Crowd boos UConn's Hurley after Final Four win
UConn coach Dan Hurley headbutted freshman Braylon Mullins after the Huskies defeated Illinois in the NCAA men's basketball Final Four semifinal on April 4, 2026, in Indianapolis. As Hurley approached CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson for an interview, boos rained down from the crowd, audible on the broadcast. "The start to the game and the finish to the game," Hurley said of Mullins as the jeers began. "I don’t know what… are they booing? The headbutt? I don’t know what they’re booing."
Hurley's intense style has elicited both criticism and praise from college basketball fans. He took over at UConn before the 2018-19 season following Kevin Ollie's tenure, which included sanctions. His first year ended 16-17, UConn's only losing season under him.
Hurley has now guided UConn to the national title game for the third time in four years, a feat matching rare historical benchmarks. Roy Williams reached finals in consecutive years with North Carolina in 2016 and 2017. Brad Stevens took Butler there back-to-back in 2010 and 2011. Billy Donovan won successive titles with Florida in 2006 and 2007. Mike Krzyzewski led Duke to three straight from 1990 to 1992, winning two.
UConn faces Michigan in the championship on Monday night.
