UConn's Hurley Praises Officiating in National Championship Loss

Huskies coach Dan Hurley commends referees despite free throw disparity in 69-63 defeat to Michigan.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 6:35am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented basketball game, with sharp, overlapping shapes in vibrant blue, orange, and green hues, conveying the intensity and difficulty of officiating a national title matchup.Hurley's praise for the officials underscores the complexity of refereeing a high-stakes basketball championship.Storrs Today

After UConn's 69-63 loss to Michigan in the NCAA National Championship game, Huskies head coach Dan Hurley praised the officiating, saying the three referees did an excellent job in a difficult game where both teams played so hard. Despite Michigan shooting 12 more free throws than UConn, Hurley recognized the challenge of officiating a game of that magnitude and even said he would want those same three officials to ref every game for the rest of his career.

Why it matters

Hurley's comments are notable because coaches often criticize officiating, especially after a tough loss in a high-stakes game. His praise for the referees is unusual and speaks to the quality of the officiating in a closely contested national title matchup.

The details

UConn shot a poor 30.9% from the field, but kept the game close by making seven more 3-pointers than Michigan. However, the Wolverines dominated in the paint, scoring 36 points compared to just 22 for the Huskies. Michigan also attempted 12 more free throws than UConn, converting 25 points from the charity stripe compared to 12 for the Huskies.

  • The NCAA National Championship game took place on Monday, April 7, 2026.

The players

Dan Hurley

The head coach of the UConn Huskies men's basketball team, who was coaching in his third national title game.

Michigan Wolverines

The opponent of UConn in the 2026 NCAA National Championship game, who defeated the Huskies 69-63.

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What they’re saying

“It's hard to ref that game. We both played so hard... If I could have those three guys ref every game the rest of my career, I would sleep well at night.”

— Dan Hurley, Head Coach, UConn Huskies

The takeaway

Hurley's praise for the officiating, despite the free throw disparity, shows his respect for the difficulty of the job and his belief that the referees did an admirable job in calling a closely contested national championship game.