University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Creighton
No. 2 UConn Visits Creighton On Saturday Night
1/30/2026 8:27:00 AM | Men's Basketball
OMAHA, Neb. – The No. 2 UConn men's basketball team (20-1, 10-0 BIG EAST) closes January on Saturday night with a trip to the CHI Health Center Omaha and a date with the Creighton Bluejays (12-9, 6-4 BIG EAST). The FOX Primetime Hoops showdown will air on FOX at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT with Tim Brando and Donny Marshall on the call.
The Huskies are riding the third-longest single season winning streak in program history into Nebraska this weekend, winners of 16-straight an off to a perfect 10-0 start in BIG EAST play. Both of those marks are the best since 1998-99, when Jim Calhoun's first title team at Connecticut opened the year 19-0 and won its first 11 conference contests. UConn has built one of the nation's premiere tournament resumes during its 20-1 start, ranking top-three nationally in Wins Above Bubble (+7.5), Quad 1A record (4-1) and Quad 1+2 wins (12).
UConn and Creighton began to meet regularly in BIG EAST play during the 2020-21 season. The Bluejays hold a 9-3 edge in the all-time series and are 4-1 versus the Huskies in Omaha. Last season each squad won on the road in the regular season before a BIG EAST Semifinal triumph for CU. In UConn's win at the CHI Health Center a season ago, its first in program history, Liam McNeeley had one of the marquee performances by a freshman in UConn history when he scored 38 points and grabbed 10 boards in a 70-66 victory.
Connecticut was last in action on Tuesday night, staving off Providence for an 87-81 win and a sweep of the regular season series. Tarris Reed Jr. had 19 points, six rebounds and four blocks while Solo Ball scored 17 points. Silas Demary Jr. added 15 points, four rebounds and six assists while Alex Karaban lightly flirted with a triple-double and posted eight points, nine rebounds and seven assists. The Huskies got a huge boost off the bench against the Friars, with Eric Reibe recording 14 points, eight rebounds and two blocks and Malachi Smith scoring 12 points on 4-4 shooting from three with seven assists plus two steals against no turnovers. UConn hit 11 shots from 3-point range to give them 29 against PC in two contests this season – the most ever recorded against a single opponent in two regular season games in program history.
Ball leads the Huskies with 14.8 points per game on the year, followed closely by Reed Jr. with 14.5 per night and Karaban recording 13.5 ppg. Reed Jr. is the Huskies leading rebounding and secures 7.9 caroms per game, also pacing the team in blocked shots with 2.1 a contest and leading the BIG EAST with a 62.3 percent mark from the field. Demary Jr. is the fourth qualified Husky scoring in double-digits and chips in 10.4 points per game along with a league-leading 6.1 assists per contest.
Creighton holds a 12-9 overall record and is 6-4 in BIG EAST play, last in action on Tuesday in a setback at Marquette. The Bluejays have compiled a 9-2 record on their home floor and are 4-1 in Omaha against league foes. Josh Dix leads a balanced CU offense with 12.3 points per game, while Austin Swartz adds 11.9 and shoots 39.4 percent from three. Jasen Green is the third Bluejay in double-digits with 10.7 points per game along with a team-high 5.1 rebounds per contest.
Following the Saturday night trip to Omaha, UConn has a quick turn and returns to Hartford to host Xavier on Tuesday, Feb. 3.
