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Defector

Ray Ratto

Head coach Rick Pitino of the St. John’s Red Storm reacts against the Marquette Golden Eagles during the first half at Fiserv Forum on February 18, 2026.

College Basketball

St. John’s Delivered A Truly Unholy Second Half Of Basketball

Dan Hurley making a skeptical face with his glasses pushed up onto his forehead during UConn's loss to Florida in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

Dan Hurley Is The Last Angry Man

JJ Redick is seen prior to Game Two of the 2024 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden on June 09, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts.

JJ Redick And Shams Are Back, Maybe

Patrick Redford

NBA reporters Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania

Lakers’ Messy Coaching Search Revives The Scoopster Standoff Between Woj And Shams

Tom Ley

Head coach Dan Hurley of the Connecticut Huskies reacts in the first half against the Purdue Boilermakers during the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament National Championship game at State Farm Stadium on April 08, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona.

Lakers’ Pursuit Of JJ Redick Gets Even Funnier, In That They Are Now Pursuing Dan Hurley

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<p>Charles P. Pierce is a writer at <em>Esquire</em> and the author of four books, most recently <em>Idiot America</em>, and has been a working journalist since 1976. He lives near Boston with his wife but no longer his three children.</p>
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Charles P. Pierce

UConn center Donovan Clingan celebrates during the team's Elite Eight win in Boston during the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

UConn Is Exhaustingly, Relentlessly Great


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 03: Head coach Dan Hurley of the Connecticut Huskies reacts as he cuts down the net after defeating the San Diego State Aztecs 76-59 during the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament National Championship game at NRG Stadium on April 03, 2023 in Houston, Texas.