UConn Coach Dan Hurley Blasts Referees After Loss to Florida, Warns Baylor in Fiery Rant

Dan Hurley, the fiery head coach of the UConn Huskies, didn’t hold back his frustration after his team’s narrow 77-75 loss to Florida in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday. The game ended UConn’s hopes for a three-peat championship, leaving Hurley with some choice words for Baylor, another team facing a No. 1 seed in the tournament.

After the tough defeat to Florida, the No. 1 seed in the West Region, Hurley was overheard in the tunnel sending a blunt message to Baylor: "Hope they don’t f--- you like they f---ed us. I hope they don’t do that to you, Baylor." Ouch. That’s the kind of post-game commentary that grabs headlines.

Hurley’s intensity is well-known in the basketball world, and Sunday’s game brought it out in full force. He specifically called out the officiating after the game, citing a critical no-call involving Alex Karaban late in the fourth quarter. Karaban appeared to be fouled during a shot attempt, but no whistle was blown. At the time, UConn was clinging to a slim 61-59 lead with just over three minutes to play.

"Part of the emotion is probably just the season, how tumultuous the season has been," Hurley told reporters after the game, according to USA Today. "The team battled and fought just to qualify for the tournament, and then how the game played out... Obviously, the Karaban drive on the baseline, you know, there was a lot of contact there. I thought that was a big play, too."

Statistically, the game didn’t do much to ease Hurley’s frustrations. Florida was called for fewer fouls than UConn (17 to 24), though the Gators struggled at the free throw line, sinking just 22 of 34 shots. Meanwhile, UConn missed only three of their 22 attempts. Those numbers might explain at least part of Hurley’s exasperation.

Looking back at the Huskies’ season, it’s clear they had to fight tooth and nail just to make it into the tournament. After an up-and-down campaign, they nearly pulled off a major upset against one of the top national championship contenders. Instead, the back-to-back title winners will head home to Storrs, Connecticut, to regroup and prepare for another potential run in the 2025-26 season.

Florida, as a No. 1 seed, remains a favorite to win it all, but Hurley’s biting comments will surely resonate with fans and players alike as Baylor prepares for their own showdown against the Duke Blue Devils, another powerhouse in the tournament. One thing’s for sure—March Madness never fails to deliver drama, and Hurley just added another unforgettable chapter to the story.