“People didn’t talk about it, but he had a temper”: Dan Patrick sees similarities in Dan Hurley and Coach K amid UConn HC's clashes with refs
Dan Patrick criticized Dan Hurley's outburst in Monday's game against Memphis Tigers. After a controversial call on Liam McNeeley in the final minute of overtime, Hurley's verbal battle with a referee handed Tigers two free throws, resulting in a two point loss (99-97). Patrick said Hurley costed UConn the game due to his reaction.
However, the sportscaster also commended Dan Hurley's intensity and passion for the game. He believes that the defending champion's approach is essential for college basketball to grow, citing that Duke Blue Devil's legend, Mike Krzyzewski, also had a similar spark.
"Mike Krzyzewski had a temper, people did not talk about it but he had a temper," Patrick said on the Dan Patrick Show on Tuesday. "And certainly in practice, a temper. Coaches have that, that is the old school, I'm gonna get through to you, I'm gonna yell at you."
"You watch games now, its common plays that you're watching - coaches yelling at the officials, yelling at their players, dropping f bombs, its there. Dan Hurley, I love the fire, that's who he is, he's not gonna change. But that cost him, that cost him game against Memphis." (4:50)
In the post game conference after the Memphis game, Hurley pointed at the details of the controversial call. He claimed that PJ Carter did a "half-ass" job to rebound the ball, which McNeeley rebounded without violating any rules. The coach also questioned the experience and skill set of the referee behind the whistle.
Dan Hurley's UConn fall to another late-game controversial officiating
Unlike Monday's game, McNeeley was on the other end of an over-the-back rebound. However, Colorado's Trevor Baskin was not charged with a foul. The instance allowed the Buffloes to call a timeout and regain a one-point lead in the last minute, resulting in a 73-72 win in the second contest of Maui Invitational on Tuesday.
With timely assistance from his coaching staff, Dan Hurley kept his emotions to himself during the game. However, he pointed out the disparity in officiating across back-to-back games.
"It just speaks to how these last two games have gone for us," Hurley said in the post game conference. "(On Monday), the biggest play of the game was an over-the-back that was called against us. (On Tuesday), this was more egregious because Baskin pulled Liam's arm down, I saw the replay of it. It's ironic."
UConn opened the Maui Invitational Tournament as one of the favorites to win the tourney. However, the Huskies are out of contention and will play the either Daytona Flyers or Iowa State Cyclones as a seventh ranked team.