Dan Hurley Sounds Like He Doesn't Want To Face Duke In Elite Eight

Key Points:

• The 2026 NCAA Tournament East region features four top teams—No. 1 Duke, No. 2 UConn, No. 3 Michigan State, and No. 5 St. John's—all advancing to the Sweet 16 in Washington, D.C., showcasing some of the winningest programs in men's college basketball history.
• UConn head coach Dan Hurley expressed a preference to face St. John's in the Elite Eight rather than Duke, despite St. John's having beaten UConn decisively in the Big East championship, due to Duke being the No. 1 overall seed and a stronger team.
• Hurley encouraged fans of UConn and St. John's to support each other during the Sweet 16 games to create a lively atmosphere in the shared arena, indirectly signaling his desire to avoid facing Duke in the next round.
• The suggestion to root for St. John's over Duke highlights Hurley's strategic preference, as Duke is rated higher by analytics and features a projected top NBA draft pick, Cameron Boozer, making them a tougher opponent.
• While Hurley framed his comments around fostering fan unity between Big East rivals, the underlying message was clear: UConn would rather face St. John's again than take on Duke in the Elite Eight.