One of the teams undoubtedly focused on winning is the UConn Huskies, who already know what it feels like to be crowned champions in the NCAA Tournament. Despite this, head coach Dan Hurley revealed after the debut that his team isn’t given the recognition it deserves, leading him to make some strong statements on the matter.
After securing a hard-fought victory over No. 9 seed Oklahoma, 67-59, and advancing to the next round of March Madness, the experienced head coach took some time to speak with the press and reflect on his team’s lack of validation for their achievements in recent years in the league.
“The last two years are not, you know, there’s only three teams that have done what we’ve done,” Hurley said after the UConn win. “The only three teams that have been able to do that since the tournament expanded are us Duke and Florida. … There’s a lot of honor in us being able to face the last team that went back-to-back. There’s honor in fighting and getting to the Round of 32 and making somebody put you down in this tournament to end this run we’ve been on.
“If it wasn’t for all of my antics and viral moments, obviously there’d be more focus on just what we’ve accomplished as a program [at UConn ] the last three years. It’s been an amazing run, one of the best runs anyone’s had.”
The recent achievements of the Huskies
Dan Hurley’s harsh words toward the rest of the league specifically refer to his team’s recent achievements, as they managed to claim the title in the last two editions of the NCAA Tournament.
In the most recent final of the last edition of March Madness, Connecticut defeated Purdue 75-60, securing the trophy for the second consecutive time.
Previously, in 2023, UConn claimed the championship after defeating San Diego State 76-59 in the decisive game at NRG Stadium in Houston. Will Hurley’s squad be able to secure the three-peat?
What’s next for the UConn Huskies?
After dispatching Oklahoma in their debut, the Huskies will face the Florida Gators in the next round, undoubtedly one of the most exciting matchups of this phase. The game will take place at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.