Dan Hurley is no stranger to intense moments, but his sideline antics during UConn’s first loss of the season left college basketball fans and the LA Lakers enthusiasts buzzing. As Hurley’s Huskies fell 99–97 to Memphis in an overtime thriller at the Maui Invitational, the focus shifted from the game’s gripping conclusion to Hurley’s behavior on the sidelines.

The fiery head coach, known for leading UConn to back-to-back national championships, was visibly frustrated throughout the game. But that wouldn’t be all. As the Huskies suffered another loss to Colorado in their 2nd game at Maui, a fierce Hurley was back again and fans’ sentiments would only amplify.

For Lakers fans, the spectacle was a relief. Hurley, who came close to being the franchise’s coach before JJ Reddick was finally chosen for the role, seemed anything but ready for the professional stage.

While Hurley’s passion for the game was admired by a lot of fans, his tirades against officials escalated to the point where assistants had to hold him back repeatedly. These antics especially crossed a line when he was issued a technical foul in overtime—a decision that ultimately gave Memphis two crucial points in their two-point victory against the Huskies.

The game itself was a statistical shootout. Memphis shot 54.7% from the field and drained 12 of 22 three-pointers, while UConn hit 49.2% of their shots and sank 14 of 30 from beyond the arc. But as the team was expected to bounce back in the next game, they would fall in yet another 73-72 thriller. The team did take a double-digit lead in the starting minutes, but Colorado came back to close the deficit to eight by the end of the first half and completely overtake in the next.

UConn, ranked no.2, became the second AP top-2 team in history to lose to unranked opponents on consecutive days. Hurley’s frustration was visible as he was seen going off at the official in the final seconds after once dramatically falling to the ground over a call. The culmination of moments had the LA Lakers fans celebrating the escape.

A call, a collapse, and a controversy: Dan Hurley’s theatrics spark disappointment

Hurley’s frustration boiled over into a dramatical collapse onto his back in disbelief when a controversial over-the-back foul was called against UConn freshman and stand out recruit Liam McNeeley during a pivotal moment in overtime.

Reflecting on the moment, Hurley said, “I had a lot of issues with what went on out there in the game.” The technical foul he received for his outburst further shifted the game’s momentum. Hurley explained, “For me, I don’t know what happened. I might have lost my balance by the absurdity of the call, or maybe I tripped. But if I made that call at that point, I would have ignored the fact that I was on my back.

But the Lakers fans only viewed it is Hurley’s failure to keep himself together. One fan quipped on social media, “Dodged a bullet—this man can’t keep it together in Maui. Imagine him in L.A.”

The Lakers had reportedly offered Hurley a six-year $70 million contract to coach the team. But having won to back-to-back championships and so close to creating history, the HC had declined the offer. Some are evidently relieved he did. Another fan posted on X, “What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving? I’m grateful we hired JJ Redick over Dan Hurley…”

The Lakers have had a fairly good start, going 10-7 so far with LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading strong. Hurley’s temper, however, fans believe, could have hindered the dynamics. “Now, imagine him coaching the Lakers this year lol,” another added.

While the loss caused UConn to have a 4-2 record and contributed to the 2 close losses that UConn had in this season, it doesn’t take from the fact that Hurley’s behavior drew widespread condemnation. His history of teetering on the edge during games is well-documented, but this display may have been his most dramatic yet.

“Maybe it was a good thing the Lakers did not get Dan Hurley” and “The @Lakers dodged a bullet by not hiring Dan Hurley,” some more echoed.

For Lakers fans, it cemented their belief that Hurley isn’t ready for the NBA spotlight. As UConn regroups after their first stumble, Hurley’s antics remain a talking point. Passionate? Absolutely. But for those watching closely, his Maui meltdown was a stark reminder of the fine line between intensity and implosion.