#2 ranked UConn loses 3 straight in Maui Invitational and finishes 8th

[Da Coach]

UConn has won the last 2 NCAA National Championships, was undefeated (4-0), had a 17-game win streak dating back to last year, and was ranked #2 in the polls going into this year's Maui Invitational. They were the favorite to win the tournament, but it didn't turn out that way. They lost all 3 games and finished in 8th and last place in the tournament.
On Monday, they lost a close one to unranked Memphis in their first game, 99-97 in overtime, thanks to coach Dan Hurley losing his cool and getting a technical foul called on him in the final seconds of overtime. Hurley continued to whine about the officiating in the postgame press conference.
Then on Tuesday, they lost their 2nd round game to Colorado, a team that did not receive a single vote in the polls and which went 1-2 in Maui. Hurley expressed his displeasure with officials during that game, too. And postgame, he continued his tirade against the officiating.
Then last night they lost again, 85-67 to unranked Dayton, another team that did not receive a single vote in the AP Top 25 poll, and was winless in the Maui tournament before clobbering UConn to take the 7th place honors.
The Dayton loss couldn't be blamed on the officiating, but there were reports that UConn felt "disrespected" and would not be back to Maui.

[Tommy]

Did anyone watch any of these games? Was the complaint about the officiating justified?

[Da Coach]

Did anyone watch any of these games? Was the complaint about the officiating justified?

Maybe a little if you were a UConn fan, but not to the extent that Hurley took it. I thought it was the correct call.

Here is the late foul in Monday's loss to Memphis that Hurley got called for a technical foul that cost them the game. Hurley had been on the refs most of the game leading up to his eruption about this "over-the-back" foul called on his big man.
>> https://twitter.com/BetUS_NCAAHoops/...03572610490836
>> https://twitter.com/6ixPicks/status/1861172134921318827

In the loss to Colorado on Tuesday, there was not just a single call that he got upset about, there were many. He was working on the refs all game, but never got a technical foul. His assistants did a good job restraining him a few times.
>> https://twitter.com/RuscherMichael/s...496593/video/1

I think his "Bobby Knight" bullying style works in his favor in the Big East, but it wasn't working in Maui and that upset him as much as the losing did.

[tomahawk chop]

Did anyone watch any of these games? Was the complaint about the officiating justified?

I thought the officiating was fine, Hurley should have been given 2 T"s in the first game because of the way he acted on the sideline. He came off as a sore loser which should never happen to a coach that has won 2 straight championships. I have always said it is easy to be a good winner but it really shows your character in how you act if you lose.

[Tommy]

Thanks for posting the links, Coach. Certainly no doubt on that over the back call, so not sure what Hurley was seeing. Didn’t see the game, but if that behavior was an example of how he acted the whole time, I’d say he lacks character.

[JMG 76]

This is how he acts all the time. He has absolutely zero class. He’s a clown!!

[Ogre]

Good, Hurley is becoming insufferable. The call was borderline but nothing crazy.

[egib52]

I can't stand his whole sideline schtick. For whatever reason he gets a lot of love nationally. He just has constantly gotten worse, and almost acts like he is entitled because he has won the championships. I definitely think it was over the back, and can't stand the announcers trying to say otherwise.

[Da Coach]

Dan Hurley says he will never play in a multi-team tournament again - https://www.si.com/college/uconn/bas...t-again-colin3

After going 0-3 in the Maui Invitational last week, and blaming it on the officiating, Hurley said this after UConn pounded Maryland-Eastern Shore 99-45 on Saturday night-
"I'm not doing another 3-game MTE again,” Hurley said.
“Moving forward, we will only play home-and-homes or single-game events... I don't think I'll ever do a 3-game MTE again. There's zero chance I ever do that again.”

[Dubl R 1]

Dan Hurley says he will never play in a multi-team tournament again - https://www.si.com/college/uconn/bas...t-again-colin3

After going 0-3 in the Maui Invitational last week, and blaming it on the officiating, Hurley said this after UConn pounded Maryland-Eastern Shore 99-45 on Saturday night-
"I'm not doing another 3-game MTE again,” Hurley said.
“Moving forward, we will only play home-and-homes or single-game events... I don't think I'll ever do a 3-game MTE again. There's zero chance I ever do that again.”

Maybe they will skip the final MTE event at the end of the year.