UConn coach Dan Hurley led the No. 2 Huskies to a nerve-wracking 75-67 overtime win over the Villanova Wildcats on Saturday evening to improve to 19-1. It was the Huskies’ 15th consecutive win, the longest in program history since 1994.
UConn trailed by up to eight points in the second half, but an eruption by veteran forward Alex Karaban, who scored all 17 of his points in the last 14 minutes of the game, ensured overtime and eventually the win.
Dan Hurley Gets Reality Check From Jim Calhoun
During his postgame news conference, Hurley revealed the lighthearted advice he received from UConn legend Jim Calhoun about his team after the close game against Villanova.
“I think Coach rattled off about four or five things we suck at,” Hurley said. “I just wanted to ask him how he was feeling, thank him for being there, and tell him I love him. I appreciate everything he’s been able to do. I quickly went in the locker room and put in the notes section of my phone all the sh*t he said about the things we need to get better at.”
“I actually went right in, bypassed the team and took those notes down. Every time I get a chance to be around Coach, I learn something. From the day I got here, every time I get a chance to see him, he’s a treasure.”
Calhoun was the first serial winner of the UConn men’s basketball team, leading the Huskies to 17 Big East championships and three national championships during his 26-year tenure.
Despite the optimism of winning 15 consecutive games, the Huskies have survived several hairy games in the last few weeks, needing overtime to beat the Providence Friars and squeaking to narrow wins against the Seton Hall Pirates and Georgetown Hoyas.
During his postgame news conference after beating Villanova, Hurley broke down his team’s biggest weaknesses so far this season when compared to the national championship-winning seasons of the past.
“I think we have a will to win,” Hurley said. “There’s things we’re still working through. One of my biggest concerns is the rebounding. The rebounding was another big concern today. We were awesome in the non-conference in ’23, and then we had issues in league.”
“Obviously, any time you play, as a coach, you’re chasing a full 40-minute game where you’re excellent on offense, defense and rebounding, and we’re just not there yet.”
The Big East slate does not get any easier for the Huskies with clashes against the Creighton Bluejays, Xavier Musketeers, and the St. John’s Red Storm in the coming weeks to test their championship mettle.
