UConn's Dan Hurley Denies Bumping Ref Before Ejection

Coach says he was just yelling, not making physical contact, despite video evidence to the contrary

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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UConn men's basketball coach Dan Hurley was ejected from his team's 68-62 loss to Marquette on Saturday after picking up two technical fouls for arguing with officials. Hurley denied that he made physical contact with referee John Gaffney, despite replays appearing to show otherwise. The Big East conference is reviewing the incident and it's unclear if Hurley will face further punishment.

Why it matters

Hurley's fiery on-court behavior and frequent run-ins with officials have become a storyline around the UConn program. This latest incident raises questions about Hurley's ability to keep his emotions in check, which could impact his team's performance and standing in the conference tournament.

The details

With just seconds left in the game and UConn down by two points, Hurley thought Huskies guard Silas Demary Jr. was fouled by Marquette's Ben Gold. Hurley got in the face of referee John Gaffney and loudly voiced his displeasure, appearing to bump the official in the chest. After the game, Hurley denied making any physical contact, saying 'You could screenshot whatever you want to screenshot. I don't feel like I made any contact with John. I don't believe I did.'

  • The incident occurred with just seconds left in UConn's 68-62 loss to Marquette on Saturday, March 7, 2026.
  • UConn will face either Providence or Marquette in the Big East tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, March 13, 2026.

The players

Dan Hurley

The head coach of the UConn men's basketball team, known for his fiery sideline demeanor and frequent run-ins with officials.

John Gaffney

The referee who Hurley got into a heated argument with and appeared to make physical contact with at the end of the Marquette game.

Silas Demary Jr.

A UConn guard who was involved in the play that sparked Hurley's outburst, as Hurley felt Demary was fouled by a Marquette player.

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What they’re saying

“You could screenshot whatever you want to screenshot. I don't feel like I made any contact with John. I don't believe I did.”

— Dan Hurley, Head Coach, UConn Men's Basketball (The Associated Press)

What’s next

The Big East conference is reviewing the incident and will determine if Hurley faces any further punishment beyond the automatic one-game suspension for being ejected.

The takeaway

Dan Hurley's inability to control his emotions on the sideline has become a recurring issue for the UConn program. This latest incident raises concerns about whether Hurley's fiery demeanor is hurting the team's performance and standing in the conference tournament.