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Why is Bill Murray a UConn basketball fan? Actor along for Final Four run

By Cody Williams

Mar 25, 2023; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Connecticut Huskies head coach Dan Hurley (right) talks with actor Bill Murray (left) after the NCAA tournament West Regional final at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2023; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Connecticut Huskies head coach Dan Hurley (right) talks with actor Bill Murray (left) after the NCAA tournament West Regional final at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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Figuring out why actor Bill Murray is a UConn basketball fan and why he’s at the Final Four with the Huskies on the March Madness run. 

If you haven’t totally been keeping up with UConn basketball throughout the Huskies’ dominant run to the Final Four, then you’ve missed at least one celebrity coming into the March Madness spotlight. Bill Murray has been a fixture throughout the 2023 NCAA Tournament leading up to the Huskies’ run to Houston.

All signs point to the actor who starred in such classic films as Caddyshack, Stripes, Ghostbusters and, of course, Space Jam, being in Houston for the Final Four with UConn basketball.

However, if fans are just tuning in to watch the Huskies, there’s a good chance you’re quite confused as to why Murray is so involved in this. Don’t worry, we’ve got answers for you as to why Bill Murray is a UConn basketball fan, what he’s doing at the Final Four and much more.

Why is Bill Murray at UConn basketball Final Four games?

While there have been plenty of times that A-list celebrities have latched onto popular teams in March Madness or in other sports, the fact of the matter is that Bill Murray has a better reason than most for his connection to UConn basketball.

Luke Murray, the son of the acclaimed and legendary actor, is an assistant coach on the Huskies staff under head coach Dan Hurley. Murray joined the staff in the past couple of years and, with the success of the program this year, Bill Murray has been a key figure in the stands supporting his son but also getting some of the spotlight and maybe taking some pressure off of the young players.

Bill Murray son in college basketball: Luke Murray coaching history before UConn

Murray has been on the Huskies staff for two years with Hurley, but the 14-year college basketball coaching veteran is familiar with the head coach. They previously worked together at Rhode Island and Wagner, including with the former in the 2014-15 season that was huge for the Rams.

Bill Murray’s son then moved up in the college basketball coaching world as he was hired at Xavier, where he coached from 2015-18 and helped lead the Musketeers to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and berths that the actor was also along for the ride for. With shakeups in that program, namely Chris Mack leaving for Louisville, Murray followed and joined the Cardinals staff, which then led him to this place.

Where did Bill Murray go to college?

Bill Murray did not ever attend UConn, nor did the actor even graduate from college. After graduating high school, though, Murray did briefly attend Regis University, a private institution in Denver, CO, where he took pre-med courses. He dropped out early in his stay, though, before ultimately ending up going back to Illinois.

However, in 2007, the acting legend was awarded an honorary degree as a Doctor of Humanities by Regis, a sign of goodwill to Murray from the university he’d once attended.

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