Solo Ball scored a career-high 23 points and No. 19 UConn held off Butler 80-78 in overtime Tuesday night, but Dan Hurley’s in-game tirade at an official overshadowed what happened on the court.
Late in the first half, Hurley was seen telling an official, “Don’t turn your back on me, I’m the best coach in the f—ing sport.” Hurley thought a Butler player should’ve been called for a foul on a defensive rebound for UConn. He told reporters after the game that he wanted more “communication” from refs. He also believes broadcast cameras are showing him complaining to officials more than other Big East coaches.
“I just wish they put the camera on the other coach more,” Hurley said. “I just wish they would show these other coaches losing their minds at the officials in other Big East games that I’m coaching where … I’m not talking to officials. I see the other coaches as demonstrative as I am.
“But the camera, obviously … I’ve created this for myself. I’m not the victim.”
Alex Karaban had 19 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three blocks for the Huskies (14-5, 6-2 Big East), who were coming off a loss at home to Creighton last Saturday. The two-time defending national champions are 2-2 since an eight-game winning streak.
Samson Johnson and Tarris Reed Jr. each had 14 points. Reed gave UConn an 80-76 lead on a basket with 19.9 seconds left in OT after Karaban had the ball stripped on his way to the hoop.
Jahmyl Telfort scored 25 for Butler (8-11, 1-7) but missed a pair of 3-pointers in the final 3 seconds that could have given the Bulldogs their first win over UConn.
Finley Bizjack added 17 points and Andre Screen had 13 points and nine rebounds.
UConn led by 15 in the first half and 39-31 at halftime. Butler erased a nine-point deficit in the final 6:50 of regulation and took a two-point lead before Karaban’s jumper with 1:43 left sent the game to overtime tied at 68.
Takeaways
Butler: Fell to 0-11 against UConn. The first meeting came in the 2011 NCAA championship game.
UConn: Karaban made his 94th career start for the Huskies despite sustaining an ankle injury late in Saturday’s loss to Creighton. UConn freshman Liam McNeeley missed his fifth consecutive game with an ankle injury.
Key moment
Butler led early in overtime before Karaban tied the score with a three-point play and then Ball hit a 3-pointer.
Key stat
UConn was 4-for-6 from the field in overtime after struggling to hit shots down the stretch in regulation.
Up next
Butler hosts DePaul on Saturday, and UConn visits Xavier.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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