This year, UConn Huskies coach Dan Hurley is celebrating Thanksgiving differently with his 2025-26 team, so that they can perform at their best. On Monday, Nov. 24, coach Hurley and the Huskies faced coach Jamion Christian’s Bryant Bulldogs for the continuation of their non-conference schedule at one of their home courts, the PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, Connecticut. UConn won 72-49.
In a post-game press conference clip that @CBBcontent posted on X/Twitter, Hurley was asked how he and the team plan on celebrating Thanksgiving this year. Hurley said he is looking to celebrate it a day before the actual holiday date, as there is a certain amino acid called “tryptophan” that he and his team are looking to avoid.
“ We’re gonna celebrate our Thanksgiving on Wednesday as a team. We’re gonna eat the, what’s in the Turkey, Bobby? No, no, no, no. What makes people sleepy? Trytophan, trytophan. So, we’re not gonna eat the f*ck*ng tryptophan on on Thursday, and be sluggish as sh*t on Friday. So, we’re gonna eat the tryptophan, the Turkey and everything on Wednesday so that all the tryptophan is out of our system by the time we get to MSG. Here we go,” Hurley explained.
Dan Hurley is awesome. pic.twitter.com/xOgElsj6bb
— College Basketball Content (@CBBcontent) November 24, 2025
As such, Hurley is looking to avoid tryptophan since it may cause his team to feel more sleepy and affect their performance in their next game. Thanksgiving this year is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 27. However, the Huskies are set to face a formidable, ranked opponent in coach Brad Underwood’s Illinois Fighting Illini the next day. With this, Wednesday’s Thanksgiving celebration may give UConn more time to rest.
UConn is looking to win the national championship this year after being unable to secure an illustrious national title three-peat in the 2024-25 season, since they won it in 2023 and 2024.
Also Read: UConn HC Dan Hurley Makes Feelings Clear on Facing Rick Pitino’s St. John’s
The 2025-26 UConn Huskies Have Lost Only One Game Through Their First Six Games
As it stands, coach Dan Hurley and the 2025-26 UConn Huskies have lost only one game through their first six matchups of the year, boasting a 5-1 record.
As the No. 1 seed in the Big East conference, Hurley and the Huskies are looking to continue that record against the Illinois Fighting Illini. The squad’s only defeat this year came against the Arizona Wildcats, in which they were beaten by just four points, 71-67.
Read More: “There’s Nothing More Useless Than Preseason Polls”: Dan Hurley Fires Up Rivalry With Rick Pitino After UConn Loses Top Spot to St. John’s
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