UConn coach Dan Hurley owned up to berating an official during Tuesday night’s 80-78 win over Butler after he was caught on camera telling them “don’t turn your back on me, I’m the best coach in the f—ing sport.”
Hurley was complaining about what he thought was a foul on a defensive rebound attempt late in the first half. After the game, he said he was looking for more “communication” from officials.
The two-time champion coach also lodged a complaint about how often the TV cameras focus on him.
“I just wish they put the camera on the other coach more,” he said. “… I just wish they would show these other coaches losing their minds at the officials in other Big East games that I’m coaching where … I’m not talking to officials; I see the other coaches as demonstrative as I am.
“But the camera, obviously … I’ve created this for myself. I’m not the victim.”
UConn led by 15 at one point in the first half and had an eight-point lead at halftime. But Butler erased a nine-point deficit in the final 6:50 of regulation and took a two-point lead before Alex Karaban‘s jumper with 1:43 left sent the game to overtime tied at 68. The Huskies were able to pull away in the extra frame and held on for the two-point win.
UConn got off to a slow start this season, losing three straight at one point, but has reeled off 10 wins in its past 12 games.