MILWAUKEE — Add another chapter to this Yukon As March Madness approaches, coach Dan Hurley’s history with combatives with officials.
Hurley was ejected from the fourth-ranked Huskies’ 68-62 loss to Marquette on Saturday with two technical fouls with one second remaining. Hurley argued that the U.K. Silas Demery Jr.. Marquette was fouled ben gold While the Huskies were trailing 64-62 and driving to the basket.
Hurley approached John Gaffney and placed his chest near the officer’s right shoulder, expressing his displeasure. Hurley said he never collided with Gaffney, although some replays suggest otherwise.
“You can screenshot whatever you want to screenshot,” Hurley said. “I don’t believe I’ve made any contact with John. I don’t believe I’ve made contact.”
No foul was called on Demri’s driving attempt. Marquette’s chase ross Got the rebound, was fouled and then made four of six free throws to seal the win, preventing UConn from sharing the Big East regular-season title with No. 18 St. John’s. Two free throws were the result of fouls on the floor and the other four were the result of technical fouls.
Hurley said he yelled, “Foul! Foul!” The back of Gaffney’s head while arguing for a call on the gold. But he repeatedly said he did not believe he collided with the officer. The camera showed Hurley shaking his head as he left the floor after the ejection.
“We are aware and reviewing the situation,” Big East spokesman Mike LaPre said in response to a message seeking comment regarding the incident.
Because Hurley did not believe he made any physical contact with the official, he was not expected to face any additional discipline at the Big East Tournament, which begins Wednesday in New York. UConn is waiting to find out which team it will face in Thursday’s Big East quarterfinals.
“I’ve been kicked out before and I’ve been back there,” Hurley said. “This isn’t my first rodeo.”
This is certainly true.
As Hurley solidifies his status as one of the game’s top coaches by leading UConn to back-to-back national titles in 2023 and 2024, his frequent confrontations with officials have become a regular sight on social media. Perhaps the most notable example came last year, when cameras showed Hurley vocally criticizing the officiating while entering the tunnel after UConn’s NCAA Tournament loss to Florida last season.
“Listen to umpiring for us, that’s what it’s all about in this league,” Hurley said. “I’m not going to comment on that.”
Hurley had just finished that comment when he said the second foul was caused by UConn taris reed jr. Saturday was “a joke” and “a very bad call”.
