UConn's Dan Hurley Shocked By Creighton Court Storming After No. 1 Upset: Where's The Arrogance?

Even in defeat following 14 straight wins, No. 1 and defending national champion Connecticut coach Dan Hurley found a way to be arrogant.

Meanwhile, the No. 15 Creighton Bluejays threw theirs to the wind and rafters in front of an overflow crowd at the 17,560-seat CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska.  Because Creighton beat a standing No. 1 team for the first time in its history, and it ran away from the Huskies (24-3, 14-2 Big East). 

"I mean, I guess that means you're pretty good," Hurley said after matriculating through the court storming that included him threatening to "knock out" a Creighton fan.

"I was surprised by it just because most Big East schools are pretty arrogant about their program," said Hurley, "who loves to step on a throat when he can," wrote Omaha World-Herald columnist Tom Shatel on Wednesday.

Dan Hurley Questions If No. 1 Falling To No. 15 Is An Upset?

"And the level program that they have in a game that was between two top teams, I'm not sure it was a huge upset for us to lose at Creighton," Hurley added.

Hurley has never been on either side of a court storming, according to the Hartford Courant newspaper. There was no storm after No. 4 seed UConn beat 5 seed San Diego State, 76-59, for the national title last year in Houston.  

But, whatever Hurley. Creighton is 20-7 and 10-6 in the Big East, but wins over No. 1, defending national champions are rare and can be fun. 

"Historic for our program," Creighton coach Greg McDermott said. 

Creighton guard Trey Alexander drives into Connecticut guard Tristen Newton during Creighton's home upset win Tuesday night at CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska. (Steven Branscombe, USA TODAY Sports).

And Creighton is not some storm-by-night program. Its last court rush happened four years ago following a 77-60 win over No. 8 Seton Hall on the last day of the regular season to tie Seton Hall and Villanova for the Big East title. And Creighton was picked to finish seventh that season.

This history was on a freezing night outside.

Creighton Reached Elite Eight Last Year

Creighton has been a very good men's basketball program since the 1960s with center Paul Silas and has reached 25 NCAA Tournaments, including the Elite Eight last season. McDermott has led the Bluejays to nine NCAA Tournaments since 2012. But there has been no Final Four.

"Kind of felt like we just ran into a buzz saw there. We've had a great run," Hurley said.

Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner moves past Connecticut's Samson Johnson Tuesday night in Omaha. (Photo By Steven Branscombe, USA TODAY Sports).

Connecticut suffered its most lopsided loss in five years - an 84-45 setback to Houston in the 2018-19 season. The Huskies had won their last three by 25 or more.

So, by all means, storm.

"We beat an incredible team," McDermott said. "A team that has a legitimate chance to win a national championship. But we're pretty good as well."