Its’ Connecticut’s fifth appearance at the prestigious Feast Week event. Under Dan Hurley’s leadership, the roster has performed impressively in multi-team events, including the 2022 Phil Knight Invitational and the 2023 Empire Classic. But here’s the twist: how does it feel to be two-time national champions yet never claim victory at the Maui Invitational except in 2005 and 2010? The Huskies are determined to change that narrative. And just as the team prepared for that, the HC was out and about, stumbling upon a future prospect.

This past Sunday, Hurley attended the Maui Invitational, stepping away from the court momentarily. Was he taking a well-deserved break or scouting raw talent for UConn’s future roster? Only time will tell. But after the introductory conference, Hurley participated in a charity free-throw contest with Maui youth. His warmup shot clanked hard off the backboard before bouncing in, but it wasn’t Hurley who stole the show during the contest.

Instead, it was his partner, Colton Ching, a seventh grader from IAO Intermediate School, located about 40 minutes from the team’s hotel. The young talent’s basket was no different than that of the UConn coach – a clank against the backboard and in. It had people around saying, “that’s coaching.” 

When the final tallies came in, Hurley finished with a 3-for-5 record, while Ching was a perfect 5-for-5, clinching the contest.

Though Ching is too young to join the Huskies now, his performance alongside Hurley might just hint at a promising future. However, it wasn’t just Hurley in the competition. Penny Hardaway, whose Memphis team is set to face UConn, went 2-for-3 from the charity stripe. But the real buzz surrounding Hardaway stems from the history between these two coaches and the game ahead.

Huskies at work once again

In the first round of the Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center, both Memphis and UConn will enter Monday’s game with a 4-0 record. Over the years, the teams have split their 16 matchups, making this game a true rubber match.

With Hurley leading a young Huskies squad fresh off two road victories over UNLV, UConn seems poised for success. “The beauty of Danny and his staff is they’re always evolving, always getting better, and putting themselves in a position where they’re not predictable,” Hardaway said. “You don’t really get enough work done on yourself. They’ve done a phenomenal job.”

Hardaway’s praise is well-earned. Hurley has been a consistent force throughout his career. During his time as a player at Seton Hall, he scored over 1,000 points and boasted an impressive 72.5% free-throw shooting accuracy—better than Hardaway’s at the time. Even now, Hurley maintains his edge at the line, finishing the charity contest with a solid 60% accuracy and bringing the Huskies to the Invitational as back-to-back champions on a current 4-0 record.

The last time the two met in 2019, UConn evened the score with a 64-61 win. Hurley may have won with Ching off the court on Sunday, but given the close contested rivalry of years, the HC is going to face some challenge. Can Hurley and the Huskies rise to the occasion?