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UConn men's basketball coach Dan Hurley was one of a handful of invitees for UFC's one-and-done Freedom 250 card on the South Lawn and left with an idea that could put his Huskies in a position to make history.
After witnessing the UFC 's production quality and the USA-themed set design firsthand, Hurley began to reimagine the environment, replacing the UFC's Claw canopy and Octagon setup with a basketball court.
The UConn coach's answer came minutes after leaving the historic backdrop that ended with fireworks, an Air Force Thunderbirds flyover, chants of "USA" from the crowd, and President Donald Trump thanking fans and fighters for their attendance following the historic night.
The event reportedly had a drone attack plot linked to 12 suspects behind the scenes during the event.
Press found Hurley as he was leaving and asked for his thoughts while the event was fresh in his mind.
"That would be good, man," Hurley said to TMZ .
"I think UConn should definitely be in it.
Maybe UConn vs.
Duke!!" Hurley later expanded on the idea afterward and explained that the original question arose during a brief walk-by encounter.
Once given the floor to elaborate, Hurley explained why the concept appealed to him after seeing UFC Freedom 250 up close.
"I would love to play if there's a way to get a court there to create the atmosphere I saw at the fights," he continued.
"That atmosphere was amazing." The White House transformed the South Lawn into a temporary 4,300-seat outdoor arena centered around the massive 600-ton, 154-foot-wide structure called "The Claw ." The mega structure was dismantled almost immediately after the fights .
Fighters walked directly from the White House before competing inside a specially designed Octagon surrounded by patriotic lighting and displays.
"It was amazing to be at a sporting event surrounded by servicemen and women, first responders, people in sports, business, and politics," he said.
"It was an incredible setting." The idea is not foreign to UConn's history.
The Huskies once agreed to play in the Carrier Classic aboard an aircraft carrier in San Diego in 2012, years before Hurley arrived in Storrs.
Duke is known as one of college basketball's top national powerhouses and has won five NCAA titles.
They're one of four college programs to participate in State Farm's annual Champions Classic since 2011.
Since taking over UConn in 2018, Hurley has built a top program with a 199-75 record and has won national titles in 2023 and 2024, a Final Four in 2026, and earned Naismith Coach of the Year in 2024..