UConn Outlasts Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse Showdown, as Dan Hurley Tunes Out the Noise
Inside one of college basketball’s most iconic venues, emotions were running high Tuesday night - and not just from the players on the court. Allen Fieldhouse was electric, and at times, downright hostile as No.
4 UConn came into Lawrence and walked out with a gritty 61-56 win over No. 5 Kansas.
But while the Huskies made history with their first-ever win over the Jayhawks, much of the buzz centered around UConn head coach Dan Hurley - and the not-so-warm welcome he received from the Kansas faithful.
It’s not often that a visiting coach becomes the focal point of a crowd’s ire, but Hurley, known for his fiery sideline demeanor and unapologetic edge, drew plenty of attention. Chants targeting Hurley began midway through the first half, just as Kansas was riding a wave of momentum and had built an 8-point lead behind a flurry of three-pointers.
The chants were explicit - and loud - enough that the arena’s public address announcer stepped in, asking fans to cut out the offensive language. That move, in turn, drew a round of boos from the student section, who were clearly locked in on making their presence felt.
Hurley, for his part, didn’t flinch.
“Everyone was so nice to me the last time,” he said postgame, with a smirk. “I don't really have anything.
If that's how people want to carry themselves in the game, it's sports. We're all (expletive) gladiators.”
That’s classic Hurley - leaning into the chaos, embracing the villain role, and keeping the focus on the game. And his team responded in kind. UConn weathered the early Kansas run, turned the game into a defensive slugfest, and ultimately closed it out at the line with a pair of clutch free throws from freshman Braylon Mullins.
While Hurley brushed off the chants, Kansas head coach Bill Self wasn’t as indifferent. He made it clear postgame that he didn’t condone the language coming from the stands.
“I said verbally to knock it off,” Self said. “You don’t do that.”
Self’s message was simple: passion is part of the game, but there’s a line. And in his eyes, that line was crossed.
Still, the tension didn’t stop there. Hurley had another moment in the second half that drew the crowd’s ire - this time for working the officials in signature fashion.
After a foul was called on Kansas leading into the under-8 timeout, Hurley made his way well beyond the sideline, stepping into the paint to make sure the referees heard his case. It was vintage Hurley - animated, unfiltered, and relentless.
But in the end, it was his team’s toughness that did the talking. UConn’s defense clamped down in the second half, and the Huskies made just enough plays down the stretch to quiet the crowd - at least temporarily. As Allen Fieldhouse began to empty, a small but vocal group of UConn fans made themselves heard with chants of “U-C-O-N-N” echoing through the arena.
For the Huskies, this wasn’t just a signature non-conference win - it was a milestone. Tuesday night marked UConn’s first-ever victory over Kansas, and they earned it in one of the toughest road environments in college basketball.
And while the crowd tried to rattle Hurley, he walked out of Lawrence with the last word - and the win.