Dan Hurley on UConn advancing to Elite 8: 'There's been no complacency'

UConn is three games away from becoming the first program to win back-to-back national championships since Florida accomplished the feat in 2006-07. After the Huskies’ dominant 82-52 victory over San Diego State in the Sweet Sixteen, head coach Dan Hurley revealed what the key to his team’s success is.

“The work,” Hurley told Andy Katz. “That started by getting Cam Spencer in April. And then, summer work that we put in and the urgency that we’ve had. There’s been no complacency and we wanted to honor last year’s season with another push for another [championship].”

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Spencer was fantastic in UConn’s blowout win, tallying 18 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals while shooting 50% from the field and beyond the arc. Spencer transferred to UConn this spring after spending three seasons at Loyola Marymount and one year at Rutgers.

Of course, Spencer didn’t defeat the 2023 national runner-ups by himself. It was a team effort for the Huskies, who recorded 17 assists on 30 made field goals. The Huskies’ defense was also pivotal, squeezing 11 turnovers out of San Diego State, which resulted in 20 points.

Dan Hurley has the postseason formula

In Hurley’s first two seasons at UConn, the Huskies were eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Now, nobody looks stronger in the postseason than Hurley and Co.

“Just a great group of guys,” Hurley said. “Obviously, the past failures in the tournament have led us to coming up with a better formula and just getting really talented NBA-level players that are just willing to let each other be the hero. They defend, they rebound and they play great offense.”

Hurley’s success isn’t only the result of hard work. It also involves a little luck. Hurley is extremely superstitious and dons the same pair of underwear for each game. Since last year’s March Madness, Hurley has worn a pair of red boxers with cartoonish dragons on them every game.

He won’t allow the next game to be any exception.

“My wife, Andrea — who never gets enough TV time by the way, it’s always others — she’s got to get the hand washer going to get these dragon underwear clean for a quick turnaround,” Hurley said with a laugh.

On Saturday, UConn will face off against the winner of Illinois and Iowa State in the Elite Eight. The winner will advance to the Final Four.