Big East Tournament in Review

After setting a Big East record by going 18-2 in league play and winning the conference tournament with authority, the UConn Huskies (31-3) have left little doubt about their place in college basketball’s hierarchy. On Selection Sunday, they were awarded the No. 1 overall seed for the first time in program history.

Since the loss to Creighton on February 20, their first setback in 15 games, they’ve rattled off seven straight wins: two home blowouts over solid Villanova and Seton Hall teams, two decisive road wins over Marquette and Providence, and a three-game romp through the Big East Tournament, ending it with another victory over Marquette.

Tristen Newton was a unanimous first-team All-Big East selection. Though he didn’t get Player of the Year, he did earn Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player and became the first player since Pearl Washington in 1986 to dish out more than 10 assists in the tournament championship game. 

Through three games in the conference tournament, UConn won by margins of 27, 5, and 16 points, notching 20+ assists in each and 20+ bench points in all three games as well. They posted three of their top eight assist rates of the season and secured a third win over Marquette, one of the best teams in the country.

Here’s a closer look at how the Huskies fared in their last three games:

Quarterfinals against Xavier

Six UConn players scored in double figures, but nobody had more than 13. It was a show of unselfish play and clinical offensive execution as the Huskies hit a remarkable 22 of 28 shots in the second half on their way to a blowout win.

The Huskies posted their second-best assist rate of the season, behind only the January 10 demolition of the same Xavier team. They also dominated on the glass.

Xavier’s 10-0 start and feisty first half wasn’t enough. UConn pulled away late in the second half and never looked back.

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Semifinals against St. John’s, 95-90

The Huskies survived a track meet where a lot of things didn’t go their way. 

Donovan Clingan got into early foul trouble and then Samson Johnson also got his second foul in the first half. St. John’s guard Daniss Jenkins got off to a hot start and Stephon Castle, who would’ve been on him defensively, was also in some foul trouble.

But the Huskies’ depth gave them a spark as the bench notched its second straight game with 20 or more points. Tristen Newton led the Huskies with 25 while Cam Spencer added 20 to lead UConn to a victory that was not as close as the final score might suggest – Jenkins hit three free throws with seconds left to pointlessly cut into the margin – though the Johnnies were fighting to the end.

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Final against Marquette, 73-57

Saturday’s final saw as rough a start as we’ve seen in a game all year, the score was 2-2 seven minutes in! Both teams appeared to be a bit fatigued after the grind of the Big East Tournament. UConn had played a barnburner with St. John’s the night before while Marquette survived a late scare from Providence in a game it was leading most of the way in the nightcap.

After a rough-and-tumble first half, the Huskies pulled away in the second half as Donovan Clingan turned in one of the most dominant performances of his career. The big man finished with 22 points and 16 rebounds, hitting 8-of-11 field goals to help his squad get to the promised land.

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