UW’s Coach Hurley Reacts to Narrow Loss Against Arizona

Head coach Dan Hurley of UW offered a straightforward take on his team’s 71-67 defeat to No. 4 Arizona on Wednesday evening at Gampel Pavilion. The absence of key players, senior center Taris Reed Jr. and five-star freshman Braylon Mullins, was felt acutely during the close match, leading Hurley to express his frustration by tearing up his stat sheet.

Hurley mentioned, “We missed the chance to beat one of the best teams by two studs,” during the post-game press conference. The No. 3 Huskies faced a significant disadvantage on the boards, being out-rebounded 43-23, but they still managed to stay competitive in the game.

He shared his irritation about the overall performance. “It was supposed to be minus 10 degrees today with the glass. We had a flat tire. Coming out here, it’s going to be terrible filming. There’s street fighting going on in the paint, and the guys can’t watch the game,” Hurley remarked, emphasizing the chaotic atmosphere.

Despite losing rebounds and racking up 21 fouls to Arizona’s 16, UW showed resilience, crawling back from a 13-point deficit to tie the game at 60-60 with just under 14 minutes left. Hurley pointed out, “Men, don’t stand on the outside when your guys are fighting. Get involved in the fight.” His frustration was clear, as he felt his players weren’t fully engaging.

As the game progressed, Arizona found its rhythm, ultimately taking control and securing the victory in what was a matchup between two top-five teams in the nation. This loss marked UW’s first of the season, leaving their record at 4 wins and 1 loss. They’ll aim to recover in their next game against Bryant (1-4) on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET.

Arizona, now 5-0, looks to maintain its strong start, with their next game against Denver (1-3) at 10:30 p.m. ET.