Creighton bolstered its NCAA Event resume with a major convention win in opposition to UConn on Saturday.
The Bluejays defeated the Huskies, 68-63, in Storrs, marking UConn’s first residence Massive 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 Event in every of the previous two seasons, was one of many final 4 groups within the subject, requiring it as much as play within the spherical of 68.
The win over Related Press No. 14 UConn (13-5, 5-2 in Massive East) might 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 Massive 12) and St. John’s (15-3, 6-1 in Massive East) earlier this season.
Creighton’s win wasn’t with out controversy. Late within the recreation, Creighton had a foul to present. 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 method and referred to as it a typical foul. UConn junior ahead Alex Karaban missed a three-pointer off the inbound cross, and Creighton senior heart Ryan Kalkbrenner drained two free throws to ice the sport.