Wednesday, January 04, 2023
UConn Coach Dan Hurley PHOTO: file
Which is hotter — the Providence College men’s basketball team or UConn Coach Dan Hurley’s temper?
PC plays host to No. 4/5 UConn Wednesday night, marking the first time the Huskies have played at the now-Friendly Mutual Pavilion since January 31, 2013 when UConn notched an 82-79 win in overtime.
All-time, Providence has a losing record of 30-45 against Connecticut. This year PC is off to a 4-0 start in the Big East for the first time ever.
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Leading scorer Bryce Hopkins is emerging as a major talent, Devin Carter was just named to the Big East Honor Roll, and the Friars are first in the conference in rebounding margin (+10.0) and blocked shots (5.1) per game.
That’s pretty hot.
But make no mistake about it, this will be a battle of the coaches, with PC boasting reigning Big East and Naismith Coach of the Year Ed Cooley.
Hurley is well known for his theatrics in Rhode Island — after all, he was the state’s number one drama king while coaching at URI.
And the two coaches notoriously had to be separated in a 2013 game at the Ryan Center.
“I’m sitting there at the table, all of a sudden I look up and it’s like, ‘Why are both of our coaches at halfcourt? What is going on here?’,” recalled former URI sports information director Mike Laprey, who now holds the same job at Boston College. “Assistant coaches were trying to hold them back on both sides, they’re pointing at each other.”
Last weekend, Hurley was at it again, when No. 2 UConn suffered its first loss of the season, 83-73 to No. 22 Xavier on Saturday.
With 2:25 remaining and his team trailing 74-71, Hurley was assessed a technical foul for arguing with the refs – he was unhappy with the free throw disparity, which was 28-to-9 in favor of Xavier.
And according to Stadium’s Jeff Goodman this week, a lot of refs have “had it” with Hurley.
There’s one thing you can bet on Wednesday night — and that is that the “Amp” will be rocking.
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