UConn coach Dan Hurley sought to minimize attention on a bizarre moment involving an on-court official at the end of Sunday’s NCAA tournament win over Duke.
Speaking after the game, Hurley said he didn’t view the exchange as confrontational and suggested it was a misunderstanding. He explained that he thought the referee was coming toward him to celebrate, saying he believed the official was looking to “chest-bump me to celebrate.”
A moment that stood out in a tournament setting
The interaction occurred in the closing moments of UConn’s victory, a high-stakes environment where emotions can run high and every exchange is magnified. Hurley’s comments framed the incident as an awkward, fleeting moment rather than a significant dispute.
UConn’s win moved the Huskies forward in the NCAA tournament, while the brief exchange between Hurley and the official became one of the more unusual visuals from the game’s final seconds.