UConn Looking to Reclaim Its Edge After First Loss in 19 Games
For 19 straight games, UConn looked like a team on a mission-rolling through opponents with the kind of swagger and cohesion that makes you think, “Yeah, this squad might be built for March.” But last Friday, that rhythm was disrupted in a jarring 81-72 loss to St.
John’s. And while head coach Dan Hurley hoped that defeat would light a fire under his team, Wednesday’s follow-up win over Butler didn’t exactly scream “statement game.”
In fact, Hurley admitted the aftermath of the loss lingered more than he would’ve liked.
“There might have been a black cloud that I kind of left over the group,” Hurley said after the Huskies’ uneven performance against Butler. “I just brutalized them over the (St. John’s) performance and the mistakes we made.”
That honesty paints a picture of a team still searching for its footing after the bubble burst. And with only six regular-season games left, UConn (23-2, 13-1 Big East) doesn’t have much time to recalibrate. Saturday night’s home matchup against Georgetown at Gampel Pavilion offers a much-needed opportunity to do just that.
A Wake-Up Call, Delivered Loud and Clear
Silas Demary Jr., one of UConn’s key backcourt contributors, didn’t sugarcoat the impact of the streak-ending loss.
“When you run off that many in a row, you get to the feeling of, ‘Man, I don’t think anybody can stop us,’” Demary said. “I think having that kind of attitude kind of hurt us.”
It’s the kind of self-awareness you want to hear from a team with championship aspirations. Demary went on to say that the team had been ignoring coaching points for weeks-and that eventually, something was going to give.
“It definitely slaps you in the face,” he said. “At some point it was going to come back and bite us, and it did. Now we have to hone in on what we need to fix, and fix it as soon as we can.”
Butler Win Offers Little Comfort
Yes, UConn got the win Wednesday night, but it wasn’t the kind of performance that inspires confidence. The Huskies allowed Butler to shoot 53.8% in the first half, were sloppy with the ball early, and got outplayed in stretches by Butler’s frontcourt-a fact that didn’t sit well with Hurley.
They did win the rebounding battle 33-26, but for a team that prides itself on physicality and execution, the effort felt flat. That said, a road win in the Big East is never something to dismiss entirely.
It gave the Huskies a chance to shake off the emotional hangover from the St. John’s loss-even if the response wasn’t up to their usual standard.
Georgetown Rematch Offers Redemption
Next up is a Georgetown team that UConn has dominated in recent years-winning 11 straight in the series, with the Hoyas’ last win coming back in January 2017. But if the Huskies are looking at this matchup as a guaranteed bounce-back, they’d be wise to remember what happened just a few weeks ago.
On January 17, UConn barely escaped D.C. with a 64-62 win, and it was arguably their worst offensive showing of the season. They shot just 36.3% from the field, a dismal 19.2% from beyond the arc (5-for-26), and were outrebounded 40-34. Georgetown shot 43.9% and pulled down 15 offensive boards-numbers that should raise eyebrows in Storrs.
This isn’t just about getting another conference win. Saturday is about proving that the 18-game win streak wasn’t a mirage. It’s about showing that this team can take a punch, get up, and start swinging again.
Hoyas Trending Up-But Still Searching for a Signature Win
Georgetown (13-11, 5-8) had been riding a four-game win streak before falling to Villanova on Wednesday night. They’ve shown flashes of progress, but they haven’t beaten any of the Big East’s top four teams this season. That’s a stat UConn would like to keep intact.
Still, the Hoyas bring some firepower. KJ Lewis leads the way with 15.1 points per game, while Malik Mack adds 14.5. They’ve got size and athleticism in the frontcourt with Julius Halaifonua and Caleb Williams, and they’ve proven they can hang around-just ask UConn.
Huskies Know Time Is Running Short
With the postseason looming, UConn doesn’t have the luxury of easing into form. The margin for error shrinks by the day, and Demary knows it.
“A lot of the things the coaches have been asking us to do came out (against St. John’s) as a wakeup call,” he said. “It is something we have to fix and fix fast because the postseason is near, and once we get to the postseason it is one-and-done.”
That’s the reality now. The Huskies are still one of the most talented teams in the country, but talent alone doesn’t win in March.
Execution, focus, and resilience do. Saturday night is another test-not just of their skill, but of their mentality.
Saturday Night Showdown
Georgetown at No. 6 UConn
📍 Gampel Pavilion, Storrs
🕗 *Saturday, 8 p.m.
Projected Starters:
UConn Huskies
- Solo Ball (G) - 14.5 PPG
- Silas Demary Jr. (G) - 11.2 PPG
- Tarris Reed Jr. (C) - 14.1 PPG
- Alex Karaban (F) - 13.2 PPG
- Braylon Mullins (G) - 11.9 PPG
Georgetown Hoyas
- KJ Lewis (G) - 15.1 PPG
- Malik Mack (G) - 14.5 PPG
- Julius Halaifonua (F) - 9.7 PPG
- Caleb Williams (F) - 9.6 PPG
- Isaiah Abraham (F) - 5.7 PPG
UConn doesn’t need to be perfect on Saturday-but they do need to look like themselves again. Because the postseason isn’t waiting. And neither is the rest of the Big East.