STORRS, Conn. — The UConn Men's basketball team has been recognized for their performance in the Big East conference with coach Dan Hurley named Coach of the Year, and freshman guard Stephon Castle as Freshman of the Year.
The recognition for Hurley and Castle comes after each played a role in the team breaking league records, according to the university.
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Hurley led the Huskies to an 18-2 record, the most wins in Big East history. Castle set a Big East record for earning Freshman of the Week 11 times in this season.
Hurley is now the second coach in UConn history to win Big East Coach of the Year, aside from the legendary Jim Calhoun, who was given the title four times, including from 1989-90, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1997-98. Hurley also previously won a Coach of the Year award in 2017-18 in the Atlantic 10 conference.
Castle is the sixth UConn player to win a BIG EAST Freshman of the Year honor, with the last being Rudy Gay from the 2004-05 season. He averaged 11.2 points per game, 4.3 rebounds, and 3 assists in 26.9 per game.
He also has an average of shooting 47.4%, with 25 steals and 13 blocks.
The efforts of both Hurley and Castle led to a league record of winning 18 conference games and the league by four games, as well as achieving a 14-week winning streak tied for longest in the season.
The team is expected to play at the BIG EAST tournament on Thursday with a noon game against either Butler or Xavier.
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