Creighton bolstered its NCAA Match resume with a big convention win towards UConn on Saturday.
The Bluejays defeated the Huskies, 68-63, in Storrs, marking UConn’s first residence Huge East loss since Jan. 25, 2023.
Per Joe Lunardi’s most recent men’s Bracketology update for ESPN on Friday, Creighton, which has superior to the second weekend of males’s NCAA Match in every of the previous two seasons, was one of many final 4 groups within the area, requiring it as much as play within the spherical of 68.
The win over Related Press No. 14 UConn (13-5, 5-2 in Huge East) may propel it to one of many final 4 opening-round byes within the subsequent replace.
The Bluejays entered Saturday ranked forty second in KenPom (it jumped 5 spots with the win) and 51st in NET rankings. They notched their third Quad 1 win after beating Related Press No. 9 Kansas (12-4, 3-2 in Huge 12) and St. John’s (15-3, 6-1 in Huge East) earlier this season.
Creighton’s win wasn’t with out controversy. Late within the sport, Creighton had a foul to offer. Senior guard Steven Ashworth (No. 1) used it on UConn fifth-year senior guard Hassan Diarra (No. 10), who appeared to have already begun his taking pictures movement from past the arc, which ought to have given him three free throws and an opportunity to tie the sport.
Referees did not see it that means and referred to as it a typical foul. UConn junior ahead Alex Karaban missed a three-pointer off the inbound move, and Creighton senior middle Ryan Kalkbrenner drained two free throws to ice the sport.