March 22, 2025 • 13 mins
The Huskies knock off Oklahoma for their 13 consecutive NCAA T win
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
All right, we are now ready to begin the Connecticut
portion of the press conference. Once again, i'd like to
remind you to make sure your telephones are on mute.
We'd like to start with a opening statement from coach Hurley.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Please, yeah, I mean credit, yeah, obviously to to Oklahoma
and Porter. You know Porter is you know, he's one
of the best coaches and he's uh it's also an
incredible tournament coach when he gets in here, and uh,
you know, we knew that. You know, we really had
the guard today and there are obviously top twenty offense
(00:38):
in the country. You know, Fears was you know, everything
that we thought he was going to be out on
the court. I thought we did a better job on
him in the second half, but you know, we survived
some stretches of you know, missing some offensive opportunities. But
as much as our defense has plagued us a lot
throughout the year, you know, it advanced us today. So
(01:00):
you know, just drilled, you know, to advance and get
a chance to play Florida.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
All Right, at this time, we'll open up the floor
for questions for the student athletes. Jane, can we start
in the back?
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Hey, Alex Brendan marks from the athletic You ended up
having the three point that ultimately gave you guys the
four point cushion. With about three and a half to play,
came one possession after the charge.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
What did you see on that play?
Speaker 5 (01:24):
What do you think when you see that shot go down?
Speaker 4 (01:26):
I mean, I just saw I was wide open, and
Terror said a great screen. I see fears closing out late.
So I decided to take it, and I passed one
up in the corner. And I should have shot that
one too, and I wasn't going to make the mistake again,
but yeah, I just saw it and just yeah, I
just had to let a fly, all right.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Other questions for the student athletes, going once, going twice? Done, gentlemen,
you're excuse, thank you very much, and congratulations.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Oh Mark late, all right, let's go go ahead. Gosh, yeah,
thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
No, no, no, we need tomorrow.
Speaker 5 (02:12):
Taken about the grandma.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
So all right, at this time we'll go aheading and
open up for the coach. Let's start right.
Speaker 6 (02:27):
Here, Dan with this game seemed to be mirroring everybody
of your season, with the angst, I suppose, and all
the suffering you talk about. Can you can you talk
about the churning emotions, particularly when they made the run
up second half.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Yeah, I mean, you know it was uh you know,
microcosm of the season. We got it to you know,
got it to nine. You know, we missed the uh
mister free throw to complete the three point play, and
maybe you're starting to get some momentum and some separation.
But then I think we had maybe back to back
possessions where we like didn't finish pretty good defensive possessions
(03:05):
and gave them multiple opportunities. One time we founded a
three point shooter.
Speaker 5 (03:09):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Another time we gave up you know, a three point play,
uh to to to Waggy.
Speaker 7 (03:17):
You know.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
But you know, I that's been a microcosm of the season.
Like whenever you know, we've been able to start playing
you know, good basketball, getting separation, you know, we we
we we've tended to shoot ourselves in the foot, you know.
But the thing about this team is is, uh, you know,
we're really battle tested, like and we've had to fight
so hard all year. You know that we we showed
(03:40):
a lot of toughness down the stretch, you know, to
to execute some things and and uh you know and
make some critical shots.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
And make some critical stops all the way.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Yeah, it was a lot of suffering going on.
Speaker 7 (03:52):
And then we'll get you, uh Dan Mike de Course
from the Sporting News. I saw the play Alex was
talking about, and I saw your reaction there. But I
also saw when he when he passed up the shot,
you said something to him with the player has experienced
and accomplishes, Alex, what kind of message do you send
in a moment like that, because I know you said something.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Shoot the f and ball. Yeah, I mean, I'm not
sure if that was the exact way I should have
said it. You know, but like Alex is such you know,
a perfectionist and a smart player that like he knows
the quality of shots and you know, just with this
(04:34):
team and this roster that he has around him, you know,
he he's got to take more, you know, contested shots.
He's got to let it fly more. He probably you know,
should have taken fourteen shots in this game and he
cannot make that same mistake, you know in the next one.
You know, when you play teams at this level, uh,
you know, which is the best of the best in
(04:56):
the tournament, Like the windows are tighter, you know, you're
not gonna get you know, you're not going to get
you know, the perfect shots. So the only way we're
going to win the game, especially with the way that
Liam was shooting the ball at that point of the game,
It's like Liam and Alex were both struggling. We were
on like support. We needed one of them to step
(05:16):
up and make some shots, and it was Alex.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Okay, let's go up front here.
