UConn head coach Dan Hurley raised some eyebrows this week with a comment about Final Four banners. It was so outrageous to some that even basketball icon Coach K is weighing in on his disagreement.
Speaking to the media this past week, Hurley pledged that the Huskies would not be raising any banners to celebrate their Final Four appearance and would only do so for national title wins. He declared that UConn only hangs championship banners.
“We came here for rings, not watches,” Hurley said. “Every team that comes to the Final Four gets a beautiful watch. We don’t hang banners for Final Fours at UConn. We hang championship banners.”
Hang a Banner?
Coach K took exception to that remark though. Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, the five-time national champion said that a Final Four banner is worth raising. He likened it to "reaching the Promised Land" while acknowledging that the "Holy Grail" is located in that Promised Land.
“The Final Four is the promised land for teams and coaches. Obviously, the Holy Grail is located in the promised land. That’s the National Championship,” Coach K said. “Danny‘s a good friend… a really good friend. I heard that he just puts up National Championship banners. But, the teams that don’t win there, if UConn doesn’t win there, the other teams will put up a Final Four banner.”
Coach K added simply reaching the Final Four is something that many college programs have never even been able to achieve.
“The Final Four is a great sign. So many programs have never been able to achieve it,” Krzyzewski continued. “When you do, you’re a champion. You put up a championship banner from that Region. Hopefully, you put up a National Championship banner from Indianapolis.”
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Thus far Hurley hasn't had to worry about hanging a Final Four banner and not a national title one. In his first seven seasons with the team, the only two Final Four appearances the team made CAME alongside national titles (2023 and 2024). In the other five years they were either eliminated before the Sweet 16 or didn't make the NCAA Tournament at all.
With the Huskies currently in the Final Four but not considered the favorite to win it all, it will be interesting to see if Hurley makes good on his pledge not to hang a banner if the team can't seal the deal.
