The Connecticut Huskies demonstrated why they were chosen by the media and coaches as the top team in the nation this afternoon, whitewashing the Xavier Musketeers 99- 56 in front of several members of their 2004 team. The Huskies were celebrating the 20th anniversary of that squad’s national title.
No. 1 UConn Huskies Sets Program Record As NBA First-Round Prospect Returns To Court
Despite being off for a week, UConn showed no rust as the Huskies dominated Xavier from the opening tip. The Huskies were fantastic on both ends of the court. The Huskies scored the first 10 points while holding the Musketeers scoreless for nearly the first four minutes.
UConn extended their lead to as many as 31 points (38-7) at the 5:22 mark. The Huskies forced the Musketeers to miss 20 of their first 23 shots and kept them to single digits for the first 16:30 minutes of the game. Meanwhile, the Huskies shot 61.3% from the field and led 48-22 at halftime.
UConn didn’t let up in the second half and cruised in the final 20 minutes as all 14 players got i.nto the game. This allowed senior Andrew Hurley, Dan’s son, to be part of history as he drained the Huskies record-tying 17th 3-pointer of the game with 59 seconds to go. The 43-point margin of victory is the largest in the . Big East this season.
ANDREW HURLEY FOR THREE 🔥
That ties our program record, 17 threes in one game pic.twitter.com/EPaFE4tS0v
— UConn Men's Basketball (@UConnMBB) January 28, 2024
UConn finished 38 of 65 (58.8%) from the field. The Huskies connected on 17 of 29 attempts from deep for a season-best 58.6 % clip, as 10 players made at least one three-pointer.
The Huskies also set a season mark with 28 assists. Additionally, they outrebounded Xavier by 10 and were plus four in turnover margin.
“Obviously, one of our best performances,” coach Dan Hurley said during his press conference. “Awesome vibe all weekend. It was great to rise to the moment and put forth our best effort in front of a bunch of champions today.”
Dan Hurley Press Conference https://t.co/ZwmHyQgBUV
— UConn Men's Basketball (@UConnMBB) January 28, 2024
Big East Standings
With the win, UConn improved to 18-2 on the season and 8-1 in the Big East. The Huskies have won eight straight, including three in a row since moving up to No. 1 in the polls.
UConn holds a one-and-a-half game lead over Creighton (7-3) and a two-game advantage over Marquette (6-3). Creighton and Marquette are also ranked in the polls. The Huskies have not claimed the Big East regular season crown since 2006.
The Huskies are 11-0 at home and 3-2 in true road games. The Huskies have not lost in the state of Connecticut since last January.
Other Tidbits
- Tristen Newton, selected as the Player of the Game, finished with 22 points on 9 of 14 shooting from the field, including 4 of 7 from the 3-point line. It was Newton’s second straight 20-point effort and fifth of the campaign. He added four assists and four rebounds in 22 minutes of action.
- Donovan Clingan, making his first start since returning from a foot injury that caused him to miss five games, finished with 18 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and one block. A consensus top 20 2024 NBA prospect, the 7-2 sophomore center was 7 of 8 from the field and 1 of 1 from the 3-point line. It was Clingan’s first career triple as he missed his previous four attempts.
- Freshman guard Solomon Ball added 12 points off the bench for his third career double-figure performance.
- The 99 points are the Huskies most under Hurley in Big East play.
- The 43-point margin is the second largest in a Big East game in program history.
- Former NBA players Emeka Okafor, Ben Gordon, and Charlie Villanueva were among the members of the 2004 Huskies squad in attendance, along with coach Jim Calhoun. Additionally, New Orleans Pelicans rookie Jordan Hawkins, who won a title with the Huskies a season ago, was also in attendance.
“I wasn’t just trying to build a team,” Calhoun said. “I was trying to build a program, something that would last. And it has. Things have worked out pretty well for us.”