Fourth-ranked UConn has everything to lose when the Huskies close out the regular season against Marquette on Saturday in Milwaukee.
UConn can secure at least a share of the Big East title and stay in the mix for a possible No. 1 NCAA Tournament seed by defeating Marquette and rolls into Wisconsin rested.
UConn (27-3, 17-2 Big East) has been idle since a 71-67 victory at home over Seton Hall last Saturday. The Huskies are tied atop the conference with No. 18 St. John’s, which is at Seton Hall on Friday.
Marquette (11-19, 6-13 Big East) won 78-56 at Providence on Wednesday for its second victory in three games.
UConn overcame an eight-point second-half deficit and surged past Seton Hall. Alex Karaban had season-high 23 points, including five 3-pointers, and Tarris Reed Jr. had a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards to lead the Huskies to their third consecutive win and fifth in six games.
“We had to find a way late versus a team that came into this game coming off a bye week in a must-win to get into the NCAA tournament type of mentality,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said afterward. “And to be down late and come back and win it … the identify of this team is 27 and 3.”
The Huskies, who won back-to-back national titles in 2023 and 2024, average 78.7 points per game, allowing 65.2, dishing out 18.6 assists per game, eighth-best in the country.
UConn’s balanced attack has five scorers in double figures, led by Solo Ball at 14.1 per game. Reed averages 13.7 along with a team-best 7.9 rebounds. Karaban adds 13.3 points, Braylon Mullins 12.1 and Silas Demary Jr. 10.9.
Marquette’s freshmen backcourt duo of Adrien Stevens and Nigel James Jr. led the Golden Eagles past Providence. Stevens had a season-high 21 points and James had 20 points and seven rebounds, his 10th game scoring 20 or more.
“I thought our guys did a great job of getting their hands on the basketball, really from the opening of the game,” Marquette coach Shaka Smart said afterward. “That was a big difference maker for us because it took them out of some of the things they were trying to do.”
The Golden Eagles average 75.0 points, giving up 75.8. Marquette has struggled on the glass, being outrebounded by 4.2 per game.
James leads with 16.3 points per game, Chase Ross adds 14.2 and Royce Parham 12.1. Ben Gold is the top rebounder with 5.7 per contest.
Nine of Marquette’s 11 wins have come at home.
UConn won the first meeting 73-57 in early January behind Ball’s 17 points and a 49-37 edge on the boards.
