The two-time national champion UConn Huskies dealt with their first loss of the 2024-25 season on Monday at the hands of the Memphis Tigers.
The Penny Hardaway-led team won in overtime in the Maui Invitational quarterfinals 99-97. UConn head coach Dan Hurley may have been the catalyst for the loss.
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Connecticut Huskies head coach Dan Hurley reacts to a play as his team meets the Memphis Tigers during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at Lahaie. Na Civic Center in Lahaina, Hawaii on November 1, September 25, 2024. (Marco Garcia-Image)
Huskies forward Liam McNeely was called for a foul with 40.3 seconds left in overtime. Hurley cursed one official, calling him a “jokes.” He was immediately charged with a technical foul. Memphis’ P.J. Carter Two technical free throws Then the two gave it to him. After McNeely crossed his back.
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“I have a lot of problems with what happened in the game,” Hurley said. “The overback call at that point in the game. There was no attempt to block it. There was one player in Memphis who put in half his effort on that basketball rebound, and Liam McNeely was high on the rebound for making the call at that point. That game is a total joke.”
Hurley dropped to his knees after answering the call and explained that he may have lost his balance.
UConn head coach Dan Hurley interacts courtside during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Memphis at the Maui Invitational on Monday, Nov. 1, Sept. 25, 2024, in City. Lahaina, Hawaii (AP Photo/Lindsey Watson)
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“But if I had called at that point, I would have ignored the fact that I was on my back,” he added. “If I had called, I would have ignored that. I’ll ignore that. That’s a major. It’s definitely a major…how can you call that while the game is going on? How the game is progressing It’s above me.”
Two more technical fouls were called at UConn during the game, one on a trainer early in the contest. and the other is striker Samson Johnson, who is part of double-technical After clashing with Memphis players
“Samson is being pushed. His shirt is torn. He wasn’t called for the entire game,” Hurley said. “He finished the game with his shirt ripped in the middle. But every time they answer his phone, he’s upset. It’s crazy, man. It’s crazy.”
UConn enters the game as the No. 1 4 team in the country.
Connecticut Huskies head coach Dan Hurley (right) reacts to the play with the referee in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against the Memphis Tigers at the Lahaina Civic Center. on Monday, Nov. 1, September 25, 2024 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Marco Garcia-Image)
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The Huskies will face Colorado on the loser side of the bracket.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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