The clock had simply struck midnight in Manhattan. Huge East Match Quarterfinal Thursday turned to Friday, and the No. 3-seeded UConn Huskies discovered themselves locked in a good battle with sixth-seeded Villanova with a spot within the semifinal spherical on the road.
That is when UConn’s chief, Alex Karaban, took over.
The massive stage is nothing new for Karaban, a man whose profitable share would rival nearly anyone in Storrs. The junior ahead drained a straightaway triple with 6:18 remaining within the recreation to offer Connecticut separation in what had been a nip-and-tuck battle.
Minutes later, simply when it appeared the Wildcats might maybe put yet another surge collectively, Karaban buried a dagger 3 with lower than 4 minutes to go to say goodnight to Villanova, and good morning to the three groups remaining within the match: St. John’s, Marquette and Creighton.
Are the Huskies what they have been final yr? No. However they nonetheless possess championship DNA and elite-level taking pictures, and this time of yr, that is going to offer you a shot towards just about anyone.
The Huskies shot 5-of-8 from 3-point vary within the second half and closed the sport on a 22-5 run en path to a 73-56 victory over the Wildcats. The win sends the Huskies to a semifinal showdown and rubber match with Creighton at 9 p.m. ET Friday on FOX.
The Huskies did not simply do it with elite-level taking pictures on Thursday evening. They locked down the nation’s main scorer, Eric Dixon, holding him to only eight factors in what was probably the ultimate recreation of his school profession. UConn ended Dixon’s streak of 47 consecutive video games in double figures, a streak that now belongs to Marquette star Kam Jones. In doing so, the Huskies additionally denied Dixon of Kerry Kittles’ program scoring report of two,243 factors, with the fifth-year senior sitting at 2,235.
However most essential for Karaban and the Huskies is that the crew seems to be peaking on the good time, profitable their fifth straight recreation.
“It is March, and round right here, we’re determined for championships,” Karaban stated. “We’ve got to be enjoying our greatest basketball this time of yr. There is not any different method. Carrying that UConn jersey, it’s important to play with a sure swagger, particularly in March the place championships are gained.”
Karaban completed the sport with 18 factors, 9 rebounds and 6 assists, whereas Liam McNeeley adopted him with 12 factors, and Solo Ball and Samson Johnson had 11 apiece.
Samson Johnson finishes powerful and-1 layup, extending UConn’s lead over Villanova
Past the balanced offense, the Huskies gained the rebounding battle, 31-22, and used their physicality to shut out the sport.
“I discovered it encouraging that we have been inside 5 at halftime,” UConn coach Dan Hurley stated. “I feel for us to shut a recreation like that to begin the postseason, it reveals a blueprint of what is doable for this crew.”
In a method, the Huskies reminded all people of what was doable after it felt like their season was heading within the fallacious course following a 68-62 loss to St. John’s again on Feb. 7. However after that, UConn avenged an early-season defeat to Creighton with an unbelievable win over the Bluejays behind 38 factors from McNeeley.
Friday evening’s rematch is fascinating for a wide range of causes. For starters, Creighton coach Greg McDermott is 8-4 towards Hurley in his profession. UConn is making an attempt to advance to the Huge East title recreation for the second straight yr, one thing that they had not achieved since 2011, earlier than doing it final season. In the meantime, Creighton has reached the semifinal spherical of the Huge East Match 4 occasions since 2014, however has but to win it.
In what has developed right into a rivalry for the reason that Huskies returned to the league, Friday evening’s semifinal matchup might ship the products in what’s going to probably be Ryan Kalkbrenner’s remaining recreation towards Connecticut.
However late Thursday night, into the early hours of Friday morning, Hurley was all smiles after watching his crew put collectively a dominant second half. The Huskies have the look of a crew that’s peaking at simply the best time.
“It is Lent, so I am a practising Catholic,” Hurley stated with a chuckle following the sport. “It is again to the resort room and on to a slice of cheese pizza for me. Then, we’ll transfer to the nice crew that’s Creighton.”
John Fanta is a nationwide school basketball broadcaster and author for FOX Sports activities. He covers the game in a wide range of capacities, from calling video games on FS1 to serving as lead host on the BIG EAST Digital Community to offering commentary on The Subject of 68 Media Community. Observe him at @John_Fanta.
Need nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports activities account, comply with leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a customized publication day by day.
Faculty Basketball
UConn Huskies
Get extra from Faculty Basketball Observe your favorites to get details about video games, information and extra
