The top-ranked UConn Huskies outlasted the Villanova Wildcats 66-65.
Villanova hosted the UConn Huskies for the 74th matchup in series history and if that isn’t enough for you, the Wildcats were 2-1 against the Huskies when UConn held the top ranking. Now Villanova is 2-2 against UConn in those situations as the Huskies held on to win a close one at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
The first half of this game was a rollercoaster ride for both teams as it was highlighted by three huge runs. UConn opened the contest with a very quick 11-0 run, Villanova replied with an 18-5 run of their own, and then UConn answered back with another 11-0 run. The second half was more stable as both sides traded blows back and forth until Tristen Newton and UConn sealed the game at the free-throw line.
Takeaway #1: Tristen Newton is an All-American
While he may be the most outspoken player, Tristen Newton’s game speaks volumes as he continues to lead the UConn Huskies on both ends of the floor. Newton played 39 minutes Saturday night and finished with 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. Despite all the pressure, one must feel being in a hostile road environment and trailing in the second half, Newton showed his calm demeanor as he did whatever it took to help his Huskies win.
Tristen showed out 💪 pic.twitter.com/3v8fZ0jtiF
— UConn Men’s Basketball (@UConnMBB) January 21, 2024
One of the most impressive parts of his game is his rebounding and he even leads UConn in that category over guys like Donovan Clingan and Alex Karaban. Newton has an all-around complete game and he leads the number-one-ranked team in the country, if that’s not All-American material then I don’t know what is.
Takeaway #2: Villanova has a strong backcourt
Good luck stopping the duo of Justin Moore and TJ Bamba when they’re firing on all cylinders. With Villanova’s leading scorer Eric Dixon scoring just 9 points, Moore and Bamba needed to step up. They both rose to the occasion as they each scored 15 points and played some great defense to force UConn into some very tough looks. There were plenty of possessions where the Huskies couldn’t even get the ball into the interior and were forced to take a contested three at the end of the shot clock due to Villanova’s perimeter defense. Now add in the sparkplug effort that Hakim Hart gave off the bench with his 8 points and you’ve got a backcourt that can cause some problems for opponents.
Consistency has been an issue for this Wildcats team, but perhaps tonight is something for them to build off of. UConn did a great job at limiting Eric Dixon’s contributions to the scoring column, but Villanova has the depth to be able to make up for an off night from their star. Don’t forget that this Villanova team was ranked top 20 back in November as they beat UNC and Memphis on their way to a Battle for Atlantis title.
Takeaway #3: The Big East is awesome
If you haven’t become a fan of the Big East then I suggest you start now. Just Saturday alone we saw a 3OT thriller, Rick Pitino falling to his knees at MSG, and the number one team in the country surviving by 1 point on the road. Ignoring DePaul, there were four conference games this weekend which were decided by a total of 6 points.
The UConn-Villanova matchup is a perfect example of what this conference is like. Both teams were highlighted by high-level guard play and strong defensive performances. The players treated every possession like it was a battle and played hard from tipoff until the final buzzer. There’s a lot of season left to play, but I’d be lying if I said days like today don’t get me excited for the Big East Tournament in March.
Next game for UConn: vs. Xavier (Sun., Jan. 28th, Noon)
Next game for Villanova: at St. John’s (Wed., Jan. 24th, 8:30 p.m.)