University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Marquette University
UConn Challenges Top Seed Marquette In BIG EAST SemiFinal
3/10/2023 1:21:00 AM | Men's Basketball
UConn Athletic Communications / March 10. 2023
NEW YORK – If the UConn men's basketball team expects to play for the BIG EAST Tournament championship on Saturday, it will have to beat the best to get there.
The Huskies (25-7), fresh off a 73-66 quarterfinal victory over Providence on Thursday, will take on #1 seed and regular-season champ Marquette (26-6) in the tourney semifinals on Friday night at Madison Square Garden (6:30 p.m., FS1).
It is the 15th semifinal appearance overall for UConn and its third in a row, covering every season since the program returned to the BIG EAST. The Huskies are 10-4 all-time in BIG EAST semifinals, but its last win came in 2011. Marquette is 0-3 in semifinal games.
It will be the first BIG EAST Tournament meeting between UConn and Marquette. No. 3 seed Creighton and No. 2 seed Xavier battle in the other semifinal. The winners meet Saturday night (6:30 p.m.) for the BIG EAST crown.Â
No. 11/No.14 UConn, which has won six straight and nine of its last 10, played impressive basketball as it erected a 26-point lead over the Friars through the midway point of the second half. Then, however, a furious Providence press led to numerous UConn turnovers as the Friars cut the margin to 5 on four separate occasions, but could come no closer.
"If you stop playing a little bit or get a little bit sloppy … " UConn Coach Dan Hurley said. "Obviously, the live ball turnovers will be an issue that could prevent this team from really achieving things. The 18 turnovers really allowed them back in the game.
The Huskies played arguably their best half of the season in the opening 20 minutes against Providence, building a 35-19 lead at the break that grew to 58-32 in the second half. Then the Friars began the charge that fell a few points short.
"We knew they weren't going down without a fight," Hurley said.
Marquette, ranked #6, is also on a winning streak, seven straight and 12 of its last 13 games. The Golden Eagles boast the BIG EAST Player of the Year in guard Tyler Kolek, as well as an athletic frontcourt of Olivier-Maxence Prosper and Oso Ighodaro. The Golden Eagles had to go into overtime before beating St. John's, 72-70, in Thursday's quarterfinals.
"We're looking forward to playing the regular-season champ," Hurley said.
UConn and Marquette split their season series, each winning at home.
