Shoeless Joe Jackson walked so Pantsless Dan Hurley could run.
After a wild 19-point comeback over the Duke Blue Devils Sunday, which included a 30-foot 3-pointer with 0.3 seconds remaining by freshman guard Braylon Mullins to put the Huskies up for good, 73-72, Hurley celebrated in nothing but a towel around his waist.
Hurley was seen in the locker room wearing just a towel on the bottom half of his body to protect his lucky suit, which he began using during March Madness in 2024.
“I broke it back out last March,” Hurley said in 2024, when UConn won its second straight national championship by defeating Purdue.
“I think it’s at the dry cleaner. I’m going to wear that until somebody takes me out.”
Hurley wears the same navy suit to each game throughout March Madness, from the dress shirt to the socks and, yes, even the same pair of lucky red dragon underwear.
For better or worse, Hurley isn’t a little-stitious, he’s superstitious.
Perhaps it’s a little quirk to help the engine keep on moving for the Huskies, as their magic has again propelled them into the Final Four despite not having any top-five NBA prospects.
The Huskies trailed at halftime on Sunday, 44-25, as Duke looked like it was going to laugh Hurley’s squad out of the gym.
Hurley orchestrated some good things from the bench to galvanize the rally, calling for center Tarris Reed to take over the game and battle the Huskies back into the game.
Reed led the way with 26 points as he continued his dominant run during this tournament.
Hurley will have five days to get his clothes dry-cleaned after a liquid shower by his players to celebrate the wild Elite Eight victory over Duke.
The Huskies have a date with the Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday, a team they bested earlier this year, plus in the Elite Eight in 2024 en route to that second straight title.