Speaker 5 (05:21):
Mark Cinendo locked on you gun. Dan, you tied or not,
didn't tie, but you won your thirteenth straight NCAA Tournament game,
not by double digits. Does it, ever, does it show
how abnormal the last two years has been when this
season is full of angst as the other question was,
and obviously you get it out of win today.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Yeah, yeah, I mean, listen, the last two years are
just not I mean, you know, like you know, there's
only three teams that have done what we've done, you know,
based on obviously the expanded tournament where you gotta win
six games, so you know, the only three teams that
(06:03):
have been able to do that really since the tournament expanded,
or US Duke in Florida, and you know, just to uh,
you know, to be to be able to come here
and and uh, you know, and and number one to
make the tournament and and fight our way in you know,
come out here and and fight with some honor and
and get ourselves, uh, you know, an opportunity to play,
(06:27):
you know, one of the best teams in the country.
That reminds you know, me some of what we put
on the floor in Florida. But there's a lot of
honor in us being able to you know, uh, you
know face the last team that you know that that
went back to back and uh, you know, I think
there's there's honor and fighting and getting to the round
(06:48):
of thirty thirty two and making somebody put you down
in this tournament to end this run we've been on.
The run we've been on. You know, if it wasn't
for all of my antics and viral moments, you know,
obviously there'd be more focused on just what we've accomplished
as a program the last three years. It's been an
(07:08):
amazing run, one of the best runs anyone's had.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Okay, Jayden, we need to go in the middle first,
and then we'll get YouTube. Gentlemen over here, Hey, Dan
Jamie Shall with on three.
Speaker 8 (07:20):
You're preparing for Florida on Sunday Monday, the transfer portal opens.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
How do you kind of have a how do you
kind of.
Speaker 8 (07:27):
Have a dual preparation for that, uh, you know, in
the next couple of days through the next I guess, yeah,
part of the process.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Yeah, I mean there's a you know, we have a
we we do. We have an hour meeting, you know,
with with the staff tomorrow again talking about you know,
what what what are you know, what what the cap
is gonna look like, and you know all those things.
You're definitely having those conversations and uh, you know, you
(07:55):
have a I think an idea of you know, have
the players that you you know, you think really want
to return and and uh you know will be here.
So yeah, I mean you're you know, you're probably spending
an hour, you know, an hour plus every day on
what's about to drop?
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Okay, Jayden right here and then one in front of
him next Dan.
Speaker 9 (08:18):
You still obviously have a number of guys who've played
in a ton of games like this the last two
three years when things got tense in the second half.
How much do you think that experience was a difference
maker or separated you from from them.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Yeah, I mean, you know, the the you know, the championship.
You know Pat agree is, you know, it's still there
for us. I mean there's a there's a belief in uh,
you know, in the Yukon Jersey this time of year.
You know, it's just with the history of success. And
it was it was you know, obviously, you know Alex
(08:51):
led the way, the guy that's you know, a two
time champion, and and then you know, and and Samson
and Hassan were huge. But then it was like to
see Taris Reid step up and do what he did
for us in his first tournament game. You know, somebody's
gonna have to you know, put us down in this
tournament for you know, for us to go away right
(09:13):
over here.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
Coach Dan, you alluded to it yesterday, but very often
when a team survives a game like this in the
first round, they've kind of loosened up.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
A little bit going going forward.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
And you haven't really been had that pattern here, but
you do you kind of sense that that maybe now
that you've got this behind you, that you might be
a looser team come Sunday.
Speaker 7 (09:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
I think we you know, we missed some good threes,
We made some real bad decisions in the paint where
we had lobs to Samson or we could hit the
roller in taris and we forced some things. Yeah, obviously
we turned the ball over a lot, but I mean
we did I mean, we did lead for thirty eight
you know, for thirty eight minutes in the game. You know, Yeah,
(10:01):
I don't. I'm I think we're gonna obviously, you know,
we we know what, we know, the quality that we're
playing against. Obviously we had a chance to see Florida
and some of the Crosscrow Cross scouts of watching you know, Oklahoma,
we're able to see them and and uh, you know,
prepare for that. But yeah, I mean, you know, I
think we're a dangerous team. You know, I think we're
(10:22):
a dangerous team because, uh, you know, again, most people
picked us, I think too, you know, to lose the
you know, probably to lose the first game, and I
don't think many people will give us a shot in
the second one.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
Okay, Jaydon on the fourth row, on the aisle, on
the edge.
Speaker 10 (10:37):
Or Dan, you just mentioned that Florida what they're doing
reminds you a little bit of what you guys did.
