Are Maui horrors ringing again for UConn? Well, at that time, the Huskies were plagued by fouls and, it’s the same, again. Back then, it was all about 1-on-1 defense, and yes, same story now. UConn has dropped two of its last three games, with Sunday’s loss against Creighton pushing them to 5-2 in the Big East and 13-5 overall. Today, they hosted and took down Butler Bulldogs, but fans couldn’t help but notice that officiating might not be on Dan Hurley’s side.

Although UConn bagged the win in a close 80-78 battle, it’s impossible to ignore that they have picked up 23 fouls in total, with eight fouls in just the first half. For fans, that’s enough fuel to light up social media. 

Moreover, in some or other way, Dan Hurley’s crew keeps exposing its defensive lacks. The Creighton game exposed their struggles big time. A clutch defensive possession sealed the Bluejays’ win and snapped UConn’s 28-game home winning streak. 

But this isn’t new. It’s been a recurring theme since their first loss this season. At the Maui Invitational, UConn’s defensive issues were on full display. Even the coach admitted, “We’ve been bad out here defensively. The foul trouble has taken its toll, too..”

And obviously the fouls!

Who can forget that moment when UConn’s Liam McNeeley picked up a foul on an offensive rebound with 40.3 seconds left in a tied game and Hurley, visibly frustrated, dropped to his knees in protest and earned a technical foul?

Hence, with a mix of defensive struggles and officiating frustration, it’s clear the Huskies have more to figure out than just their next opponent. For now, as this game began, a fan started this thread writing, “Any comment on the officiating so far?” and the social media was not in the mood to hold back. 

Fans fire up against calls as Huskies fight through foul frenzy

“UConn vs. the refs every year, I swear, lmaoo!” That’s the sentiment you’ll hear from fans, and honestly, it’s not entirely new. Dan Hurley and his Huskies, the defending champions for the past two years, seem to always find themselves at odds with officiating. Fans are convinced the refs have a thing against UConn, almost like they’ve been singled out, season after season.

“The foul count is literally 7-3. UConn has more fouls!” By the second half, that count ballooned to a whopping 19 fouls for the Huskies. For the fans watching, it’s enough to make you wonder if the refs were watching the same game.

“UConn can’t cover a … spread cause the refs got beef with Dan Hurley 😭 insane,” wrote another. Hurley, known for his fiery courtside antics, has earned quite a reputation. As much as he’s a passionate coach, his over-the-top reactions seem to rub officials the wrong way. Fans genuinely believe the refs have a personal vendetta against him—maybe even fear him a little.

“I’m not one to complain often about officiating. Has to be egregious. But like…Reed just jumped on Screen’s back…and they called a travel?” Even Butler fans weren’t too thrilled with how the game was being called. It’s rare to see both sides equally unhappy, but that’s exactly what happened.

“They sure are letting one team play.” It’s not just this game; fans across the Big East and other conferences have long argued that officiating seems to favor one team while the other can’t catch a break. Conference play often brings out these heated debates, but this season, it feels like the volume is turned all the way up.

But despite all the frustrations and questionable calls, Dan Hurley & Co. managed to snag the win in the end. Sure, Butler grabbed the lead in the second half, but UConn refused to let it slip, forcing overtime and sealing the deal with 12 clutch points in the extra period.