UConn head coach Dan Hurley inspired more headlines Saturday, after ESPN’s College GameDay discussed his recent run-in with officials.
That discussion created a stir on social media, with analyst Jeff Goodman tossing a hilarious barb at CGD analyst Seth Greenberg over his Hurley comments.
Everyone on CGD weighed in on Hurley’s behavior from Tuesday night’s game, where he berated an official. A viral video of the incident showed Hurley telling the official, “Don’t turn your back on me. I’m the best coach in the f*cking sport.”
After the game, the UConn head coach complained that other coaches do similar things, but he’s always the one that gets called out.
CGD analyst Jay Bilas didn’t care for Hurley’s explanation, saying, “It’s just an excuse for bad behavior.”
Greenberg, however, had different thoughts, launching into an impassioned defense of the two-time defending national championship coach. Greenberg explained he’d spoken with Hurley Friday, and the UConn coach said he was “embarrassed” about what he’d said.
“Dan Hurley … is not fake. That’s just the way it is,” Greenberg said. “If you’re a UConn fan, you love him. If you’re playing against him, you absolutely hate him. But I can tell you for sure, that his players love him, they play their asses off for him, the culture’s incredible, the identity’s unbelievable.
“And right now, he is good for the sport of basketball. Just like Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski) was when he was doing similar things, just like Gary Williams was, just like Jim Boeheim was. It is what it is.”
Goodman did not share Greenberg’s enthusiasm for the UConn coach, and roasted him with a hilarious post on X.
“Jay Bilas is spot-on about Hurley’s behavior to the officials, ‘It’s just an excuse for bad behavior,'” Goodman wrote. “However, the PR firm of Greenberg, Greenberg & Greenberg — which has been retained by Hurley — clearly disagrees.”
There’s really no way to put a good PR “spin” on Hurley’s behavior earlier this week.
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.