UConn Players Not Spared as Dan Hurley Blames Physicality as Reason for St. John’s Loss

UConn Huskies coach Dan Hurley pointed to one major factor that contributed to their loss to St. John’s Red Storm in the Big East title game at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday.

Hurley’s team lost to the Red Storm by a whopping 20 points, 72-52, failing to capture what would have been their second conference championship title in the last three years.

During the post-game press conference, Hurley was upset, saying his team did not play up to its usual standard and lacked the physicality to compete.

“ Yeah, we know that we play our best basketball in the NCAA tournament and versus non-conference teams. So, our group knows that. This is a really, really physical league. That was a really, really, really physical game and, we’re excited to play in the NCAA tournament that doesn’t get played like that,” Hurley shared. (0:39)

For now, UConn (29-5,17-3 Big East) will shift its focus to the 2026 national tournament.

Dan Hurley And His Team Will Go Back Into Their Routine When They Won The 2023 National Title

Dan Hurley and the UConn Huskies won back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024. Hurley asserted during the aforementioned post-game presser that his squad will revert to the routine they had when they won their first NCAA title.

“ I mean, you know, we just laid an egg. So what we’ll do is the same thing we did in, you know, in ’23. We’ll stay in the hotel tonight. The coaches will break down the film. We’ll watch the edit in the morning with the team and, we’ll leave the Big East tournament experience here on Sunday morning. It’s like a marathon. So, we obviously have to try to time up how the hell we’re gonna get out of here here, you know, with the bus through the city, which is what I’m thinking about right now, oddly,” Hurley said. (0:00)

“Yeah, we’re gonna do what we did in ’23. We’ll leave it here,” he continued.

Also Read:

2026 March Madness Bracketology Updated: Dan Hurley’s UConn Loses Top Spot To SEC Powerhouse After Marquette Loss

Dan Hurley’s Wife Andrea Drops Heartfelt 4-Word Message for UConn Star Alex Karaban Post Special Senior Day Celebration

Have Arizona Won the NCAA Tournament Before? Tracking Their Past as Tommy Lloyd’s Men Seal March Madness Spot

College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!