Hurley says late call ‘a joke’ after UConn falls

Nov 25, 2024, 05:51 PM ET LAHAINA, Hawaii– Dan Hurley fell. So did UConn.Hurley, the often intense coach of the two-time safeguarding nationwide champions, took particular umbrage with an over-the-back offending foul call on a rebound versus forward Liam McNeeley, which featured ball game connected at 92 in the final minute of overtime in what became No. 2 UConn’s 99-97 loss to Memphis on Monday in the opening round of the Maui Invitational.Hurley dropped to his knees and was then examined a technical nasty for his displeasure over the call. PJ Carter struck 4 straight totally free tosses– two for the technical and the other set for the individual foul– to give Memphis a 96-92 lead with 40.3 seconds to play.”That was a joke. I simply watched it, “Hurley said of the call,

going on to state that Memphis made” no attempt to shut out”on the play.”There was a player on Memphis that made a half-ass effort to rebound that basketball and Liam McNeeley high-pointed that rebound. For that call to be made at that point of the game was a complete joke.” With that, UConn’s 17-game winning streak dating to last season was over. The fireworks were not.As part of his postgame press conference, Hurley’s criticism of the officiating consisted of a full explanation for his falling-to-the-floor move.”I don’t know what happened. I might have lost my balance by the absurdity of

the call, or maybe I tripped,”Hurley stated.”But if I made that call at that point, I would have ignored the truth that I was on my back. If I made that call, I would have disregarded that. I would have neglected that. That was a major, certainly, a significant … how you might call that while that game was going on, the manner in which game was going on is just beyond me.” UConn coach Dan Hurley launched an intense postgame demonstration of a nasty that was called versus Liam McNeeley late in overtime Monday. Marco Garcia-Imagn Images Hurley continued sharing his thoughts on the call, made by referee Pat Driscoll.”How you can call that the manner in which game was going on is just beyond me,” Hurley continued.

“I’ve never seen the one ref before. I didn’t even know he was a college ref and after that I’m familiar with the other 2, so I’m not shocked.” Steven Anderson and Scott Brown were the other 2 referees working the game.His technical

was one of two that sent out Memphis to the line for free includes the game;

the other had to do with 4 minutes into the game when a team fitness instructor obviously said something that referees heard and didn’t like.”It got off to a bad start when my medical trainer, who need to have said something under his breath in a

huddle, gets T ‘d up in the huddle in the first couple minutes or whatever that remained in the game,”Hurley stated. “A fitness instructor who’s just the best guy, extremely peaceful guy. Might have muttered something under his breath in a typical circumstance.”Editor’s Picks And a third technical– Samson Johnson was whistled as part of a double technical, but it was his 5th nasty and forced him from the game midway through overtime– was pricey as well.

“Samson was getting shoved. His jersey was ripped. He didn’t get a foul called for him the entire game,” Hurley stated. “He ended the game with his jersey ripped down the center, but they get him on every call. He’s frustrated. That was insane, man. Crazy.”

For his part, Memphis coach Cent Hardaway– who did get a handshake and warm welcome from Hurley after the game– called it the most significant win of his training profession.

“That was back-to-back national champions, undefeated, first round of the Maui competition,” Hardaway stated. “When we first got chosen to play them, I resembled, ‘OK, starting with a bang.’ I just got our group prepared. I utilized it as inspiration.”

Add everything up and UConn lost for the very first time considering that a loss to Creighton on Feb. 20. Memphis led the majority of the game Monday before UConn rallied from 13 points down in the last 4 minutes of policy. The Tigers got 40 free tosses to 24 for the Huskies.

“We knew it was going to be a physical game,” UConn’s Alex Karaban said. “That was the tactical plan. We knew they wanted to make it physical. It wasn’t surprising [to] us that it was physical, we simply had to match their durability, and for the majority of the game we didn’t. That’s simply on us.”

Details from The Associated Press was utilized in this report.