UConn's Dan Hurley Addresses Viral Outburst in NCAA Tournament

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Spencer Ostrow | Last updated Mar 26, 2025 7:06 PM ET

The UConn Huskies entered this past Sunday’s matchup against the Florida Gators riding a 13-game NCAA Tournament winning streak, the second-longest in history.

Despite being a No. 8 seed this year, the back-to-back national champions gave the West Region's No. 1 seed, Florida Gators, a run for their money. They controlled most of the game and even led with just over four minutes to go. Ultimately, Florida’s late-game defensive effort and the clutch play of unanimous first-team All-American guard Walter Clayton proved to be the difference.

After the 77-75 loss, the UConn players walked off the court with head coach Dan Hurley. As they made their way down the tunnel, they crossed paths with the Baylor Bears, who were waiting for the court to clear before warming up for their second-round matchup against the Duke Blue Devils.

That’s when Hurley, seemingly upset with the officials, shouted in frustration.

"I hope they don’t (expletive) you like they (expletive) us, Baylor," Hurley stated. "I really hope they don’t."

The moment was caught on video, and it didn't take long for it to go viral. On Wednesday, Hurley spoke to the media and addressed what he had said.

"Although I said something in heat of the moment in an area of the arena that pretty much every game I've ever coached in college has been media-free, past the tunnel, by the locker rooms, in the hallway where the coaches go," Hurley said. "I mean, that's for the combatants. That's for the competitors. That's not for camera phones. And, just relative to that, those are three great refs and Florida earned it."

Dan Hurley Media Availability | 3.26.25 pic.twitter.com/GLTt2jyWO8
— UConn Men's Basketball (@UConnMBB) March 26, 2025

While Hurley addressed the situation on Wednesday, the days before saw a wave of online backlash directed at both him and UConn’s director of communications, Bobby Mullen.

Mullen reached out to Joey Ellis, the reporter who recorded and shared the video, insisting that he take it down or that he would 'ruin his life.'"

Since then, Ellis shared an update saying Mullen "apologized for his behavior."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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