Ever since the UConn men’s basketball team lost to the Marquette Golden Eagles during the 2023 Big East Tournament, it’s been a major point of emphasis for redemption for this squad. One year later, the pieces of the team may be different, but a major goal for Dan Hurley has finally been achieved.
In a thrilling rematch between Marquette and Connecticut, the Huskies finally stood tall atop the Big East conference, winning the illustrious conference tournament trophy by a score of 73-57.
Heading into this one, a major storyline surrounded the availability of top guard Tyler Kolek, yet that mystery was quickly squashed after it was announced that the former Big East Player of the Year would be out for the championship game. Without the No. 11 part of the puzzle for Marquette, UConn would have a major edge going into Saturday evening with a fully healthy squad.
Despite that, the first half was a true defensive battle. Connecticut had one of their worst offensive showings of the season, shooting 30% from the field and a dismal 18.2% from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Marquette wasn’t much better, putting up a 32.3% shooting percentage. Things were so tough for both teams that the Huskies got their first bucket, a slam dunk by Samson Johnson, with 13:27 to go to make it a 2-2 game.
On the bright side, things did start to pick up for both teams, though not by much. Both teams traded buckets for much of the first half, with Donovan Clingan leading the charge for UConn. The Bristol native had a knack for getting to the line in the first half, drilling some key free throws. That’s not even mentioning the massive impact he had as a rebounder and defensive juggernaut. Without Connecticut’s man in the middle leading the charge, things certainly would have been tough on both ends of the court for his squad.
Nonetheless, going into halftime after a Tristen Newton buzzer beater, the Huskies held a narrow 26-24 lead at the half. Defensively, the team played their part well, but their offensive struggles were certainly notable for having one of the most dynamic offenses in the country. Things needed to step up in the second half.
“They were playing good defense, and we were playing good defense,” said Tristen Newton on his attitude during the beginning of the game. “We weren’t really nervous. It’s just the shot wasn’t falling, and we got to the huddle and we knew – Coach did a good job of telling us we were doing a great job on defense. They had two points, and it was 2-0 for a long time. I wouldn’t say nervous or really worried throughout the game. We knew our offense would click, and that’s what happened, and we ended up getting the win.”
To get the win, the Huskies needed to put on a heck of a show, and that’s exactly what they did. In the second half, Connecticut shot an efficient 63% from the field, highlighted by 12 points from Clingan that saw the center dominate with a perfect 5/5 shooting night in the paint.
But, other than the dominance of No. 32 in the second half, the biggest storyline belongs to freshman Jaylin Stewart. For much of the season, the Seattle native has managed to carve out a solid role as the eighth man in Hurley’s rotation. It’s been clear that Stewart will play a key role in the future of this squad, and Saturday night showcased what he could bring to the table.
With 11:31 to go in the game, Marquette’s David Joplin hit a jumper to cut Connecticut’s deficit to just a two-point lead. The pressure was on the Huskies to act fast, and the first person to answer that call was Stewart. After the team passed the ball around, they found No. 3 in the corner, who threw up a shot that found the net and gave the team a five-point lead.
From there, the three-point barrage was on. Following a triple from Newton and a layup from Clingan, the team held an eight-point lead. With the momentum on their side, it was Stewart who once again took advantage, hitting another clutch three-point bomb to give the team a lead of 11.
“He built on yesterday’s performance. He came in with a lot of confidence. He’s a guy that like a number of our freshmen, if they wait their turn, there’s going to be some turnover from this year’s team. But you’re looking at if somebody doesn’t tamper him out of our program. All that s— is going on right now. It’s crazy. He’s a future star. You’re looking at a future star at UConn,” said Hurley following the win.
With the help of players like Stewart, UConn never took their foot off the gas and cruised to the finish line of greatness. The true exclamation point on an incredible finish came with 4:03 to go, as Newton found Clingan with a crafty bounce pass dime that ultimately ended in a head-scratching jam that electrified Madison Square Garden.
Despite the finish, everyone knows that the work isn’t quite finished for Hurley and Co. Following their selection as the overall No. 1 seed for the first time in program history, they’re looking to complete a dominant season of victory. Everyone knows that the grind of March Madness is nowhere near a cakewalk, but with the way that these Huskies have embraced the hard work and perseverance of a grueling season, they’re built for the challenge.
“It’s go time now,” said Stewart when asked about the team’s attitude ahead of the NCAA Tournament.
Congrats to the Huskies for their great year. Kick butt in the tournament for both UCONN and the Big East. Admittedly, I am a Faithful Friar, but I want to see the Huskies drill every opponent in the Dance by 20-30 points to demonstrate that the Big East has no equal.