BY ALEJANDRO LOPEZ & ADAM ZAGORIA
UConn coach Dan Hurley was fined $25,000 by the BIG EAST for unsportsmanlike conduct in the closing seconds of Saturday’s loss at Marquette, but was not suspended for the upcoming Big East Tournament.
With one second left in the game, Hurley received two technical fouls for aggressively confronting John Gaffney, was subsequently ejected from the game, and then failed to leave the court in a timely manner. Initial speculation on the game broadcast indicated possible contact between Hurley and Gaffney; however, a review by the conference office of the officials’ game report and available game footage could not confirm physical contact.
“We hold our coaches to high standards of sportsmanlike conduct during game competition, and inappropriate interactions with our officials will not be tolerated,” said BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman.
Hurley said he did not think he bumped Gaffney.
“I don’t think I bumped the ref,” Hurley told reporters following the 68-62 loss, per Dave Borges. “I thought I got close to yelling at John. If John thinks I bumped him, he’ll say I bumped him. I think I yelled into the back of his head, ‘Foul! Foul!'”
ESPN’s Stephen A Smith chimed in on the ejection.
UConn’s loss drops them to 17-3 in BIG EAST play which means they finish as the No. 2 seed in the conference under St. John’s.
This loss also has implications for the NCAA Tournament as the defending champion Florida Gators, who beat Kentucky on Saturday, are now a projected No. 1 seed over the Huskies.
The BIG EAST Tournament begins on Wednesday, and UConn opens play Thursday.
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