UConn’s Dan Hurley Responds After UCLA’s Mick Cronin Blasts Critics

[ad_1] The UConn Huskies are making ready for what seems to be to be an intense battle within the NCAA Match between two applications with a number of championships of their historical past, at present helmed by two of school basketball's most intense coaches.

It will likely be Dan Hurley making an attempt to information UConn to a 3rd Candy 16 look up to now 4 seasons, in opposition to Mick Cronin, seeking to rating an upset along with his UCLA Bruins. Cronin and Hurley are fairly aware of each other from earlier days, teaching in opposition to one another, and have a number of mutual respect for one another.

They're each identified for his or her ardour for teaching their respective groups, which frequently consists of sideline drama and heated confrontations with the referees. A number of weeks in the past, Hurley made headlines along with his fast double technical, ejection, and $25,000 high quality in his workforce's loss to Marquette.

Forward of their second-round conflict, each coaches met with the media to debate their teaching kinds, with Cronin mainly telling their critics to "get a life" relating to the best way he and Hurley strategy the sport with such depth. Primarily based on pregame feedback, Hurley appeared to agree.

Learn extra: UCLA’s Mick Cronin Offers Regarding Harm Replace for UConn Recreation

<img id="11716700" alt="Dan Hurley and the UConn Huskies are preparing to battle UCLA in the NCAA Tournament" caption="PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 19: Connecticut Huskies head coach Dan Hurley looks on during Practice Day ahead of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 19, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)" captionoverride="PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 19: Connecticut Huskies head coach Dan Hurley looks on during Practice Day ahead of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 19, 2026, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)" src="Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images" sourcealt="" sources="[]" fetchpriority="auto" loading="lazy" width="1200" height="800" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" style="color:transparent;aspect-ratio:inherit;object-fit:cover" sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 1200px, (min-width: 768px) 768px, 100vw" srcset="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/GettyImages-2267448210.jpg?w=640&quality=80&webp=1 640w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/GettyImages-2267448210.jpg?w=750&quality=80&webp=1 750w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/GettyImages-2267448210.jpg?w=1000&quality=80&webp=1 1000w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/GettyImages-2267448210.jpg?w=1200&quality=80&webp=1 1200w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/GettyImages-2267448210.jpg?w=1360&quality=80&webp=1 1360w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/GettyImages-2267448210.jpg?w=1600&quality=80&webp=1 1600w" bad-src="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/GettyImages-2267448210.jpg?w=1600&quality=80&webp=1"/> “I believe if you have a look at one of the best applications, one of the best organizations, one of the best coaches, there’s excessive levels of accountability in these organizations. There’s excessive levels of accountability, self-discipline, proficiency, productiveness, and work ethic and requirements, so holding 18, 19, 20-year-old younger males to these requirements every day is what forges championship groups,” Hurley informed reporters.

“It’s additionally what helps develop younger males that can enter the grownup world and achieve success folks, be capable to not solely perform at a excessive degree, however be productive, and lead profitable lives,” he additionally stated.

Hurley talked about that he admires and research different coaches who steadiness "holding their gamers to the best commonplace," the place gamers have a "respectful concern of their coach but in addition love enjoying for his or her coach."

Hurley pointed to profitable coaches, together with former Alabama Crimson Tide soccer coach Nick Saban, Indiana’s Curt Cignetti, and former Villanova males’s basketball coach Jay Wright, indicating “they ran actually, actually tight ships” at their applications.

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Earlier than turning into UConn’s head coach in 2018, Hurley coached for the College of Rhode Island for six seasons, going 113-82 and main them to back-to-back NCAA Match appearances in his ultimate two seasons. Cronin grew to become UCLA's head coach in 2019, after teaching Cincinnati for 13 years.

Each the Huskies and Bruins head into Sunday evening's recreation with damage issues surrounding their beginning lineups. Hurley stated that each beginning guard Silas Demary Jr. and Jaylin Stewart have been questionable to play, however have been "pushing it to the max" to be accessible. In the meantime, Cronin indicated they have been not sure if main scorer Tyler Bilodeau would play.

All three gamers missed their respective groups' wins within the first spherical of the NCAA Match, however having them again on the court docket may present a major increase.