After a disputed foul call in the final minute of overtime helped knock two-time defending national champion Connecticut from the unbeaten ranks Monday night, Huskies coach Dan Hurley was still steaming after the game.
Hurley ripped the officials in his press conference following the 99-97 loss to Memphis at the Maui Invitational, calling the offensive foul on Huskies forward Liam McNeely ‘a complete joke.’
Hurley was also assessed with a technical foul for protesting the call, which came with 40 seconds remaining and the score tied at 92. The Tigers’ P.J. Carter hit all four free throws to give Memphis a lead it wouldn’t relinquish, ending UConn’s 17-game win streak dating back to last season.
‘That was a joke. I just watched it,’ Hurley said. ‘There was a player on Memphis that made a half-ass effort to rebound that basketball and Liam McNeeley high-pointed that rebound. For that call to be made at that point of the game was a complete joke.’
Hurley was hit with a technical after he fell to his knees on the court in protest.
‘I don’t know what happened. I might have lost my balance by the absurdity of the call, or maybe I tripped,’ Hurley said. ‘But if I made that call at that point, I would have ignored the fact that I was on my back … How you could call that while that game was going on, the way that game was going on is just beyond me.’
The loss in the first round of eight-team holiday tournament was the first for UConn since Feb. 20, when the Huskies fell to Creighton. They went on to roll through the Big East and NCAA Tournaments last season and repeat as NCAA champions.
