chants from Xavier Musketeers’ fans weren’t enough, this time even the UConn fandom indulged in some controversial mud slingling. No. 25 UConn‘s comeback win over DePaul on January 29 would have been the story of the night, but the tension between head coach Hurley and the home crowd added another layer to the Huskies‘ season. 

The incident unfolded after Hurley’s team experienced a terrible start to the game. As the Huskies were down 28-14 with six minutes left, the home fans didn’t seem to take it very nicely. Though the arena echoed with loud boos, the back-to-back champions finished the game with a 72-61 win—a breath of fresh air after their 72-76 loss against Xavier on January 25, and two more losses in the last five matchups, putting them at a 14-6 overall record till last Saturday. However, no matter how much criticism comes his way, Hurley seems hardly fazed…

The 52-year-old had some blunt words to say about whether it was justified, considering the program’s level of success. “I guess that’s just for the fans to decide, with this program and everything we’ve given them the last couple years, if that was the right thing to do,” Hurley said, finally breaking silence on the situation.

Despite the tense atmosphere, Hurley also reaffirmed his deep connection to UConn and its fanbase. “My UConn fans, while I’m getting crushed by all types of people in the national media, my UConn fans have had my back since I’ve been here and are undyingly loyal to me, and they get that same back from me. That’s why I’ll never coach basketball in any other place unless you guys just don’t want me here anymore,” he pointed out.

Hurley, leading the Huskies to a national title last season, has constructed one of the most powerful programs in the nation. But on a night where frustration boiled over, his remarks said this much: he’s not going anywhere until UConn decides otherwise.

Notably, this comes days after another infamous Hurley outburst, that had also garnered the wrath of a noted NCAA analyst.

On January 21, during the Huskies’ match against Butler (a 80-78 win), Hurley reacted to a foul that should have been called on Butler against Alex Karaban in the first half in a…well, quintessential Hurley way. “Don’t turn your back on me, I’m the best coach in the f—ing sport,” he had reportedly said. And, not long after, SiriusXM Radio Talk Show host Chris Childers opined on The Field Of 68: After Dark podcast, “It’s making UConn the villain of basketball. I don’t think it’s fair to his kids, because right now, like tonight for example, I was rooting my butt off for Butler. And it’s not like I’m a Butler fan. It’s that I hate Dan Hurley.” 

“He’s charming as hell if you get him off the court, I’m telling you, you would absolutely love him, and I love him. The only thing that I can’t deal with is Dan Hurley versus the refs. It’s the only thing. It’s too much,” Childers further stated.

As for UConn’s game vs DePaul, Tarris Reed Jr. scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Jaylin Stewart scored 15. He left late on the awkward fall.

DePaul (10-12, 1-10) dominated much of the first half, building a lead as big as 14 points. Layden Blocker led the Blue Demons with 18 points. CJ Gunn contributed 14 points. But UConn fought back after halftime, outscoring DePaul 43-24 to win.

UConn needed a spark, and Solo Ball delivered.

But it wasn‘t just Ball‘s scoring that propelled the Huskies’ comeback. Much of the second-half surge was identified by crisp, unselfish basketball. The Huskies dished out 11 assists on 12 made baskets after halftime, cracking open DePaul‘s defense with sharp ball movement. They also made every trip to the free-throw line count, going a perfect 14-for-14 from the stripe.

But perhaps with Hurley’s emotional reaction at the game’s end, there is still an even more intriguing question out there: Does UConn see this as a shift in dynamics or simply an emotional outburst?

UConn secures gritty win, but McNeeley’s absence still looms large

The memory of UConn‘s come-from-behind win over DePaul is fresh; now comes the bigger challenge-getting healthy. Among the most glaring absences remains freshman Liam McNeeley, who again sat out on Wednesday night as the Huskies slogged through a sloppy first half before rallying to beat DePaul 72-61.

The HC, Dan Hurley, had tempered expectations ahead of the game, saying McNeeley was “less likely to play than play.” The future NBA lottery pick has been out since January 1 with a high ankle sprain, and UConn has gone 4-3 in his absence.

The Huskies did show some grit in their second-half rally, but there is little question they still miss McNeeley, particularly when he’s anchoring a pick-and-roll. The Huskies have again struggled to combat dribble penetration, making offensive possessions tougher than they need to be. His return would create better opportunities for scorers like Alex Karaban, who continues to draw heavy defensive pressure.

Hurley emphasized that McNeeley won‘t be expected to single-handedly carry the Huskies once he‘s back. “We don‘t really need a savior. We just need another really good player on the court,” he said.