After UConn ends losing streak, Hurley asks fans for patience
The expectations surrounding UConn men’s basketball are so high that after their 99-45 win over Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday, coach Dan Hurley focused less on the blowout victory and more on the immense pressure following the school’s back-to-back national championships.
Hurley acknowledged that his players had struggled under these expectations, especially after losing three games in three days in Hawaii earlier in the week. He knows one dominant win against an outmatched opponent won’t be enough to satisfy critics.
“We’re going to need grace, patience, and incredible support from our fans, both those at the game and those on social media,” Hurley said. “Our team is a work in progress with many new and young players, some stepping into bigger roles for the first time, all carrying the weight of a program we’ve built.”
He added, “We’ve earned that support through the last two years. Some of the same issues we’ve faced were still present tonight. To get back to the level we’ve been at, we need to continue addressing these issues. But it’s good to put this tough week behind us.”
UConn bounced back with a balanced team effort despite missing their leader, Alex Karaban, who was sidelined due to concussion symptoms from a Wednesday game against Dayton. Karaban was cleared to fly back with the team but remained in concussion protocol.
“Alex is doing well,” Hurley said. “It was a mild concussion, and I credit the doctors for how they handled it. He’s feeling great.”
In Karaban’s absence, Jaylin Stewart started and scored 16 points, along with Liam McNeeley, as six Huskies scored in double figures. UConn (5-3) also got contributions from Solo Ball (12 points), Aidan Mahaney (11), and Tarris Reed Jr. and Jayden Ross (10 points each). Reed grabbed 12 rebounds for his fourth double-double, while Ross secured 10 rebounds for his first double-double with UConn. The Huskies dominated the boards 48-23.
UConn’s defense, which had been a point of concern, showed improvement as they held UMES to just 30% shooting, including 14.3% from beyond the arc. UConn shot 54.2% overall and 37% from three.
While the victory was impressive, Hurley emphasized the context. UMES had suffered a 74-point loss to Arkansas earlier in the week.
“The mental toll of the expectations we’ve created was hard to deal with this week,” Hurley said. “It was humbling, but this win helps us move on. The competition going forward will be much tougher.”
The players remain confident despite the pressure to maintain the program’s high standards.
“There’s a lot of outside noise, but we lean on each other,” said Ross. “We believe in ourselves and know we can compete with the best teams. With the best coaching staff in the country, we have a lot of confidence.”
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