LAS VEGAS - Connecticut fans had plenty to cheer about during UConn's 88-65 blow out win over Arkansas on Thursday at T-Mobile Arena to send the Huskies to the Elite Eight. But no one was more excited about the result than actor and comedian Bill Murray, who was on his feet cheering after each dunk and alley-oop.
Bill Murray LOVES this alley oop from @UConnMBB 🤩 pic.twitter.com/2ehcLGg5bA
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 23, 2023
Why was Murray, who grew up in Chicago and never went to Connecticut, cheering as if were the Huskies' biggest fan? Because he is the biggest fan of the team's assistant coach, Luke Murray, Bill's son. Luke Murray is in his second season as an assistant coach on head coach Dan Hurley's staff.
After Connecticut's win on Thursday over Arkansas, Murray was on his feet telling Hurley to take off his shirt the same way Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman did after Arkansas upset Kansas to advance to the Sweet 16.
Bill Murray telling Dan Hurley to take his shirt off after @UConnMBB advanced to the Elite 8 😂#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/1lzpbtoXNM
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 24, 2023
Murray was first an assistant coach under Hurley in 2010 when landed his first fulltime assistant coaching job at Wagner and later joined Hurley at Rhode Island.