Dan Hurley blasts officials after UConn's narrow defeat
- UConn lost to Memphis 99-97 in the Maui Invitational's opening round.
- Dan Hurley criticized several officiating decisions, including a critical over-the-back call.
- The defeat highlighted UConn's need to improve their physical play in high-stakes games.
In the opening round of the Maui Invitational held in Lahaina, Hawaii, UConn faced Memphis in a closely contested game that ended in a 99-97 loss for the two-time defending national champions. UConn coach Dan Hurley expressed his frustration regarding a critical over-the-back call against Liam McNeeley that occurred with just 40.3 seconds remaining in overtime. Hurley criticized the officiating decisions throughout the game, discussing two technical fouls—one involving a trainer and another against Samson Johnson, who fouled out during overtime. Memphis capitalized on their opportunities by getting 40 free throws compared to UConn's 24 attempts. Hurley's team, which rallied from a 13-point deficit in the final minutes, struggled to match Memphis's physicality for most of the game. As Memphis coach Penny Hardaway celebrated the victory, UConn players acknowledged they needed to improve their toughness in future matchups.