What part of the way they're playing right now, reminds
you of yourself.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Yeah, I mean, I mean the the bigs. I mean,
it reminds me of kind of what we had with
Snogo and and and Klinging and Samson Johnson in these
last couple of years, where I mean they just keep
trotting out, you know, big skilled, you know, tenacious two
way players that are all over the glass. And then
they've got the they got a lot of depth on
(11:12):
the perimeter, and you know, they're they're old. I mean,
they're you know Clayton who we obviously faced a couple
of years ago at Iona, you know, and then we
played this Florida team a couple of years ago in
Gainesville as as Todd was kind of just getting this
thing going. And you know, obviously the addition of Martin,
(11:34):
I mean, they've got they got a lot of a
lot of great pieces and he's done a great job.
I mean, their roster construction is is really impressive and
the coaching job.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
All right, Cooper, head back on the aisle there. This
will be the last question right there.
Speaker 11 (11:52):
What's going to be the message to the guys to
get them ready to take on Florida. You were mentioning
a lot of a lot of fighter, a lot of underdog.
Are you're looking to instill some of that chip on
the shoulder for a program that has two time reigning champions,
has kind of been the hunted for a lot of
the last two years.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
Yeah, I mean I think, uh, you know, for us,
we're gonna obviously, you know, seriously have the game plan
this one, you know, with them, and and be able
to uh you know, drag them into a half court
game and and uh, you know, and just try to
slow down their their attack. I mean, when they get rolling,
(12:30):
it's uh, you know, it's it's wave after wave. So
you know, but you know, for us, you know what
we are, uh you know, we come into this tournament
as as back to back national champions, so you know,
obviously for us, we were uh you know, we'll get
these guys back and and you know, I think they'll
(12:51):
get a lot of confidence from advancing and a lot
of you know, energy and a lot of belief, you know,
Yukon and myself, you know, getting out of the first
round of the tournament. You know, once we get out
of the first round, we've been pretty good.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
Okay, thank you very much, coach. I appreciate it all. Right,
see you tomorrow. Oklahoma is in the waiting room. As
soon as I get things take
All right, we are now ready to begin the Connecticut
portion of the press conference. Once again, i'd like to
remind you to make sure your telephones are on mute.
We'd like to start with a opening statement from coach Hurley.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Please, yeah, I mean credit, yeah, obviously to to Oklahoma
and Porter. You know Porter is you know, he's one
of the best coaches and he's uh it's also an
incredible tournament coach when he gets in here, and uh,
you know, we knew that. You know, we really had
the guard today and there are obviously top twenty offense
(00:38):
in the country. You know, Fears was you know, everything
that we thought he was going to be out on
the court. I thought we did a better job on
him in the second half, but you know, we survived
some stretches of you know, missing some offensive opportunities. But
as much as our defense has plagued us a lot
throughout the year, you know, it advanced us today. So
(01:00):
you know, just drilled, you know, to advance and get
a chance to play Florida.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
All Right, at this time, we'll open up the floor
for questions for the student athletes. Jane, can we start
in the back?
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Hey, Alex Brendan marks from the athletic You ended up
having the three point that ultimately gave you guys the
four point cushion. With about three and a half to play,
came one possession after the charge.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
What did you see on that play?
Speaker 5 (01:24):
What do you think when you see that shot go down?
Speaker 4 (01:26):
I mean, I just saw I was wide open, and
Terror said a great screen. I see fears closing out late.
So I decided to take it, and I passed one
up in the corner. And I should have shot that
one too, and I wasn't going to make the mistake again,
but yeah, I just saw it and just yeah, I
just had to let a fly, all right.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Other questions for the student athletes, going once, going twice? Done, gentlemen,
you're excuse, thank you very much, and congratulations.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Oh Mark late, all right, let's go go ahead. Gosh, yeah,
thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
No, no, no, we need tomorrow.
Speaker 5 (02:12):
Taken about the grandma.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
So all right, at this time we'll go aheading and
open up for the coach. Let's start right.
Speaker 6 (02:27):
Here, Dan with this game seemed to be mirroring everybody
of your season, with the angst, I suppose, and all
the suffering you talk about. Can you can you talk
about the churning emotions, particularly when they made the run
up second half.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Yeah, I mean, you know it was uh you know,
microcosm of the season. We got it to you know,
got it to nine. You know, we missed the uh
mister free throw to complete the three point play, and
maybe you're starting to get some momentum and some separation.
But then I think we had maybe back to back
possessions where we like didn't finish pretty good defensive possessions
(03:05):
and gave them multiple opportunities. One time we founded a
three point shooter.
Speaker 5 (03:09):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Another time we gave up you know, a three point play,
uh to to to Waggy.
