UConn head coach Dan Hurley believes that his team has manifested a home court advantage in the NCAA tournament. After a challenging season, the Huskies have found themselves in a familiar position as they prepare to face Maryland in the first round of the tournament.
Hurley, who is in his third season as head coach at UConn, has seen his team overcome numerous obstacles this year. From COVID-19 pauses to injuries, the Huskies have faced their fair share of adversity. But through it all, Hurley has instilled a belief in his team that they can overcome anything.
And now, as they enter the NCAA tournament, Hurley believes that his team’s resilience and determination has manifested into a home court advantage.
“We’ve been through so much this season, and it’s only made us stronger,” Hurley said. “We’ve faced challenges that most teams haven’t had to deal with, and we’ve come out on the other side better for it. That’s why I truly believe that we have a home court advantage in this tournament.”
The Huskies have certainly shown their strength and resilience throughout the season. Despite a rocky start, they finished strong with a 15-7 record and a fourth-place finish in the Big East conference. And now, as they enter the NCAA tournament, they are ready to prove that they belong among the top teams in the country.
But it’s not just their record that gives Hurley confidence in his team’s home court advantage. It’s the fact that they will be playing in front of their home crowd at Gampel Pavilion, a place where they have had great success this season.
“We’ve had some big wins at Gampel this year, and our fans have been a huge part of that,” Hurley said. “They bring so much energy and passion to our games, and I know they will do the same in the tournament. Our players feed off of that energy, and it gives us an extra boost on the court.”
The Huskies have indeed had some memorable wins at Gampel Pavilion this season. They defeated then-No. 11 Creighton in a thrilling overtime game, and also took down then-No. 25 Providence in a dominant performance. And with the NCAA tournament being played in a bubble environment, the home court advantage may be even more crucial for UConn.
But Hurley knows that it won’t be easy. Their first-round opponent, Maryland, is a tough and experienced team that will not be intimidated by the Huskies’ home court advantage.
“We know that Maryland is a great team and they will be ready to play,” Hurley said. “But we also know that we have the support of our fans and the comfort of playing in our home arena. We just have to go out there and execute our game plan and let the home court advantage take care of the rest.”
As the Huskies prepare for their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2016, Hurley and his team are confident that they can make a deep run. And with their home court advantage, they believe that anything is possible.
“We’ve been through so much this season, and we’ve come out stronger because of it,” Hurley said. “We’re ready to show the country what we’re made of and make our home court advantage count in the NCAA tournament.”
