The Big East may not be what it used to be, but make no mistake, the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden still has its wild moments.
UConn are now in their first Big East title game for the first time since 2011, but getting to the final didn’t come without some fireworks.
The defending national champion Huskies faced St. John’s at MSG, one of the team’s home arenas, in the semifinals on Friday, and it didn’t take too long for Dan Hurley to get heated.
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Head coach Dan Hurley of the Connecticut Huskies reacts in the first half against the St. John’s Red Storm during the Semifinal round of the Big East Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 15, 2024, in New York City. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Less than 12 minutes into the first half, Hurley was urging referees to get a St. John’s fan sitting courtside ejected from the game.
Hurley told refs that the fan was “screaming in your face,” and asking them to “get him out of here.”
“I want that guy out,” Hurley said.
The ordeal occurred shortly after St. John’s coach Rick Pitino got a technical foul. As he was yelling at officials himself, he even told the fan in question to sit down.
Head coach Dan Hurley of the Connecticut Huskies reacts in the first half against the St. John’s Red Storm during the Semifinal round of the Big East Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 15, 2024, in New York City. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
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The fan, ultimately, was not ejected, but he did see his Johnnies lose, 95-90.
Hurley is the son of coaching legend, Bob Hurley Sr., who was also sitting in the front row.
Despite the loss, a semifinal appearance may be enough for St. John’s to earn an at-large bid into March Madness. They will find out their fate this Sunday.
Tristen Newton, #2, Hassan Diarra #10, and Jaylin Stewart, #3, of the Connecticut Huskies, react in the first half against the St. John’s Red Storm during the Semifinal round of the Big East Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 15, 2024, in New York City. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
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Meanwhile, UConn will face Marquette for the conference title. Marquette won the Big East last year but were eliminated in the second round of March Madness, while UConn went on a dominant run to win their fifth national championship since 1999.
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