Hurley's strong message to fans.
‘Don’t Start Killing the Players’: Dan Hurley Sends Fierce Message Defending UConn Players originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
After closing the books on a 24-11 season with a second‑round exit in the NCAA Tournament, the Connecticut Huskies have turned their attention to summer workouts and roster drills in Storrs.
When speaking with reporters on Friday, UConn coach Dan Hurley talked about the goal for summer workouts.
"We felt like at times last year we got bullied in league play," Hurley said. "You know, the older teams, in particular, really physically handled us. So, I think you can see there's some emphasis with the program with guys like Solo (Ball) and Jalen Stewart and these guys look physically better and stronger."
Hurley also noted how the staff has tweaked the weekly practice schedule, complete with Friday scrimmages in front of select fans, cautioning supporters against early social‑media critiques.
"Hopefully the fans don’t start killing the players that didn’t play well today on social," Hurley said. "I think that started early last summer and it just causes angst that we don't need. So, stay off the message boards and let the guys just work through the summer."
Dan Hurley: "Hopefully, the fans don't start killing the players that didn't play well today on socials. I think that started early last summer, and it just caused us angst that we don't need." pic.twitter.com/RKddvDdNoZ
— Storrs Central (@StorrsCentral) July 25, 2025
Since arriving in Storrs in March 2018, Hurley has transformed UConn back into a national powerhouse.
He led the Huskies to consecutive NCAA titles in 2023 and 2024, only the third coach to win back‑to‑back championships in the past 50 years.
His 2023–24 team set a school record with 37 wins and secured UConn’s first-ever No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, milestones that earned him the Naismith College Coach of the Year award, UConn’s first men’s coach to receive the honor.
Last season, UConn finished third in conference play and earned a No. 8 seed in March, ultimately falling 77-75 to eventual national champion Florida in a heartbreaker that ended their bid for a three‑peat.
With last year's core largely intact, the Huskies enter the 2025-26 college basketball season with justified optimism.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
