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UConn and Creighton meet in the Big East Tournament semifinals

Can the Huskies get to the Big East Tournament finals in their first season back or will Creighton put those plans on hold?

NCAA Basketball: Connecticut at Creighton

How to Watch

Time: 9:00 p.m. ET

TV: FS1

Streaming: FOX Sports Go

Location: Madison Square Garden

Records: UConn 15-6 (11-6) | Creighton 19-7 (14-6)

KenPom Rankings: UConn – 17 | Creighton – 10


Previous Meetings This Season

In their first matchup of the season, James Bouknight went off and scored 40 points. However, the rest of the Huskies combined for a total of 34 points as narrowly fell to Creighton in overtime. UConn had the game in hand but couldn’t close out the game in regulation with free throws. In their second meeting, Creighton handled UConn with relative ease, holding them to 66 points. Keep in mind, UConn was without Bouknight for this game and still figuring things out offensively without their star.

The Matchup

UConn and Creighton meet for the third time this season, in the semi-finals of the Big East Tournament. Creighton will look to sweep UConn 3-0 in the season series, but it can be a difficult task to take down the same team 3 times in on year. After some recent turmoil within the program, Creighton seems to have bounced back. They thoroughly beat Butler in back-to-back games, one to end of the regular season and then last night in the quarter finals of the Big East Tournament. In both games Creighton’s offense looked like the fast-paced, high-powered offense we’ve come to expect from them. Marcus Zegarowski is finding his groove these last two games, dropping a combined 50 points. The offense flows much more freely when Zegarowski is leading the way. Can they keep it going against the Huskies?

UConn continues to roll as they defeated DePaul with ease. The Huskies have looked like a different team since Bouknight returned from injury. Their lone loss coming to Villanova. The Huskies have reeled off 5 straight wins since then, all coming by double digits. The Huskies defense continues to be a force, but now their offense appears to have caught up. Bouknight went down with cramps early in the second half against DePaul, but it didn’t matter who was on the court for UConn. The offense was on cruise control, scoring at will. This is what Dan Hurley promised and he is delivering. The Huskies are looked primed to make a run in March, but for now, Creighton stands in their way.

Final Thoughts

The Big East Tournament has delivered this season. All but two games have gone down to the wire. UConn beat down DePaul. Creighton beat down Butler. Now UConn and Creighton face off in the semi-finals, both playing their best basketball of the year. These two teams are looking like the highest-powered offenses and the top two defenses in the conference. Can the Huskies get to the Big East Tournament finals in their first season back or will Creighton put those plans on hold? Either way, this is shaping up to be an instant classic.