UConn Eyes 18th Straight Win, Hosts Xavier in Black Fives Tribute Game
HARTFORD - The No. 3 UConn men’s basketball team is rolling-and they’re showing no signs of slowing down.
At 21-1 overall and a perfect 11-0 in BIG EAST play, the Huskies are off to their best start in conference action in nearly three decades. On Tuesday night, they welcome Xavier to PeoplesBank Arena, looking to extend a 17-game win streak that now ranks as the third-longest single-season run in program history.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m., with coverage on Peacock and NBC Sports Network. It’s also a special night on the calendar: UConn and the BIG EAST will honor the African American trailblazers of the game as part of the conference’s Black Fives tribute.
A Dominant Run and a Deep Roster
The Huskies are coming off a statement win on the road, dismantling Creighton 85-58 in Omaha-a place that’s given visiting teams fits in recent years. UConn made it look easy, drilling 16 threes and shooting over 54 percent from the field in what turned out to be the most lopsided win in the 13-game history between the two programs.
Braylon Mullins returned from a one-game absence and didn’t miss a beat, pouring in 16 points and hitting 4-of-8 from deep. Silas Demary Jr. and Alex Karaban added 15 points apiece, each pulling down six boards to help UConn dominate the glass 37-24. Solo Ball chipped in 11 points, rounding out a balanced offensive effort that’s becoming a hallmark of this year’s squad.
That depth is a big reason why UConn is thriving. Five players are averaging double figures, led by Ball at 14.6 points per game.
Tarris Reed Jr. is right behind him at 14.1, while also serving as the Huskies’ defensive anchor-grabbing a team-best 7.8 rebounds and swatting 2.0 shots per game. He’s also been ridiculously efficient, shooting a league-leading 63.2 percent from the floor.
Karaban continues to be the glue guy who does a bit of everything: 13.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and a shooting line of 46.5 / 42.0 / 84.6. He also leads the BIG EAST in minutes played, averaging 33.7 per game.
Demary Jr. is the engine that makes it all go. He’s directing one of the nation’s top defenses and leads the conference in assists during league play with 7.1 per game.
His 3.31 assist-to-turnover ratio is also tops in the BIG EAST. Add in Mullins, who’s putting up 11.7 points per game and shooting nearly 41 percent from deep in conference play, and you’ve got a team that’s not just talented-they’re connected, balanced, and built to win in March.
Xavier Looks to Spoil the Party
Xavier comes into Hartford with a 12-10 record and a 4-7 mark in the BIG EAST. The Musketeers snapped a three-game skid on Saturday with a narrow 68-66 win over DePaul. They’ve got offensive firepower, led by Tre Carroll, who’s scoring 18.3 points per game-good for among the league’s best.
The Musketeers share the ball well, leading the BIG EAST with 18.5 assists per game and ranking top-10 nationally with a 1.83 assist-to-turnover ratio. They’ve got five players averaging double figures, so while their record may not jump off the page, they’ve got the kind of offensive rhythm that can keep them in games.
But they’ll have their hands full. UConn already handled Xavier once this season, cruising to a 90-67 win in Cincinnati on New Year’s Eve. That game wasn’t close, and if the Huskies bring the same energy they showed in Omaha, they’ll be tough to stop.
What’s Next
After Tuesday’s matchup, UConn heads to Madison Square Garden for a marquee Friday night showdown against No. 22 St.
John’s. But first, they’ll look to take care of business at home, keep their perfect BIG EAST record intact, and pay tribute to the Black Fives era with another performance that blends history, dominance, and purpose.
This UConn team isn’t just winning-they’re making a statement. And right now, the rest of the country is listening.