Dan Hurley: '50% or more' of UConn men's basketball roster considering transfer portal
UConn coach Dan Hurley, winner of back-to-back national championships, hasn't had the easiest road to a three-peat this season, although UConn basketball looks likely for the men's NCAA Tournament.
Despite his success leading the Huskies — UConn has an outside chance to be the first team to three-peat since UCLA won seven straight national titles from 1967-73 — Hurley predicted a roster exodus following the season during an appearance on CBS's "60 Minutes" on Sunday night.
“50% of my roster or more is at least considering going in the portal, if not already knows what school they’re going to,” Hurley said. “And in a couple of those cases they’ve already talked to the coaching staff at a future school and have an idea of what their NIL is gonna be there.
"... Well, I mean, look at the volatility this year. The level of volatility in college sports, this has now become a year-to-year proposition. The game has changed completely."
Hurley has garnered attention after leading back-to-back national championships, a feat no one in men's college basketball has accomplished since Florida in 2006-07. He also is known for his fiery and passionate demeanor, such as when he got a technical foul in a 92-92 game vs. Memphis during the Maui Invitational this season.
The Tigers eventually won 99-97 in overtime.
"The force of the blown call literally knocked me to the ground is how I'm trying to justify it," Hurley said on "60 Minutes."
Hurley also touched on the potential of him leaving UConn for the Los Angeles Lakers opening over the offseason, saying he doesn't regret staying home. He and his wife Andrea Hurley flew out to Los Angeles and met with Lakers president Jeanie Buss and general manager Rob Pelinka before taking the weekend to mull the decision, which included a reported contract offer of $70 million.
"There were obviously a lot of positives. And the challenge was exciting … there were definitely times where you thought you were going," Hurley said.
Ultimately, family won over the Hurleys. He also said college coaching gives him a "sense of purpose."
"You say to yourself, 'What is this impact gonna have on my family?'" Hurley said. "We have everyone that we love close by to us. They're a part of what we're doing at UConn."
Hurley still expressed optimism for the 2024-25 season, as the Huskies look for the three-peat.
"There's a path to it," Hurley said of reaching the three-peat.