Dan Hurley Urges UConn To Schedule Game At White House

Could we see two of the best programs in college basketball square off at the White House? We're not so sure, but UConn coach Dan Hurley is more than willing to make it happen.

Six days ago, the South Lawn of the White House hosted UFC Freedom 250. The main event for this card featured a lightweight championship match between Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria as well as a heavyweight showdown with Ciryl Gane and Alex Pereira.

"I love this country," UFC president Dana White said. "This event was for America's 250th anniversary. There was no political agenda for this event. They could have had anything. They could have put any kind of performance on. believe If you are an American, no matter where you sit politically, tonight was a proud night to sit around and enjoy the 250th birthday of America. I hope everyone as an American feels that."

After attending last Sunday's UFC event, Hurley was asked if he'd be up for a college basketball game at the White House.

"That would be good, man," Hurley told TMZ DC. "I think UConn should definitely be in it. Maybe UConn-Duke. Yeah, it'd be pretty cool. I'm definitely down."

Duke and UConn will meet this year... just not at the White House.

Earlier this year, UConn erased a 19-point deficit to defeat Duke in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Their epic comeback was capped off with a game-winner from Braylon Mullins.

"When I saw Braylon, and for some reason I had the gut instinct to pass it to him," UConn star Alex Karaban said. "I looked at the rim, and there was five seconds left, and I thought maybe something better could develop. I had Cam Boozer in front of me, which was a harder, more difficult shot, so I passed it to Braylon. When I saw him release it, I was like, that really might go in."

Duke and UConn are currently scheduled to face off Nov. 25 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Who knows? Maybe these two schools will work out a deal with the White House in the coming months.

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This story was originally published June 20, 2026 at 3:59 PM.