UConn basketball coach Dan Hurley voiced his frustration over refereeing for the second consecutive day after the Huskies lost a tight game to Colorado in the Maui Invitational on Tuesday. UConn’s 73-72 loss marked the team’s first back-to-back defeats since 2022. The contentious ending saw Colorado’s Trevor Baskin pull down an offensive rebound over UConn’s Liam McNeely with 24 seconds remaining. Hurley believed the play warranted an over-the-back foul, citing a similar call against McNeely in Monday’s game against Memphis that had also been pivotal.
Hurley highlighted the impact of the missed call, arguing that it could have led to a game-changing free throw opportunity for UConn, who held a 72-71 lead at the time. He described Baskin’s rebound as particularly egregious after reviewing the replay, suggesting that Baskin had pulled McNeely’s arm down. Hurley pointed to the irony of the situation given Monday’s controversial foul against UConn in an almost identical scenario. Despite his frustration, Hurley admitted that defensive shortcomings played a larger role in the team’s defeat.
The critical rebound allowed Colorado to call a timeout with 20 seconds left. During the timeout, Hurley’s anger boiled over, and he had to be restrained by assistant coach Kimani Young. Colorado capitalized on the opportunity, with Andrej Jakimovski scoring the go-ahead basket with eight seconds left, sealing the victory. Hurley’s emotional reactions underscored his dissatisfaction with the officiating in both games.
The tension with the referees carried over from Monday’s game against Memphis, where Hurley earned a technical foul for cursing at an official. He later criticized the call on McNeely as a “complete joke,” further highlighting his frustration with officiating during the Maui Invitational. These back-to-back disputes have raised questions about the officiating and Hurley’s approach to managing critical moments.
Ultimately, while Hurley’s criticisms of officiating gained attention, he acknowledged that UConn’s performance on defense was a significant factor in the losses. His postgame remarks reflected both his disappointment in the officiating and his recognition of the team’s need to address its weaknesses. As UConn looks to bounce back, balancing emotional intensity and focus will be key for Hurley and his squad.
