UConn’s improbable comeback win over Duke in the Elite Eight brought plenty of attention to March Madness, and not only a spotlight for the Huskies’ game-winning shot by Braylon Mullins, but also, once again, to head coach Dan Hurley.
While UConn’s dramatic mastermind had a mostly incident-free game, an interaction he had with referee Roger Ayers after the game-winning shot celebration with 0.4 left on the clock led to scrutiny over Hurley’s actions.
Following a lot of excitement on the sidelines from Hurley and his players, he had to compose himself as he walked over to speak to Ayers. However, Hurley stood in front of the referee and appeared like he was blocking his path, and then moved his forehead close to Ayers’ with some individuals believing Hurley had headbutted him or was trying to intimidate him.
There were no technical fouls issued toward Hurley for what occurred, but there was plenty of backlash against UConn’s head coach on social media and elsewhere.
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With Hurley and his team now in Indiana for their Final Four game against Indiana, he was asked at a press conference on Thursday about the reaction that the referee incident has received.
“Surprised now. The reaction, the outrage. I guess I just look at it a lot differently, and I think we all do, and I think that’s what I guess makes social media so appealing to people, is that you could have the discourse and different opinions about how somebody carries themself,” Hurley said, adding, “For some people, we’re just out there playing a game. For me, it’s a life or death battle.”
Hurley referred to it as a “war” and a “street fight” for him when he’s out there, and how others view things isn’t his responsibility while coaching. He said his responsibility is to win games and “do a great job for [his] players.”
“A lot of that other stuff, it comes with the territory, and a lot of it comes with winning back-to-back championships. You put yourself in a position where you’re gonna be picked apart,” UConn’s coach said.
He admitted that his games are tough to officiate due to his intensity on the sidelines, but that he’s also received zero technical fouls during his NCAA Tournament coaching career.
Hurley drew plenty of attention last month for his quick ejection from UConn’s game at Marquette after two technical fouls in the game’s final minute of play. That particular instance also drew scrutiny as some viewers and others believed that Hurley headbutted the official who gave him the technicals.
The Big East reviewed the officials’ report and game footage, determining that no contact was made by Hurley to the official. However, he received a $25,000 fine for berating the referee in that instance.
His team faces the Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday evening, with the referee involved in Hurley’s late-game interaction, Roger Ayers, not part of the officiating crew at the Final Four.
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