UConn, Dan Hurley lead the winners and losers from college basketball’s holiday weekend

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When on the Hawaiian islands, one must remember to spread aloha. If you don’t have the aloha spirit, bad things tend to happen − even when in paradise.

Dan Hurley clearly didn’t get the memo as Connecticut team finished last with an 0-3 record at the Maui Invitational.

It was a trip to forget for the Huskies as they went from a team appearing good enough to be the second one to win three consecutive national championships to one that would be lucky to get out of the first round of the tournament. They saw their 17-game win streak end to Memphis in the first game and lost another close to Colorado before getting blown out by Dayton to finish the tournament.

As bad as it was to leave the islands without a win, Hurley also did damage to his reputation. Sure, he’s a proven winner and one of the more fiery coaches in the country, but his poor sideline behavior was on full display. Referees have been lenient with him for long, but the tantrums needed a punishment at some point. Even when he got a deserved technical in late in the loss to Memphis, he still found a way to blast the officiating. Clearly, no self-reflecting coming any time soon, and that’s why Connecticut leads the early editions of men’s college basketball winners and losers.

Connecticut coach Dan Hurley reacts to a play during his team’s game against Memphis in the Maui Invitational at Lahaina Civic Center.

Winners

Auburn

Kansas started the season at No. 1 and hasn’t done anything to lose it, but Auburn has been playing like the best team in the country. After a poor first half in the first game of the Maui Invitational against Iowa State, the Tigers stormed back to beat the Cyclones at the last second. They then got past North Carolina before overwhelming Memphis in the tournament final.

While playing like the best team in the country, they may have one of the best players in Johni Broome. He not only leads the country in rebounds per game (12.9), but he finished the tournament averaging 21.7 points and 15.0 rebounds…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/uconn-dan-hurley-lead-winners-110709571.html

Author : USA TODAY Sports

Publish date : 2024-12-02 11:07:00

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