Dan Hurley is one of the top coaches in basketball. Not just in college but in the sport, Hurley has rightfully earned the respect. He led UConn to back-to-back NCAA Championships in 2022 and 2023. Hurley has developed some serious talent during his time with the Huskies.
Another one of the most prestigious names in college basketball is Rick Pitino. Pitino has been coaching at the highest level for more than 50 years now. From his starting stint as an assistant coach, Pitino has climbed the stairs of success in 5 decades. From the NBA to college basketball, Pitino has proved his brand of basketball and led some great teams in his time.
Hurley and Pitino are two coaches with a burgeoning feud. Their contrasting coaching styles and competitiveness are always a treat to watch. Hurley won in the first 2 meetings vs Pitino, whereas Rick Pitino’s St. John’s got the better of Dan Hurley’s UConn in the most recent matchup. In a recent interview, Hurley made his feelings clear and admitted to looking forward to facing Pitino.
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“Those will be fun. Those are the best, best games ’cause I feel the worst times as a coach is when you’re playing a game that does not have a spice, have the build up, that doesn’t have any of that. Then you gotta generate things with your team to really maximise their interest and their preparation and the understanding that every possession will be life or death. Those are the games that are most fun. The ones that have the fans excited. The ones that you know are gonna be at a big rating. You’re gonna get the eyeballs and attention.” Hurley said about facing Pitino again.
Dan Hurley’s UConn and Rick Pitino’s St. John’s last seasons
After back-to-back national titles, UConn’s season was rather disappointing as they lost to eventual champions Florida in the second round of the NCAA tournament. They finished the season with a strong 24-11 record, with 14-6 in the Big East.
On the other hand, Pitino’s St. John’s also lost to John Calipari’s Arkansas in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Despite an early exit, Pitino’s team had fans excited with their basketball. They had an impressive 31-5 record with 18-2 in the Big East.
Hurley will start his 8th season with the Huskies, while Pitino will lead the Red Storm for his 3rd season in charge. Dan Hurley vs Rick Pitino will certainly be an exciting encounter and one of the games to watch next season.
Read more:
Dan Hurley’s UConn Nonconference Schedule Draws Flak From Fans: ‘Embarrassing’ ‘No Way’
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