UConn just keeps finding ways to win - even when it takes a little extra time.
The Huskies pushed their winning streak to 15 games with a gritty overtime victory over Villanova on Saturday, and they held firm at No. 2 in the latest AP Top 25 poll released Monday. It’s the kind of run that’s turning heads across college basketball, and for good reason.
Let’s talk résumé. UConn’s only loss this season came against No. 1-ranked Arizona - and that was without two starters.
Even with that blemish, the Huskies are stacking up as one of the most complete teams in the country. According to EvanMiya.com, they currently boast the top overall profile in college hoops, bolstered by four nonconference wins over teams now sitting in the top 20.
That’s the kind of strength of schedule that matters come March.
Metrics back it up, too. UConn checks in at No. 8 in the NET rankings, sporting a 5-1 record in Quad One games.
They’re also No. 3 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and No. 10 on KenPom, where they’re powered by the nation’s fourth-ranked defense and a steadily improving offense that now sits at No. 38.
Bottom line: this team defends at an elite level, and when the shots are falling, they’re as dangerous as anyone.
That 15-game win streak? It’s the fourth-longest active run in the country, trailing only Nebraska (24), Miami (OH), and Arizona (20). Not bad company to keep.
Around the rest of the AP Top 25, Michigan held steady at No. 3, while Duke and undefeated Nebraska rounded out the top five. Purdue, after dropping back-to-back games to UCLA and Illinois, slipped to No.
- The rest of the top 10 features Gonzaga, Michigan State, Iowa State, Illinois, and Houston - a mix of familiar powerhouses and rising contenders.
The Big East, meanwhile, got a little more love this week. St.
John’s jumped back into the rankings at No. 25 after stringing together six straight wins. Villanova, despite the narrow loss to UConn in Hartford, remains just outside the rankings in the “receiving votes” category.
As for the Huskies, Saturday’s win over the Wildcats wasn’t without its blemishes. They struggled at times on the glass and had stretches of offensive inconsistency. But there were bright spots - none bigger than Solo Ball.
Ball, who’s been battling a wrist sprain and working through a shooting slump, broke out in a big way. He dropped 24 points, knocking down five triples on 12 attempts from deep.
He also chipped in five boards and three assists in 38 minutes - a performance that earned him a spot on the Big East’s weekly honor roll. It wasn’t just the numbers; it was the confidence.
Ball looked like himself again, and that’s a huge development for this UConn squad as they head into a critical stretch.
That emergence is especially timely with freshman standout Braylon Mullins likely sidelined for Tuesday’s matchup against Providence. Mullins entered concussion protocol after taking a hard hit to the head from fellow Big East Freshman of the Year contender Acaden Lewis. His status moving forward remains uncertain, but UConn will need others to step up in his absence - and Ball looks ready to take on that challenge.
The Huskies have shown they can win ugly, win close, and win when it matters. With the defense locked in and key players rounding into form, they’re not just chasing a Big East title - they’re building a case as one of the most complete teams in the country.