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UConn Coach Dan Hurley and Ref Downplay Heated Moment at Elite Eight Ending
Viral video showed Hurley making brief head-to-head contact with official Roger Ayers, but both say it was no big deal.
Mar. 31, 2026 at 6:48pm
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A cubist interpretation of the heated moment between UConn's coach and the referee, capturing the intensity of the NCAA tournament through a fragmented, geometric lens.Storrs TodayIn the final seconds of UConn's Elite Eight victory, head coach Dan Hurley had a heated exchange with referee Roger Ayers, with the two making brief head-to-head contact. However, both Hurley and Ayers have downplayed the incident, with Hurley saying he thought Ayers was coming over to "chest bump" him to celebrate the game-winning shot, and Ayers claiming he barely registered what happened and that it was "absolutely nothing."
Why it matters
Hurley is known for his fiery sideline demeanor, with past fines and ejections adding to the drama anytime he gets animated. While the brief headbutt-like moment went viral online, both Hurley and Ayers have dismissed it as insignificant, highlighting their generally positive working relationship despite occasional disagreements during games.
The details
With 0.4 seconds left in the game and UConn trailing by one, Braylon Mullins hit the go-ahead shot to send the Huskies into celebration. As officials huddled to check the clock, Hurley approached referee Roger Ayers and the two made brief head-to-head contact. The exchange sparked outrage online, but both Hurley and Ayers have downplayed the incident, with Hurley saying he thought Ayers was coming over to "chest bump" him, and Ayers claiming he barely registered what happened and that it was "absolutely nothing."
- The incident occurred in the final seconds of UConn's Elite Eight victory on March 31, 2026.
The players
Dan Hurley
The head coach of the UConn men's basketball team, known for his fiery sideline demeanor.
Roger Ayers
The referee who was involved in the heated exchange with Hurley at the end of the Elite Eight game.
Braylon Mullins
The UConn player who hit the go-ahead shot with 0.4 seconds left to send the Huskies into celebration.
What they’re saying
“Really, at that point in the game, we had it won. And he's such an easy guy to work with during the game that I thought he was coming over to chest bump me to celebrate the shot.”
— Dan Hurley, UConn Head Coach
“I talked to Roger today. He said, 'What are you talking about?' He literally didn't know what I was talking about. He said, 'Nothing happened. The ball went in. I was running back. They were celebrating. Danny leaned in, said something to me. I said something to him. It was absolutely nothing.'”
— Seth Greenberg, ESPN Analyst
The takeaway
While the heated exchange between Hurley and Ayers went viral online, both parties have downplayed the incident, highlighting their generally positive working relationship despite occasional disagreements during games. The focus remains on UConn's thrilling comeback victory and their advancement to the Final Four, where they will have a chance to win their third national championship in the past four years.
