Dan Hurley is drawing a new line in the sand when it comes to UConn’s non-conference scheduling.
He’s already made his feelings clear about neutral-site tournaments, steering away from multi-team events after the Huskies’ collapse at the 2024 Maui Invitational. Now he’s adding another filter: he does not want to put UConn on the floor against teams that are built around players with G League backgrounds.
“From a non-conference standpoint, would I be leery of scheduling teams that G League players?" Hurley told Front Office Sports reporter Amanda Christovich at Thursday's Big East Basketball Media Day. "I wouldn't schedule teams in my non-conference that are doing that."
The issue has become more prominent as the NCAA’s rules have loosened. For years, a stint in the G League shut the door on college eligibility under amateurism restrictions. But with athletes now able to profit from NIL and a House settlement allowing direct revenue-sharing from schools, several players with G League experience have entered college basketball ahead of the 2025-26 season.
One of the most notable examples is guard London Johnson, who committed to Louisville last October after time with the Maine Celtics and Cleveland Charge. That move set off a strong reaction from Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, who called the NCAA “ridiculous” and “embarrassing” for clearing Johnson.
Hurley backed that view on social media. He also took aim at other eligibility cases, including James Nnaji, who became the first NBA Draft pick to later play college basketball, and Charles Bediako, who received a TRO to return to Alabama after leaving to pursue a professional career two seasons earlier.
Even with that added scheduling guardrail, UConn’s non-conference slate is still loaded. The Huskies open against Michigan on Nov. 5 at Boston’s TD Garden, the first of several marquee neutral-site games that also include Duke in Las Vegas, Virginia at Madison Square Garden and a semi-road matchup with Illinois at the United Center. On campus, UConn will also take on Kansas, Arizona and Ohio State.
Hurley’s comments also read like another shot across the bow at St. John’s coach Rick Pitino.
The Red Storm roster includes Babacar Sane, who is eligible after receiving a TRO following 75 G League games, and 23-year-old G League veteran Quinn Ellis. Hurley also told CT Insider’s David Borges on Wednesday, while discussing Seton Hall center Najai Hines, that his program did not lure players into the program, unlike other programs have done to Seton Hall.
He pointed to the most notable example from two summers ago, when the Pirates lost star point guard Kadary Richmond to St. John’s.
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What makes this haul stand out is the company UConn is keeping at the top of the recruiting board. For the first time in at least 20 years, the Huskies have two ESPN five-star recruits in the same class, a sign that Hurleys pitch is landing with elite prospects early. Pages decision also came after choosing UConn over programs such as UNC, with the championship standard in Storrs clearly carrying weight in the recruitment. [Read more 🡒]
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For UConn, the bigger picture is just as important as the individual addition. Page is the latest sign that the Huskies are selling more than just recent success, because top recruits are continuing to buy into the programs team-first style and player development. The only thing left to sort out is how high this 2027 group can climb if UConn keeps stacking names like this. [Read more 🡒]