After a tough loss to Creighton, Dan Hurley and the UConn coaching staff didn't hold back when reviewing Tarris Reed Jr.'s performance. His defensive lapses were highlighted in what was one of the Huskies' roughest outings this season. But Reed bounced back in style against Villanova, with Hurley praising it as “his best game as a UConn player,” fueled by the sting of their previous defeat.
Reed’s stats-11 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three blocks in just 23 minutes-might not leap off the page, but his impact was undeniable. “I felt like I was moving really well, really active in the gaps,” Reed reflected.
“Watching the film back, just being ultra-active and helping out my teammates was really evident in that second-half push. It felt like one of my best games here.”
Hurley echoed this sentiment, noting Reed’s exceptional ball-screen defense, rim protection, and overall presence on the court. This performance came against Villanova’s standout center, Duke Brennan.
Now, Reed faces an even tougher challenge in St. John’s Zuby Ejiofor, the preseason Big East Player of the Year, as UConn fights to keep their regular-season championship hopes alive.
Ejiofor dominated their last encounter, flirting with a triple-double. He’s a force, leading his team in points, rebounds, assists, and blocks-an impressive feat. “He’s probably one of the most tenacious players in the country,” Hurley remarked.
The battles between Reed and Ejiofor are always intense but never personal. “It’s a fun challenge,” Reed said.
“Two good bigs in the Big East, it’s always good to go against competitive players like Zuby. They got us last time at their place, but now they have to come here.
It’s gonna be a tough, gritty game, and that’s what you want as a competitor.”
For UConn, success hinges on Reed and the team’s ability to defend the paint against St. John’s formidable frontcourt trio of Ejiofor, Bryce Hopkins, and Dillon Mitchell.
“For us, it’s about winning the game,” Hurley emphasized. “If Reed outplays Ejiofor, that obviously helps our chances.”
The Huskies are acutely aware of the stakes. A loss could dash their Big East title hopes, with St.
John’s sitting at 15-1 in conference play. UConn, at 15-3, knows they need to win out.
“It’s a big focus for us,” said captain Alex Karaban. “We know we’ve got to win if we want to keep our hopes alive.
These are playoff games for us now.”
The regular season is a testament to a team’s resilience and toughness, as Hurley pointed out. “The true testament of a team is the resiliency and fortitude of a regular season, especially a 20-game Big East regular season.”
Meanwhile, Jayden Ross is embracing his role as the energizer off the bench. “It’s a lot of pride, but more than anything, I know that for my team to be successful, that’s what I need to do,” Ross explained. His focus on impacting the game positively, both defensively and offensively, is a crucial component of UConn’s strategy as they push for success.