For The First Time Almost Eight Years We Had UConn vs. Syracuse in College Hoops And Dan Hurley Was Not Happy With His Quarter-Zip

Even without Braylon Mullins or Solo Ball, UConn looked like a legit championship contender in its 72-52 win over Syracuse at Mohegan Sun in one of those college exhibition games teams are allowed to play. Remember the name Junior County 👀👀

America's best basketball coach, Dan Hurley, did a quick TV hit with Kayla Burton at halftime, and he wasn't happy with his team-issued quarter-zip.

"Whatever this is, it's like a wool....I can't believe that this is the best we have to wear." 

To be fair, it looked very good on TV. Watching on NBC Sports Boston, I found myself wondering if they'd start selling the jackets at the Co-Op in Storrs. 

And how might I get one for free? 

Let's say I'm going to a wedding. And the suit I was planning to wear doesn't fit. I'm still probably wearing it for a few hours and sucking it up because, in that situation, the look > the comfort. I'd rather be annoyed for a few hours than have people ask why I wasn't wearing a suit. I think we've all probably done something like that at some point, right? 

But here? We're talking about Dan Hurley, and we're talking college hoops. Comfort. Comfort. Comfort. 

The man is active on the sideline. He's usually in a nice shirt and a sport coat during the regular season, so that shouldn't be a problem...but come on, UConn Athletics team. Let's make sure the coach is comfortable as he tries to get UConn back to the Final Four in Detroit.  

As for the postgame, Hurley mentioned trying to get Syracuse on the schedule every season. 

This is what they took from us when they dismantled the old Big East. 

OF COURSE UConn and Syracuse should play every year. Hand up, I'm washed - I have a hard time recognizing college sports in 2026. But I still know great rivalries, and UConn/Syracuse is an all-timer. 

Like, how is it possible that these two have not played since 2018? Can't happen.

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“It’s a game that, hopefully, we’re able to get on the (regular season) schedule here at some point,” Hurley told reporters this week. “It’s a big rivalry between the fanbases. It’s a game that probably, annually, should be played at [Madison Square Garden] as part of the non-conference.” 

💯💯💯 - Hopefully as soon as next season. Sounds like the ball is in Gerry McNamara's court 

But let's focus on the more important things first - like getting my coach a better jacket for next week's exhibition against Michigan State.