UConn Coach Dan Hurley Prayed in Bathroom After Stunning Duke Comeback

Hurley found a private moment to thank God for the Huskies' incredible March Madness victory.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 8:50pm

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An abstract expressionist painting in neon colors depicting the chaotic final seconds of a basketball game, with players' figures and the court dissolving into swirling brushstrokes and splatters of paint.The final frantic moments of UConn's stunning comeback victory over Duke in the NCAA tournament are captured in a vibrant, energetic painting.Storrs Today

After UConn's stunning comeback victory over Duke in the NCAA Tournament's Elite 8, head coach Dan Hurley took a moment to pray in a bathroom stall, thanking God for the team's improbable win. Hurley trailed by as many as 19 points in the game before his Huskies clawed their way back, eventually winning on a last-second 35-foot buzzer beater.

Why it matters

Hurley's private prayer in the bathroom stall after the game highlights the deep personal and spiritual connection many coaches and players feel to the sport of basketball, especially during the high-stakes drama of March Madness. The UConn victory over the heavily favored Duke squad was one of the most thrilling finishes of the tournament so far.

The details

With just seconds left and Duke leading by one point, UConn managed to steal a pass from Duke's Cayden Boozer, leading to Braylon Mullins' game-winning 35-foot buzzer beater to give the Huskies a 73-72 victory. After the stunning comeback, Hurley said he 'was able to go into the bathroom stall and say my 'Hail Mary' and say my 'Our Father,' and thank the Lord for blessing us with this victory.'

  • UConn beat Duke 73-72 on Sunday, March 29.
  • Hurley spoke about his private prayer in the bathroom after the game.
  • UConn will play Illinois in the Final Four on Saturday, April 4.

The players

Dan Hurley

The 53-year-old head coach of the UConn Huskies basketball team, who led his squad to a stunning comeback victory over Duke in the NCAA Tournament's Elite 8.

Braylon Mullins

The UConn player who hit the game-winning 35-foot buzzer beater to defeat Duke.

Cayden Boozer

The Duke player whose late-game turnover led to UConn's game-winning shot.

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What they’re saying

“I was able to go into the bathroom stall and say my 'Hail Mary' and say my 'Our Father,' and thank the Lord for blessing us with this victory.”

— Dan Hurley, UConn Head Coach

“When I first had my private moment, the first person I went and spoke to was God. I didn't necessarily thank him for the victory. But I just thanked him for being in my life. I start every day with prayer and I felt like once I had a private moment, that was the person I needed to talk to.”

— Dan Hurley, UConn Head Coach

What’s next

UConn will play Illinois in the Final Four on Saturday, April 4, with the winner facing either Michigan or Arizona in the national championship game on Monday, April 6.

The takeaway

Hurley's private prayer in the bathroom stall after the game highlights the deep personal and spiritual connection many coaches and players feel to the sport of basketball, especially during the high-stakes drama of March Madness. The UConn victory over the heavily favored Duke squad was one of the most thrilling finishes of the tournament so far.