There was a sense of déjà vu in Hartford on Saturday night. UConn and Villanova, two Big East heavyweights, battled it out at the newly named PeoplesBank Arena. And just like in 2022, Dan Hurley and veteran official James Breeding had a moment - the kind that draws attention, tests tempers, and ultimately shapes the rhythm of a game.
Four years ago, Hurley was tossed from a game in the same building after a pair of quick technicals - one for slapping the scorer’s table in protest, the other for inciting the crowd. UConn still managed to win that night, with associate head coach Kimani Young guiding the team from the bench.
Fast forward to Saturday: different stakes, similar tension. This time, UConn entered ranked No. 2 in the country, and Villanova came in hungry, showing signs of a team rounding into form. And once again, Hurley found himself in the crosshairs of Breeding’s whistle.
Midway through the second half, Hurley erupted after what he believed was a missed over-the-back call on Alex Karaban. Moments later, UConn was whistled for a foul on the other end, and that lit the fuse.
Hurley let Breeding hear it - for a solid 10 seconds. Breeding warned him, hand on the whistle, but Hurley didn’t back off in time.
Technical foul.
It was Hurley’s second tech of the season, but his first from the bench. The earlier one came during halftime of the Providence game, issued in the locker room hallway. This one stung more in the moment - Villanova sank all four free throws and jumped out to a six-point lead with 15 minutes to go.
But to Hurley’s credit, he reeled it back in. He stayed on the sideline, kept coaching, and UConn clawed back. The Huskies forced overtime and ultimately pulled out a gritty 75-67 win - the kind of win that championship teams stack up in January.
“I was proud of my impulse control - and James gave me a little leash there,” Hurley said postgame. “I just didn’t like how the game was being officiated at that point.
We were attacking the paint, getting to the rim, and not getting to the line. Then they call a touch foul on the other end.
Any coach is going to react to that. But after that moment, I thought me and James worked great together.”
Injury Update: Mullins in Concussion Protocol
The Huskies didn’t come out of this one unscathed. Star freshman Braylon Mullins took an elbow to the face while trying to slow down Villanova’s standout rookie, Acaden Lewis, in transition.
Mullins went down hard and had to be helped off the floor. Though he returned to the bench later, he never re-entered the game.
Afterward, Hurley confirmed that Mullins has entered concussion protocol.
“We’ll see what happens there,” he said. “We’re going to take great care of him, just like we did with Alec Millender.”
Millender, of course, missed time earlier this season after taking a shoulder to the head in practice from center Tarris Reed Jr. His recovery was handled with caution, and the same approach will be taken with Mullins. No timeline yet, but it’s clear UConn will be cautious moving forward.
Ball Security Improves, But Rebounding Remains a Concern
At 19-1 overall and 9-0 in Big East play, UConn is rolling. But if there’s one area that’s been nagging Hurley and his staff, it’s the glass - and to a lesser extent, turnovers.
Saturday showed progress in the turnover department. The Huskies coughed it up just nine times - below their season average - and forced 11 Villanova giveaways. Four of those UConn turnovers came from Reed Jr., but overall, it was a cleaner performance.
Rebounding, though, remains a sticking point.
Villanova held the edge in the first half, and even though UConn flipped the script in overtime and finished with a 42-39 advantage, the effort on the boards - particularly from the perimeter - didn’t meet Hurley’s standard.
“We took a step forward taking care of the ball today,” Hurley said. “But the rebounding is an issue.
You can’t win championships unless you rebound. Villanova’s a smaller team, but Tyler Perkins went and got 10 rebounds.
That can’t happen.”
Hurley called on his wings and guards to step up, referencing past Huskies like Tristen Newton, Steph Castle, Cam Spencer, and Andre Jackson - all known for their relentless rebounding from the perimeter.
“We’re just not rebounding the ball right now,” Hurley said. “And Tarris has to rebound at a higher clip.
He can’t end that game with four defensive boards. He should’ve had 15, 16 today.
We’ve got to get there.”
Karaban Delivers in the Clutch - Again
Alex Karaban has had this one circled. Last season, he missed two crucial free throws late in UConn’s road loss to Villanova - a moment that stuck with him.
He got some redemption in the Big East Tournament with an 18-point performance that knocked Nova out. But Saturday felt like the full-circle moment.
All 17 of Karaban’s points came in the final nine minutes of regulation and overtime. And when the game hung in the balance, he stepped to the line and calmly knocked down the free throws that would seal it.
“I learned from that game, I grew from it,” Karaban said. “I put it behind me and saw it as a learning opportunity.”
As for where this team stacks up against the back-to-back national championship squads he was a part of, Karaban sees the pieces - but knows the work isn’t done.
“I think we have the talent and the depth those teams had,” he said. “We’re not there yet.
We’ve got to get better every single day. But I see the vision, I see the potential.
Just like in ’23, we had a rough January and then got better. Same thing this year.
We’re finding ways to win, and I truly believe this team can be a championship team. We’re going to keep striving for that every day.”
Bottom Line
UConn didn’t play its cleanest game. The rebounding issues are real, and they’ll need to be addressed if this team wants to cut down nets again in April.
But Saturday was another test passed - a gritty, emotional, come-from-behind win against a surging Villanova team. And when the moment demanded it, the Huskies’ veterans delivered.
This team isn’t a finished product. But it’s already showing the kind of resilience and depth that championship runs are built on.