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 is now in its first Big East title game for the first time since 2011, but reaching the finals wasn't without some fireworks.
The defending national champion Huskies faced St. John's at MSG, one of the team's home stadiums, in the semifinals on Friday, and it didn't take long for Dan Hurley to warm up.
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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 the officials to eject a St. John's fan who was sitting courtside from the game.
Hurley told the referees that the fan was “yelling in their faces” and asking them to “get him out of here.”
“I want that guy to come out” Hurley said.
The ordeal occurred shortly after St. John's coach Rick Pitino received a technical foul. While he himself was yelling at the officials, 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, in the end, was not expelled, 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 to March Madness. They will discover their destiny 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 was eliminated in the second round of March Madness, while UConn went on a dominant run to win its fifth national championship since 1999.
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