The frustrations of UConn men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley surprisingly weren’t directed toward his new-look squad after an uneven first-half display against Syracuse in Tuesday’s exhibition matchup.
Hurley spoke with NBC Sports Boston sideline reporter Kayla Burton for a halftime interview before entering the annals of Mohegan Sun Arena, but an uncomfortable quarter-zip jacket derailed his attempt to offer insight into UConn’s first 20 minutes of the season.
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“Whatever this is, it feels like a wool,” Hurley said about his jacket. “It feels like a straitjacket that they put me in. I can’t believe that this is the best that we’ve got to wear tonight.”
Hurley’s uncomfortable interview drew attention within the UConn community, prompting a few messages to athletic director David Benedict requesting better sideline wear for the eighth-year Huskies head coach. Benedict posted on X Tuesday evening to distance his administration from Hurley’s uncomfortable jacket, claiming that the attire of UConn coaches is outside his domain.
“Seriously? I’m responsible for a lot of things but not what our coaches wear, basketball or otherwise,” Benedict wrote on X.
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With a healthy crowd and marquee opponent at Mohegan Sun Arena, Hurley’s casual attire was one of the few indicators that Tuesday’s game didn’t count in the record books. According to Mid Major Madness, Hurley is one of just 73 college basketball coaches to wear at least a partial suit on game days, making his quarter-zip airflow struggles against the Orange Tuesday doubly surprising.
Hurley and his Huskies looked more comfortable coming out of the locker room, as UConn’s 18-5 run midway through the second half put the exhibition out of reach down the stretch. Na’jai Hines led the Huskies with 17 points and eight rebounds as UConn secured a 72-52 win.
This article originally published at UConn’s Dan Hurley overheats in quarter-zip jacket at halftime interview during Syracuse exhibition.
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