Winning a championship twice is no small feat. Remaining ranked throughout after a roster overhaul is a win in itself. But for the UConn Huskies, things haven’t been all smooth sailing, especially after their disappointing showing at the Maui Invitational. Despite dropping all their games there, the Huskies have managed to bounce back, staying undefeated since that tough stretch with wins, including a recent victory over Butler. But throughout all of this, one thing has remained the center of attention: Dan Hurley’s fiery sideline behavior.
As much as UConn fans love their passionate head coach, Hurley’s antics are at times over the top. Jeff Goodman, who’s been vocal about the situation, recently said, “I love Dan Hurley’s enthusiasm. I love his personality. I do think he’s great for the game. I’ve said that over and over and over.”
“And you’re not gonna find a better basketball coach in the country right now than Dan Hurley. However, I still will say this. I still think he needs to tone it back down with the refs,” he added. Because he believes when he did that, he was a better basketball coach.
“And when he did that, they started going on that run that culminated with their first national title. So, Dan Hurley, I love the emotion. I love the intensity, but harness it with the referees,” Goodman added while speaking about the coach’s behavior on The Field of 68.
Hurley’s behavior went far beyond the typical coach-ref interaction. At one point, he was seen berating officials and breaking the boundaries of the coaching box, which is a serious violation. His frequent profanities and outbursts left everyone questioning whether he was overstepping his role.
Despite all this, Hurley only received one technical foul during the Maui Internation as they went 3-0. It’s clear that Hurley’s fiery intensity is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it fuels his team’s passion, but on the other, officials are starting to take notice. According to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Book, there are clear guidelines regarding coach conduct, specifically with bench decorum and the enforcement of the coaching box.
The rules are strict. However, there seems to be a level of leniency toward him because of his reputation as a hothead. And it’s hard to reconcile this behavior with the ‘mild-mannered’ coach who led UConn to its first national title. Back in those days, the Huskies HC was praised for his calm demeanor.
Fast forward two years, and with the pressure of a possible third championship, Hurley seems to have lost his cool more frequently. Can this affect their long-term goal? Jeff Goodman thinks so.
Referees see Dan Hurley as a problem?
The analyst has previously raised concerns about the impact Hurley’s actions could have on UConn’s long-term success. Goodman pointed out that many referees are now talking about Hurley and agreeing that his approach needs to change.
“A ton of refs reached out to me, and I talked to a bunch. They’re all on the same page,” Goodman shared. The question now is whether Hurley will adjust his approach before it costs his team. The situation is becoming a bit of a ticking time bomb.
Goodman has suggested that during Big East play (although they have won both Big East games for now), referees may start banding together to clamp down on Hurley’s behavior. As he put it, “If Dan Hurley is still at this level… does the crew of Big East officials band together and say, ‘You know what? We’re not gonna take this anymore?’”
For the time being, UConn remains ranked 11th with their young roster. They’ve clinched key wins over tough opponents like Baylor and Gonzaga after Maui horrors. But with Hurley still holding his fiery demeanor, the question remains: Can they keep it together and secure that elusive third consecutive title? Only time will tell!
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