UConn Coach Hurley Jokingly Snores After Tense Win Over Furman

Huskies survive late scare from Paladins behind Tarris Reed Jr.'s historic performance.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 12:55pm

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UConn head coach Dan Hurley jokingly snored during his postgame press conference after the Huskies survived a late-night scare against Furman in the NCAA Tournament. Despite entering as heavy favorites, UConn struggled from three-point range but leaned on a dominant performance from star big man Tarris Reed Jr. to avoid the upset.

Why it matters

Hurley's lighthearted snoring moment captured the relief and exhaustion of a hard-fought victory, as the Huskies had to overcome inconsistent shooting and a late Furman rally to advance. Reed's historic stat line underscored UConn's reliance on their star player, raising questions about whether they can sustain that level of individual dominance against tougher competition.

The details

Reed exploded for 31 points on 12-of-15 shooting while grabbing a staggering 27 rebounds, becoming the latest player in modern NCAA Tournament history to post a 30-point, 20-rebound performance. His dominance inside kept UConn afloat during stretches where the offense sputtered, particularly from beyond the arc, as the Huskies missed 20 of their 25 three-point attempts.

  • The game was played late into the night on March 21, 2026.

The players

Dan Hurley

The head coach of the UConn Huskies men's basketball team.

Tarris Reed Jr.

The star big man for the UConn Huskies, who delivered a historic 31-point, 27-rebound performance in the win over Furman.

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What they’re saying

“That was the game, this guy. That's as dominant a performance as you've probably seen from a big guy in tournament history. That's what he's capable of. This guy's a total monster, and today he was a real grizzly bear.”

— Dan Hurley, Head Coach

What’s next

UConn will face UCLA in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Hurley's lighthearted snoring moment captured the relief and exhaustion of a hard-fought victory, as the Huskies had to overcome inconsistent shooting and a late Furman rally to advance. Reed's historic performance underscored UConn's reliance on their star player, raising questions about whether they can sustain that level of individual dominance against tougher competition in the later rounds of the tournament.