UConn coach Dan Hurley has consistently criticized limited media coverage of college basketball. He often targets mainstream sports conglomerates for emphasizing “underdog” and “rags-to-riches” stories, rather than focusing on the best teams and related topics.
The two-time national champion coach again expressed frustration at media giants. He included a subtle jab at their NFL coverage, accusing them of favoring human interest topics while neglecting the rise of college sports.
Dan Hurley Speaks About the Apparent Bias of Media Networks in Covering Sports Events
Hurley elaborated on this issue during a postgame press conference following UConn’s 72-49 win over Bryant on Sunday. The 52-year-old coach maintained that college basketball deserves significant coverage on major TV networks, as teams approach each game as critical to earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
He challenged the subject matter chosen by various morning talk shows on mainstream media networks. He noted these programs prioritize the entertainment facets of sports over spotlighting the NCAA’s top-performing teams.
“Morning talk shows should be talking about who’s the current best team in the country. I mean we can’t take 10 to 15 minutes on these morning shows on FS1 and ESPN,” the Huskies coach said. “I’m sure I’m going to get crushed on these morning shows now for saying it, but you can’t take 10 minutes away from talking about the backup quarterback on the Lions.”
He called the sport “do-or-die” from the outset, as teams compete relentlessly to reach the NCAA Tournament and win the national title in knockout formats akin to the NFL’s.
“I would just say college basketball, (whether) in the regular season non-conference or regular-season conference play, every game it feels like Game 7,” Hurley said. “Every game feels like that because it’s like you’re playing to get in the NCAA tournament. Every time you step on the court, every game feels like it’s life or death.”
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The coach exuded enthusiasm for the sport, praising the standout abilities of current players this season, especially within what he called the most gifted freshman class in decades. He urged fans and media to capture the momentum before March Madness, as the league aims to elevate excitement with the high-caliber games it is organizing.
UConn Clobbers Bryant To Get Back to Winning Ways
Hurley and the Huskies bounced back from their first loss, routing Bryant, 72-49, on Sunday. Freshman Eric Reibe tallied 16 points on 6-for-10 shooting, added six rebounds, and went 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in 19 minutes.
Georgia transfer Silas Demary Jr. had a triple-double (10 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) and four steals, as UConn saw eight players score at least five points in a balanced offensive effort. They secured the win despite shooting just 39% overall, including 20% from deep.
UConn’s defense held Bryant to a 28% shooting percentage, forcing 21 turnovers and collecting 12 steals. No. 5 UConn is set to face No. 13 Illinois on Black Friday at Madison Square Garden.
