UConn SID attempts to explain confrontation with reporter, deletes post

After UConn fell 77-75 to Florida in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, Huskies head coach Dan Hurley issued an expletive-filled warning to Baylor as the team waited in the tunnel to take the court. Charlotte Sports Live‘s Joey Ellis posted a video of Hurley’s outburst on X and it quickly went viral.

“I hope they don’t f*** you like they f***ed us,” Hurley said in the video. “I really hope they don’t do that to you, Baylor.”

On Monday, Charlotte Sports Live reported Ellis was confronted after the game by UConn men’s basketball director of communications Bobby Mullen, who allegedly threatened to “ruin” Ellis’ life if he didn’t take down the video. Ellis didn’t comply and, as of this report, the video has over 1.2 million views on X alone.

After posting the clip of Dan Hurley leaving the floor post game in Raleigh, here’s an update with our latest reporting late Sunday night. @CSLonQCN pic.twitter.com/pOOvoIINhR

— Joey Ellis (@Jellis1016) March 24, 2025

On Monday, Mullen responded to Charlotte Sports Live‘s report by quote-tweeting the outlet’s post. However, Mullen quickly deleted his post after it went live.

“PR man yells at reporter. News at 11,” Mullen wrote in the since-deleted post. “I have a journalism degree and I know the difference between reporting and seeking out ‘gotcha’ moments. My temper flared a bit in a moment of weakness after a loss, but I think the journalists I work with regularly would vouch for me.”

It wasn’t Mullen’s first response to Charlotte Sports Live‘s allegations. He also sent a statement to the outlet after it inquired about Mullen’s postgame interaction with Ellis.

“The lasting image of coach Hurley leaving the court should have been his talking off the court arm-in-arm with his seniors, overwhelmed emotion,” Mullen said. “Instead, a reporter was in an area he should not have been, recorded on his cell phone a private comment made to members of another coaching staff.”

Charlotte Sports Live emphasized on Monday that it is standing behind Ellis. As of this report, UConn hasn’t released a statement regarding Mullen allegedly threatening to ruin Ellis’ life.

The loss on Sunday was UConn’s first in the NCAA Tournament since 2022. The Huskies won the last two national championships and had a chance to be the first team to three-peat since UCLA won seven in a row from 1967-73.

It was a back-and-forth game between 8-seed UConn and 1-seed Florida. The Huskies led by as much as six points midway through the second half but ultimately were unable to pull off the upset.

UConn was called for 21 fouls in the game compared to Florida’s 17. In turn, the Gators shot 34 free throws while the Huskies only shot 22.