UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley believes a lot of college basketball programs are "tampering" with players.
The 2025-26 men's college basketball season ended on Monday night. Michigan took down UConn in the national title game. The NCAA's transfer portal opened up at midnight on Monday.
More than 1,000 men's college basketball players have already entered it. However, Hurley believes that several programs have already been "tampering" with potential additions.
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Hurley, appearing on "The Dan Patrick Show" on Thursday, made it clear that he believes a lot of teams are tampering.
"Obviously there’s been tampering going on. There’s been tampering going on the entire year. Even players that aren’t in the portal," he said.
"I knew in my last year (at Rhode Island) there’d be interest from Pittsburgh and UConn. And these schools want to know what your interest level is when you’re in your last job. I think what was unique for me when I was at Rhode Island was I refused to talk to any of those schools or even have the intermediary conversations until Duke beat my butt in my last game. I don’t know how you can do that as a coach then come in and look at your team and be upset with your players. I think as adults, as coaches, you have to have some honor in the way you move and the decisions you make."
Dan Hurley will have to reload once again
Hurley admitted that he only knows of about four to five players that will be on his roster for next year.
"I know maybe 4 or 5 out of 15 maybe. Between turning pro, players having a role they want here, should I test the draft process," he said.
UConn freshman Braylon Mullins will have a big decision to make.
"What I’ll tell Braylon and his family is, 'Do you like college?' Some are in a rush to get to the NBA because they don’t like being in a college program. [...]The world has changed. There’s not this pressure to go to the NBA because of the money situation. Players like Braylon probably make more money at UConn next year than he would if he was the 15th pick."
UConn is expected to contend again in 2026-27, though right now, it's unclear who will be on the team.
