“The NCAA was being sympathetic”: UConn fans surprised after Dan Hurley squad gets ranked No. 25 in AP Poll
Dan Hurley's UConn Huskies succumbed to three straight losses at the Maui Invitational last week. All the losses came against unranked programs (Memphis Tigers, Colorado Buffaloes and Dayton Flyers).
With that, the Huskies took a steep drop from being the No. 2 team in the AP men's basketball poll to No. 25.
Dan Hurley questioned his team's No. 3 ranking when the AP preseason rankings dropped in October. He argued that the Huskies should have been the top-ranked team in the poll due to its stature as back-to-back champions.
On Monday, as the UConn MBB Instagram account shared its current No. 25 ranking and upcoming games, fans shared their surprise that the team was ranked at all.
"Being ranked is crazy. AP voters giving us one last chance 😂," a fan wrote.
"The NCAA was being sympathetic," another fan commented.
"Lol we arent good enough to be ranked after that garbage week," another fan wrote.
More fans reacted to UConn's drop:
"I’m not gunna lie the only reason we still ranked is because of our name but I honestly don’t think we deserve to be ranked," a fan commented.
"Oh wow. They felt pity on our souls," another fan wrote.
However, one UConn fan was still upbeat and encouraged the team to bounce back.
"At least we’re still getting in the top 25. Let’s get this win vs Baylor and start moving back up. Being number 2 right off the bat was too easy anyway. Now we get to fight for it! #uconn #bleedblue #bettergetusnow," another fan commented.
Dan Hurley's message to UConn Huskies fans amid rough start
Like Dan Hurley’s title run last season, he is operating with a completely new core this year. Donovan Clingan, Tristen Newton, Stephon Castle and Cam Spencer, his most productive players from the 2023-24 roster, have made the leap to the pros.
So, when the Huskies bounced back with a 99-45 win against Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks, he urged the UConn fanbase to show their support and love as he navigates through some growing pains with his new squad.
"We are going to need grace and patience and just incredible support from our fans and our crowd, not just those in attendance but also externally and on social media," Dan Hurley said per Republican American.
"Our team is a work in progress with so many new guys, so many young guys, so many people who have moved into much bigger roles or are playing for the first time and are carrying the weight of the monster program we have created here."
With the win, UConn is now 5-3 on its season. The program now prepares for a challenge against No. 15 Baylor on Wednesday and No. 7 Gonzaga on Dec. 14, both of which can affect its ranking on the AP poll.