This week’s Club Sportico focuses on the college basketball’s “new villain,” UConn men’s coach Dan Hurley, who is drawing attention—and plenty of criticism—for his animated and often angry sideline demeanor.
Hurley’s Huskies have won the last two national championships, but the team is struggling. UConn lost three straight games in Maui, despite being favored against Memphis, Colorado and Dayton. Hurley’s frustration with referees, including an ill-timed technical in the overtime loss versus Memphis, have been clipped and shared all over the internet. Many basketball fans have expressed outrage at his behavior.
More from Sportico.com
But is it good for college basketball? In the lead essay, Sportico’s Jacob Feldman argues that the sport is at a lull regarding its cultural impact. It needs storylines, stars and—yes—villains.
Here is an excerpt ✍️:
“And yet, for college basketball, [Hurley’s] a gift. Every TV executive and conference bean counter ought to be calling him today and encouraging him—don’t let those big bad refs keep you down, Dan!
Men’s college basketball is in a perilous place at the moment, with top programs jumping conferences on the whims of their football-playing siblings. March Madness continues to dominate attention, but the sport struggles to break through from April to February, and last year, the women’s final outdrew the dudes.
Coaches have long been the sport’s centers of conversation, especially in an era when players rarely seem to spend more than a year or two on any campus. And villains have been the game’s most valuable among them.”
The weekly newsletter also touches on a few other sports business topics. They include:
– 💍 The sordid tale of Rudy Giuliani’s Yankees World Series rings.
– 📷 A photo that perfectly sums up college sports today
– 🚗 Tom Brady connect-the-dots
– 🏈 Why this Thanksgiving’s NFL games are better than you might think
You can read and subscribe to Club Sportico here. There is a weekly news quiz available only to paid subscribers. Existing Sportico subscribers have free access to Club Sportico.
Best of Sportico.com
Sign up for Sportico’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
