“Hurley may be the main character in college basketball, but there are times that he is a sore loser. That is the reality,” said Jay Williams. That one line summed up UConn’s disappointing campaign last season. What was supposed to be a historic year—chasing a three-peat and basketball immortality—ended in heartbreak. For coach Dan Hurley, it couldn’t have come at a worse time. Especially, after turning down the Los Angeles Lakers to stay at UConn. You could argue he painted the target on his own back with his antics throughout the season. But regardless, it was a season to forget for everyone in the UConn camp.

It all began when the two-time defending national champs were ranked No. 3 in the AP Top 25 preseason poll. Kansas was No. 1, Alabama No. 2. Dan Hurley? He wasn’t having any of it. He questioned why a back-to-back champion program wasn’t good enough to be at the top. But soon enough, reality hit. The Huskies lost every game in the Maui Invitational. And just like that, it was clear—they weren’t championship material this time around.

This time around, fans and analysts alike will be hoping Hurley tones it down. No more unnecessary antics. Just a focus on getting UConn back in the fight. A coach of Hurley’s pedigree can never be counted out. He’s too good to stay down for long. But even so, the analysts at The Field of 68: After Dark podcast didn’t hold back. They had a harsh wake-up call for the coach.

Jeff Goodman said, “I’m never going to kind of question Dan Hurley and what he can do. I just think last year was one of those—I don’t want to say humbling moments—but like one of those moments where hopefully Dan Hurley looks in the mirror this year and says, ‘All right, you know what, I’m not going to say a bunch of stuff to put a target on our back. I’m gonna go the other way. I’m gonna undersell and overdeliver this year’.”

A 14-6 Big East record after demanding to be ranked No. 1? Yeah, that didn’t sit well with fans—or analysts. Their March Madness run wasn’t fancy either. UConn got bounced in the second round of the Big Dance. That hurt. But what came next? Classic Hurley. “I really hope they don’t F— you like they F—-us, Baylor.” Those were his exact words as he walked off the court. That’s who Dan Hurley is. Raw. Unfiltered. Never afraid to call out refs or speak his mind. But that attitude? It often backfires. These are the moments that paint a target on his back—and why plenty of folks just don’t like the 52-year-old coach.

Coach Hurley knows exactly where the work needs to be done. The flaws from last season were clear. But looking ahead? Things look promising—at least on paper. And to spice things up, Hurley made an interesting announcement as well!

Dan Hurley drops a major update for UConn fans

College programs are busy finalizing their non-conference schedule. The Huskies are no different. At the Dick Vitale Gala, Dan Hurley confirmed that UConn will play in the 2025 Jimmy V Classic. The event will take place at Madison Square Garden. The full 2025 field isn’t out yet—but Clemson and BYU are already confirmed. This will certainly be a thing to look out for if you are a Husky fan! UConn last played in the event in 2023, when they beat North Carolina 87–76. Before that win, though, the Huskies had lost four straight in the Classic—to NC State (2012), Maryland (2015), Syracuse (2017), and Indiana (2019).

Heading into the new season, Hurley seems pleased with his offseason moves. The biggest win? Team captain Alex Karaban chose to return for his senior year, skipping the 2025 NBA Draft. UConn also made noise in the transfer portal. They landed Malachi Smith from Dayton. He played 86 games there and averaged 10.4 points per game last season. A solid signing! Then came Silas Demary Jr. from Georgia, who brings some much-needed SEC experience and adds depth to the backcourt.

Those additions pair nicely with a strong recruiting class: Darius Adams, Jacob Furphy, Braylon Mullins, and Eric Reibe. The pieces are coming together in Storrs. It’ll be interesting to see how this group comes together once the season tips off. On paper, UConn looks every bit like a top-10 team heading into the year. Stay tuned for more updates!