Speaker 7 (03:17):
You know.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
But you know, I that's been a microcosm of the season.
Like whenever you know, we've been able to start playing
you know, good basketball, getting separation, you know, we we
we we've tended to shoot ourselves in the foot, you know.
But the thing about this team is is, uh, you know,
we're really battle tested, like and we've had to fight
so hard all year. You know that we we showed
(03:40):
a lot of toughness down the stretch, you know, to
to execute some things and and uh you know and
make some critical shots.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
And make some critical stops all the way.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Yeah, it was a lot of suffering going on.
Speaker 7 (03:52):
And then we'll get you, uh Dan Mike de Course
from the Sporting News. I saw the play Alex was
talking about, and I saw your reaction there. But I
also saw when he when he passed up the shot,
you said something to him with the player has experienced
and accomplishes, Alex, what kind of message do you send
in a moment like that, because I know you said something.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Shoot the f and ball. Yeah, I mean, I'm not
sure if that was the exact way I should have
said it. You know, but like Alex is such you know,
a perfectionist and a smart player that like he knows
the quality of shots and you know, just with this
(04:34):
team and this roster that he has around him, you know,
he he's got to take more, you know, contested shots.
He's got to let it fly more. He probably you know,
should have taken fourteen shots in this game and he
cannot make that same mistake, you know in the next one.
You know, when you play teams at this level, uh,
you know, which is the best of the best in
(04:56):
the tournament, Like the windows are tighter, you know, you're
not gonna get you know, you're not going to get
you know, the perfect shots. So the only way we're
going to win the game, especially with the way that
Liam was shooting the ball at that point of the game,
It's like Liam and Alex were both struggling. We were
on like support. We needed one of them to step
(05:16):
up and make some shots, and it was Alex.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Okay, let's go up front here.
Speaker 5 (05:21):
Mark Cinendo locked on you gun. Dan, you tied or not,
didn't tie, but you won your thirteenth straight NCAA Tournament game,
not by double digits. Does it, ever, does it show
how abnormal the last two years has been when this
season is full of angst as the other question was,
and obviously you get it out of win today.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Yeah, yeah, I mean, listen, the last two years are
just not I mean, you know, like you know, there's
only three teams that have done what we've done, you know,
based on obviously the expanded tournament where you gotta win
six games, so you know, the only three teams that
(06:03):
have been able to do that really since the tournament expanded,
or US Duke in Florida, and you know, just to uh,
you know, to be to be able to come here
and and uh, you know, and and number one to
make the tournament and and fight our way in you know,
come out here and and fight with some honor and
and get ourselves, uh, you know, an opportunity to play,
(06:27):
you know, one of the best teams in the country.
That reminds you know, me some of what we put
on the floor in Florida. But there's a lot of
honor in us being able to you know, uh, you
know face the last team that you know that that
went back to back and uh, you know, I think
there's there's honor and fighting and getting to the round
(06:48):
of thirty thirty two and making somebody put you down
in this tournament to end this run we've been on.
The run we've been on. You know, if it wasn't
for all of my antics and viral moments, you know,
obviously there'd be more focused on just what we've accomplished
as a program the last three years. It's been an
(07:08):
amazing run, one of the best runs anyone's had.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Okay, Jayden, we need to go in the middle first,
and then we'll get YouTube. Gentlemen over here, Hey, Dan
Jamie Shall with on three.
Speaker 8 (07:20):
You're preparing for Florida on Sunday Monday, the transfer portal opens.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
How do you kind of have a how do you
kind of.
Speaker 8 (07:27):
Have a dual preparation for that, uh, you know, in
the next couple of days through the next I guess, yeah,
part of the process.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Yeah, I mean there's a you know, we have a
we we do. We have an hour meeting, you know,
with with the staff tomorrow again talking about you know,
what what what are you know, what what the cap
is gonna look like, and you know all those things.
You're definitely having those conversations and uh, you know, you
(07:55):
have a I think an idea of you know, have
the players that you you know, you think really want
to return and and uh you know will be here.
So yeah, I mean you're you know, you're probably spending
an hour, you know, an hour plus every day on
what's about to drop?
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Okay, Jayden right here and then one in front of
him next Dan.
Speaker 9 (08:18):
You still obviously have a number of guys who've played
in a ton of games like this the last two
three years when things got tense in the second half.
How much do you think that experience was a difference
maker or separated you from from them.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Yeah, I mean, you know, the the you know, the championship.
You know Pat agree is, you know, it's still there
for us. I mean there's a there's a belief in uh,
you know, in the Yukon Jersey this time of year.
