NEW YORK — A year ago in this very building, Dan Hurley made the media rounds at Madison Square Garden and pitched why UConn should have been ranked No. 1 heading into the season.

Coming off back-to-back national titles, the Huskies were No. 3 in the preseason AP Top 25 poll . Nevertheless, Hurley was on top of the sports world, proudly and unabashedly chasing a third consecutive national title and eager to sniff out any doubters over Connecticut's chances at pursuing the near-impossible in the modern age of college sports.

And then, the most taxing and controversial season of Hurley's life toppled his ego and was such a shock to his senses that it prompted the 52-year-old to consider stepping away from coaching in the aftermath of UConn's 24-11 season that ended without a

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