Takeaways from UConn men’s basketball’s loss to Creighton in Big East Tournament semifinal
NEW YORK –- There were six and a half minutes left on the game clock at Madison Square Garden Friday night when Tarris Reed Jr. used one dribble in the post to clear Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner out of the way for a floater off the glass. That shot brought the UConn men, trailing by as many as 17 points in the second half, to within three.
With the way they’d been rolling in March, Reed’s shot and the 18-6 scoring run that it capped made it feel like a comeback from one of the worst defensive halves of the season was in the cards for the Huskies.
Reed blocked Kalkbrenner at the other end of the court but UConn missed seven of its next 10 shots and Creighton closed the game on a 13-6 run. It was the unnecessary last-second windmill dunk from Jamiya Neal and everything that came after it – Hassan Diarra taking exception and clenching his fists in a moment that could’ve gotten uglier – that was a more accurate summation of this frustrating season.
No way out: UConn men dig too deep a hole, fall to Creighton in Big East semifinals, 71-62
Diarra said he felt the showboat play was “disrespectful to the game of basketball.”
Neal apologized and said he regretted it, that he got caught up in the moment and has respect for Dan Hurley and the two-time national champions.
Hurley had moved past it, still disappointed in the first half where Creighton shot 75% from the field and the issues that plagued his team all season came back to haunt.
“I think the two teams that are deserving to play for the championship are going to play. We were the third-best team, I guess, in the regular season. Third-best team doesn’t deserve to play for a championship,” Hurley said to open his postgame news conference. “We got exactly what we deserved.”
Takeaways from the semifinal exit:
Hurley expresses optimism
All the Huskies can do now is wait for Selection Sunday. The win over Villanova and the loss to Creighton in Manhattan shouldn’t change much as far as their seeding goes, likely to be a No. 8 in which case they’d meet a No. 9 seed in the first round for a chance to play the No. 1 or the No. 16 in the Round of 32.
For the two-time national champs, getting to the second weekend this year as a No. 8 seed would be an achievement.
Still, as long as the odds, the two-time reigning national champions have some level of optimism given what they’ve been able to do the last two years. As much trouble as the Big East has given them, the game planning from Hurley and his assistants has overwhelmed less familiar opponents in the nonconference – aside from the Maui Invitational, but the team has come a long way from what it was there.
“I do think that this team is built, potentially to play better in an NCAA Tournament just because the games are much different than these brutal Big East games,” Hurley said. “These games are brutally physical, so I think that the NCAA Tournament offers us some optimism.”
Dom Amore’s Sunday Read: March mystique can only take Dan Hurley’s Huskies so far, and more
Positive bench production
The Huskies got 19 points from their bench against Villanova and 17 against Creighton, and they didn’t all come from Tarris Reed Jr., the Big East Sixth Man of the Year.
Aidan Mahaney, the St. Mary’s transfer who’s struggled with the physicality of the league, played valuable minutes in both Big East Tournament games and is capable of continuing his surging play as the Huskies’ backup point guard in the NCAA Tournament. Jaylin Stewart emerged as well, like he did late last season, and showed positive signs, particularly on the defensive end of the quarterfinal game against Villanova. Stewart was plus-five in the Creighton loss.
Jayden Ross, vying for position as the Huskies’ ninth-man, made a 3-pointer in his six minutes against the Bluejays. He isn’t expected to be punished in the NCAA Tournament after being ejected with 1.5 seconds left against Creighton, after he ran off the bench to get involved in the scuffle.
Best need to be best
UConn couldn’t afford captain Alex Karaban picking up his fourth foul with more than 15 minutes left in Friday’s game. As much as he struggled, scoring six points on 3-for-10 shooting, only one rebound and one assist, Karaban is a critical part of the operation.
Ironically, the Huskies’ biggest run of the game (12-0) came after he went out. Stewart, Reed and Mahaney were all part of it, as was Liam McNeeley, who shot just 6-for-20 from the field and 0-for-5 from 3. UConn’s top three leading scorers – Solo Ball, McNeeley and Karaban – combined for 32 points on 14-for-39 (35.9%) shooting from the field and just 2-for-13 (15.4%) from beyond the arc.
“We’re not gonna win many games when Liam and Alex struggle to that level offensively,” Hurley said. “It’s going to be tough for us versus anyone in any tournament there.”
