Dan Hurley compares this UConn team to his 2023 National Champions

Dan Hurley has coached strong teams at UConn since he took over as head coach in 2018. He has won 165 of 234 wins, while leading the Huskies to back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024. 

The challenge will be different in the 2025-26 campaign after Hurley and Co. were eliminated by the Florida Gators in the 2025 NCAA tournament. They want to return to the top of Division I basketball, and Hurley believes this team resembles one of his championship squads. 

The Huskies welcomed intriguing players such as Malachi Smith, Alec Melander and Jacob Furphy to bolster their defense, while retaining Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed Jr. on the roster. All the pieces he has at his disposal make Hurley believe he has something special going on. 

Dan Hurley makes bold comparison with 2023 UConn national championship 

While talking with college basketball analyst Jon Rothstein, Hurley revealed the 2025-26 group reminds him of the squad that won the championship in 2023. 

UConn coach Dan Hurley.

“Yeah, I think it’s more like the ’23 team, where I do think it’s a strength in numbers,” Hurley said. “I think the depth is what’s gonna make it potentially a championship team or a special season for us.”

He added that the new players should help the defense while working hard to grab rebounds, sending a message to those who don’t commit to the grind. 

“If you don’t defend for us this year or rebound the ball the way UConn has built its championship identity on, you’re not going to play,” Hurley warned. “Last year, players got minutes that didn’t guard anywhere near the level we need them to guard at.”

The Huskies have unfinished business, and Hurley is raising the expectations for the new-look team.