UConn Coach Hurley Criticizes Players' Defense After Upset Loss

Hurley calls out team's poor individual defense in 91-84 defeat to Creighton

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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UConn head coach Dan Hurley harshly criticized his players' defensive performance following the Huskies' 91-84 upset loss to Creighton on Wednesday night. Hurley said the team's defense has been "dreadful" and a "joke", with players making "blown assignments" from the opening minutes of the game.

Why it matters

UConn was ranked 5th in the nation and was expected to easily handle Creighton, but the loss raises questions about the team's defensive intensity and focus, especially with the NCAA Tournament approaching. Hurley's strong criticism of his players' effort could signal deeper issues within the program that need to be addressed.

The details

The Huskies struggled mightily on the defensive end, allowing Creighton to shoot 54% from the field and score 91 points. Hurley said he was subbing players out within the first minute and a half due to blown defensive assignments, and that the poor defense had been "brewing" for some time. UConn's usually reliable offense also went cold in the second half, further contributing to the upset loss.

  • The game took place on Wednesday, February 19, 2026.

The players

Dan Hurley

The head coach of the UConn men's basketball team, who is in his 8th season leading the Huskies program. Hurley has guided UConn to two national championships in 2023 and 2024.

Braylon

A UConn player who was absent for part of the second half, further impacting the team's offensive production.

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What they’re saying

“Our defense has just been so bad. We've been playing with fire with this obviously overall defense, dreadful. Then minus Braylon in the second half, the shot making was just ice cold. This has been brewing, just based on what the defense has looked like, the defense has been a joke. And you know you're in trouble to start the game when you're subbing people within the first minute and a half of the game on blown assignments. And I mean, I could have just done that the whole game, because it was a game of just really bad individual defense.”

— Dan Hurley, Head Coach, UConn Men's Basketball (FOX College Hoops)

What’s next

The Huskies will look to rebound from this upset loss as they prepare for their next game against a ranked opponent.

The takeaway

This loss highlights the importance of defensive intensity and focus for a UConn team that has championship aspirations. Hurley's strong criticism of his players' effort suggests he believes they need to improve their defensive play if they want to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.