Topics
-
No way out: UConn men dig too deep a hole, fall to Creighton in Big East semifinals, 71-62
NEW YORK -– The UConn men’s basketball team couldn’t overcome the crater it put itself in on Friday night, falling to No. 2 seed Creighton in the Big East Tournament semifinal at Madison Square ...Yahoo Sports - 23h -
UConn vs. Creighton odds, prediction, time: 2025 Big East Tournament semifinal picks from proven model
SportsLine's model revealed its college basketball predictions Creighton Bluejays vs. Connecticut Huskies on Friday in a 2025 Big East Tournament semifinal game at Madison Square GardenCBS Sports - 1d -
UConn-Creighton game at Big East tourney ends with heated skirmish
A scuffle broke out at the end of Creighton's victory over UConn in the Big East Tournament semifinals on Friday night after Jamiya Neal threw down a needless dunk for the Bluejays in the final ...Yahoo Sports - 22h -
Creighton, UConn men's basketball scuffle at end of Bluejays' Big Ten Tournament win
Creighton and UConn men's basketball got into a scuffle in the waning seconds of the Bluejays' Big East Tournament semifinal victory FridayYahoo Sports - 10h -
UConn runs out of steam in 71-62 loss to Creighton in Big East Tournament semifinals
Jasen Green and Jamiya Neal each scored 19 points in second-seeded Creighton’s 71-62 win over No. 3-seed UConn on Friday in the semifinals of the Big East Conference Tournament.Yahoo Sports - 22h -
St. John's vs. Creighton odds, prediction, time: 2025 Big East Tournament Final picks, bets from proven model
SportsLine's model revealed its college basketball predictions for Creighton Bluejays vs. St. John's Red Storm on Saturday in the 2025 Big East Tournament championship game at Madison Square GardenCBS Sports - 6h -
Ryan Kalkbrenner rallies Creighton past DePaul 85-81 in 2OT in Big East Tournament quarterfinal
Ryan Kalkbrenner had 32 points and scored the go-ahead basket in the second overtime after Creighton scored the final 11 points in regulation.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Neal's 19 lead Creighton over UConn 71-62 in Big East Conference Tournament
Jasen Green and Jamiya Neal each scored 19 points in second-seeded Creighton's 71-62 win over No. 3-seed UConn on Friday in the semifinals of the Big East Conference Tournament. Creighton, the No. ...Yahoo Sports - 22h -
UConn-Creighton ends in scuffle over 'fancy' dunk
A scuffle broke out at the end of Creighton's victory over UConn in a Big East tournament semifinal after Jamiya Neal threw down a needless dunk for the Bluejays in the final seconds.ESPN - 8h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Artesia downs Highland to win program's first state title since 1997
Mar. 15—As far as the Bulldogs are concerned, the blue trophy is going back right where it belongs. Artesia knocked off defending champion Highland 55-48 in the boys 4A final Saturday at the Pit, ...Yahoo Sports - 13m -
Colorado State's in. New Mexico's (almost certainly) in. How many other MW teams will make it?
Mar. 15—LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The UNM Lobos will host an open-to-the-public NCAA Selection Show party in the Pit on Sunday afternoon. But they will be without two key ingredients from last year's ...Yahoo Sports - 14m -
Edgar Berlanga scores monster KO in first post-Canelo bout; Austin 'Ammo' Williams shines in main event
Edgar Berlanga, Austin "Ammo" Williams and Olympic medalist Omari Jones impressed Saturday night in Orlando.Yahoo Sports - 14m -
Quinton Byfield scores in OT, Kings beat Predators 1-0 for 5th straight victory
Quinton Byfield scored at 3:20 of overtime, Darcy Kuemper made 24 saves for his second straight shutout and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Nashville Predators 1-0 on Saturday night for their fifth ...Yahoo Sports - 15m -
UFC Fight Night 254 bonuses all come from prelims on show with 9 finishes
The UFC handed out four bonuses after Saturday's card – all to fighters on the prelims, and in four of the first five fights, no less. After UFC Fight Night 254, four fighters picked up an extra ...Yahoo Sports - 16m
More in Sports
-
What's the Final Four path for Paige Bueckers, JuJu Watkins? Biggest questions facing the women's selection committee
Where the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds play in the regionals is as big of a question this Selection Sunday as which bubble teams will be in the field.ESPN - 9m -
Women's Bracketology: UCSD seals first bid, Harvard's win keeps Ivy intrigue alive
After Harvard sealed its NCAA tournament spot, the number of Ivy teams in the field remains unclear.ESPN - 9m -
Men's Bracketology: The Mountain West will see four teams -- for now
Colorado State beat Boise State for the Mountain West title, and automatic bid. This is good news for Indiana.ESPN - 9m -
Artesia downs Highland to win program's first state title since 1997
Mar. 15—As far as the Bulldogs are concerned, the blue trophy is going back right where it belongs. Artesia knocked off defending champion Highland 55-48 in the boys 4A final Saturday at the Pit, ...Yahoo Sports - 13m -
Colorado State's in. New Mexico's (almost certainly) in. How many other MW teams will make it?
Mar. 15—LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The UNM Lobos will host an open-to-the-public NCAA Selection Show party in the Pit on Sunday afternoon. But they will be without two key ingredients from last year's ...Yahoo Sports - 14m