UFC Freedom 250 has sparked inspiration for one college basketball coach.
Sunday’s UFC card at the White House was a major financial success, despite being a logistical nightmare with UFC President Dana White telling reporters that he will not do any other outdoor events.
UConn’s two-time national champion coach and known MMA fan Dan Hurley attended the event, and later floated the idea of a potential heavyweight clash at the White House to TMZ’s Charlie Cotton.
“That would be good, man,” Hurley told TMZ with a laugh when asked about a potential college basketball game held at the White House.
“I think Uconn should definitely be in it, maybe Uconn-Duke.”
Many would be surprised to even consider an outdoor basketball game, although it’s not a foreign concept.
The Carrier Classic began in 2011 and featured teams competing on an aircraft carrier. The first two teams, North Carolina and Michigan State, played on the USS Carl Vinson.
North Carolina beat Michigan State 67-55, but due to the limited space, attendance was always low.
None of the Carrier Classic games ever exceeded crowds of 10,000.
While only around 4,000 invited guests watched the UFC fight up close, over 85,000 people flocked to The Ellipse just outside the White House to watch it.
If a basketball game were to take place at the White House, there would likely be a large attendance, especially if it featured a heavyweight matchup between Duke and UConn.
Both teams are elite college basketball programs, and the Huskies upset the Blue Devils last year in the Elite Eight in an all-time classic.
They will meet again this upcoming season in Las Vegas.
If they agreed to a White House game, it would be an unforgettable moment for college basketball.
