The excitement of March Madness is always more than enough for college basketball fans to enjoy this year. But, whether you love or hate Dan Hurley, there has been one aspect of the NCAA Tournament and the UConn Huskies winning back-to-back titles over the past two years that has been even more blissful: the ineffable presence of actor Bill Murray. Murray isn't just a big Storrs, CT guy but rather, is simply a proud father who has been enjoying March Madness from the stands quite prominently over the past two seasons. Luke Murray, Bill's son, has been an assistant on Hurley's staff for several years now and, of course, has two rings to his credit as a result of that following previous stops at Xavier and Louisville, as well as working with Hurley at Rhode Island.
Any time that you get to see Bill Murray on your TV, it's a good feeling. There are few celebrities who are as widely beloved as him, so having him encroach on college basketball has been more than welcomed. Sadly, we won't get that outside of the first weekend of the 2025 NCAA Tournament now. Bill Murray and UConn don't have another March Madness run ahead.
After a largely disappointing regular season, UConn still made it into the 2025 NCAA Tournament field but as a No. 8 seed. The Huskies picked up a win over Oklahoma in the Round of 64, which then set up a date with the No. 1 seed in the West Region, the Florida Gators, on March 23, 2025, in the Round of 32. Despite the woes of the regular season, Hurley had UConn looking like the March kings of the past two years in the matchup with the third-overall seed in the tournament. His Huskies took the Gators to the absolute limit and had the biggest upset of March Madness to date this year brewing. Unfortunately, he came up just short in a 77-75 loss to Florida, thus ending the longest winning streak in NCAA Tournament history (tied with Duke from 1991-93) at 13 games.
While there are certainly a large number of Hurley haters who are dancing on the March grave for the Huskies on Sunday, let's be real, this is a shame for the entertainment factor of college basketball. Hurley himself is an enigmatic presence with a true gravitational pull for eyes when it comes to his antics, whether over the top or justified. Then you throw in the Bill Murray factor, and it's truly just a good time to watch UConn play, which they proved despite being nearly 10-point underdogs in the matchup against Florida.
Florida's first-team All-America guard, Walter Clayton Jr., scored 13 of his 23 points in the final eight minutes, including two crucial 3-pointers down the stretch. Florida rallied to secure a scintillating 77-75 victory over the Huskies, ending UConn’s pursuit of a third straight title. Florida advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2017, showcasing their basketball prowess.
During a postgame news conference, Hurley struggled several times to hold back tears as he reflected on the team’s journey. “This was just a historic run that these guys have been on and the guys that have worn the uniform the past couple of years,” he said. “If it’s going to come to an end for us, I wouldn’t have wanted it to be in a game where we lost to a lower seed. There’s some honor, I guess, in the way that this went down.” UConn was seeking to become the first team to three-peat since UCLA’s run of seven straight titles from 1967-73.
UConn won the 2023 title in Houston and last year in Glendale, Arizona, joining Duke (1991-92) and Florida (2006-07) as the only schools to win back-to-back since the Bruins’ run under John Wooden. The Huskies entered the tournament with a 24-11 record. They were considered heavy underdogs against Florida, who were 32-4 and heading into the game as a 9.5-point favorite.
The game unfolded with UConn demonstrating their mettle and toughness for 30 minutes, outplaying the top-seeded Gators. The sophomore Liam McNeeley led UConn with 22 points, supported by Alex Karaban, who contributed 14 points. On the other side, Florida’s Alijah Martin dropped in an impressive 18 points, while Will Richard scored 15, both key in securing their win.
The contest remained tight, with UConn tying the game at 31-31 at halftime. McNeeley and Karaban were pivotal, scoring nine and seven points, respectively, showcasing their potential in crucial moments. Yet, despite a solid defense and forcing nine turnovers from Florida, the Huskies couldn’t convert these opportunities into points.
The second half saw Florida’s Clayton take the spotlight. McNeeley's halftime performance invigorated the Huskies, but Clayton hit crucial shots that set the tone for Florida’s late-game turnaround. He made a three just over two minutes left, sending Florida in front, and followed with another three to extend their lead, which they managed to protect until the final buzzer.
While UConn leaves the tournament disappointed, the memories of their recent championship pedigree remain. Bill Murray, who has been a fixture supporting his son Luke as an assistant coach through multiple tournaments, will still be remembered as a beacon of joy and entertainment during these chaotic March times. Although they won’t be in the Final Four this year, the connection between family, dedication, and the game continues. The love for college basketball remains strong, and the Husky spirit will find its way back to glory in the coming years.