You know, it's just with the history of success. And
it was it was you know, obviously, you know Alex
(08:51):
led the way, the guy that's you know, a two
time champion, and and then you know, and and Samson
and Hassan were huge. But then it was like to
see Taris Reid step up and do what he did
for us in his first tournament game. You know, somebody's
gonna have to you know, put us down in this
tournament for you know, for us to go away right
(09:13):
over here.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
Coach Dan, you alluded to it yesterday, but very often
when a team survives a game like this in the
first round, they've kind of loosened up.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
A little bit going going forward.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
And you haven't really been had that pattern here, but
you do you kind of sense that that maybe now
that you've got this behind you, that you might be
a looser team come Sunday.
Speaker 7 (09:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
I think we you know, we missed some good threes,
We made some real bad decisions in the paint where
we had lobs to Samson or we could hit the
roller in taris and we forced some things. Yeah, obviously
we turned the ball over a lot, but I mean
we did I mean, we did lead for thirty eight
you know, for thirty eight minutes in the game. You know, Yeah,
(10:01):
I don't. I'm I think we're gonna obviously, you know,
we we know what, we know, the quality that we're
playing against. Obviously we had a chance to see Florida
and some of the Crosscrow Cross scouts of watching you know, Oklahoma,
we're able to see them and and uh, you know,
prepare for that. But yeah, I mean, you know, I
think we're a dangerous team. You know, I think we're
(10:22):
a dangerous team because, uh, you know, again, most people
picked us, I think too, you know, to lose the
you know, probably to lose the first game, and I
don't think many people will give us a shot in
the second one.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
Okay, Jaydon on the fourth row, on the aisle, on
the edge.
Speaker 10 (10:37):
Or Dan, you just mentioned that Florida what they're doing
reminds you a little bit of what you guys did.
What part of the way they're playing right now, reminds
you of yourself.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Yeah, I mean, I mean the the bigs. I mean,
it reminds me of kind of what we had with
Snogo and and and Klinging and Samson Johnson in these
last couple of years, where I mean they just keep
trotting out, you know, big skilled, you know, tenacious two
way players that are all over the glass. And then
they've got the they got a lot of depth on
(11:12):
the perimeter, and you know, they're they're old. I mean,
they're you know Clayton who we obviously faced a couple
of years ago at Iona, you know, and then we
played this Florida team a couple of years ago in
Gainesville as as Todd was kind of just getting this
thing going. And you know, obviously the addition of Martin,
(11:34):
I mean, they've got they got a lot of a
lot of great pieces and he's done a great job.
I mean, their roster construction is is really impressive and
the coaching job.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
All right, Cooper, head back on the aisle there. This
will be the last question right there.
Speaker 11 (11:52):
What's going to be the message to the guys to
get them ready to take on Florida. You were mentioning
a lot of a lot of fighter, a lot of underdog.
Are you're looking to instill some of that chip on
the shoulder for a program that has two time reigning champions,
has kind of been the hunted for a lot of
the last two years.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
Yeah, I mean I think, uh, you know, for us,
we're gonna obviously, you know, seriously have the game plan
this one, you know, with them, and and be able
to uh you know, drag them into a half court
game and and uh, you know, and just try to
slow down their their attack. I mean, when they get rolling,
(12:30):
it's uh, you know, it's it's wave after wave. So
you know, but you know, for us, you know what
we are, uh you know, we come into this tournament
as as back to back national champions, so you know,
obviously for us, we were uh you know, we'll get
these guys back and and you know, I think they'll
(12:51):
get a lot of confidence from advancing and a lot
of you know, energy and a lot of belief, you know,
Yukon and myself, you know, getting out of the first
round of the tournament. You know, once we get out
of the first round, we've been pretty good.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
Okay, thank you very much, coach. I appreciate it all. Right,
see you tomorrow. Oklahoma is in the waiting room. As
soon as I get things take
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In 1997, actress Kristin Davis’ life was forever changed when she took on the role of Charlotte York in Sex and the City. As we watched Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte navigate relationships in NYC, the show helped push once unacceptable conversation topics out of the shadows and altered the narrative around women and sex. We all saw ourselves in them as they searched for fulfillment in life, sex and friendships. Now, Kristin Davis wants to connect with you, the fans, and share untold stories and all the behind the scenes. Together, with Kristin and special guests, what will begin with Sex and the City will evolve into talks about themes that are still so relevant today. "Are you a Charlotte?" is much more than just rewatching this beloved show, it brings the past and the present together as we talk with heart, humor and of course some optimism.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
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If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.