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UConn Huskies men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley celebrated with his team after advancing to the national championship with a win over the Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday.
But not everyone in the Indianapolis crowd was thrilled to see Hurley return to the title game for the third time in four years.
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UConn head coach Dan Hurley stands on the sidelines during the first half of an NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal against Illinois at the Final Four in Indianapolis on April 4, 2026. (Michael Conroy/AP)
Hurley got ready to speak with CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson. As freshman Braylon Mullins finished his speech, Hurley slammed the player who appeared to call back his interaction with an umpire immediately following the win over the Duke Blue Devils.
The crowd booed Hurley when he stepped up to the microphone.
“The beginning of the game and the end of the game,” Hurley began saying of Mullins with boos that were picked up on the CBS broadcast. “I don’t know what… they’re booing? The headbutt? I don’t know what they’re booing.”
Hurley’s intensity has drawn criticism and praise from college basketball fans. Since taking over the UConn job from Kevin Ollie before the 2018-19 season, he has helped the Huskies regain national prominence.
UConn head coach Dan Hurley reacts after a call during the second half of an NCAA Tournament semifinal against Illinois at the Final Four in Indianapolis on April 4, 2026. (Abbie Parr/AP)
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He has only had one losing season with the Huskies — his first year, when they went 16-17. It was a two-year improvement for the school, which was hit by sanctions in the last two years of Ollie’s tenure.
Now he’s doing something that no coach has done in a very long time – get back to the national title game quickly. Roy Williams returned to the national finals for two consecutive years with the North Carolina Tar Heels in 2016 and 2017. Brad Stevens led the Butler Bulldogs to back-to-back appearances in 2010 and 2011. Billy Donovan won two straight in 2006 and 2007.
The last coach to make three appearances in four years was Mike Krzyzewski with Duke, but he went to three straight from 1990 to 1992. He won two of those titles in 1991 and 1992.
UConn’s Braylon Mullins and head coach Dan Hurley celebrate after defeating Illinois in the NCAA college basketball tournament semifinals at the Final Four in Indianapolis on April 4, 2026. (Michael Conroy/AP)
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UConn will look to hoist the trophy again Monday night against the Michigan Wolverines.
