It’s no secret feast week was anything but fruitful for Dan Hurley and the UConn Huskies.
The back-to-back national champions went a disastrous 0-3 in the Maui Invitational, first losing in double-overtime to the Memphis Tigers, followed by a narrow loss to Colorado, and then a blowout loss to Dayton which resulted in a last place finish in the storied event.
Hurley – never one to mince words – made it clear he has no intention of participating in any more three game MTE’s as long as he remains in charge at UConn.
“I’m not doing another three-game MTE again,” Hurley said. “Moving forward, we will only play home-and-homes or single-game events in big-time arenas. I don’t think I’ll ever do a three-game MTE again. Unless I’m not coaching here at some point, somewhere else. There’s zero chance I’ll do that again.”
MTE’s are a staple of the college basketball non conference season. Intentionally avoiding them will make scheduling even more difficult – and will likely result in more buy games against teams like New Hampshire, East Texas A&M, and Maryland Eastern Shore – all opponents UConn has faced this year who are among the bottom 10 teams in the entire country per KenPom.
Hurley did specify his distaste for three game MTE’s, so it is possible UConn will participate in a four-team, two game MTE someday – if the coach is serious about avoiding eight team events in the future and not just venting after a disastrous week in Hawaii.