The No. 15 Creighton Bluejays secured a convincing 85-66 victory over the top-ranked UConn Huskies in a Big East men’s basketball showdown at the CHI Health Center. This win halted UConn’s impressive 14-game winning streak, marking a significant achievement for Creighton.
Despite the loss, UConn maintains a strong overall record of 24-3 and a conference record of 14-2, positioning them favorably for a No. 1 seed on Selection Sunday.
For Creighton, this victory holds special significance as it marks the first time in program history that they have defeated a No. 1 ranked team. With four consecutive conference wins, the Bluejays are gaining momentum at a crucial point in the season, boasting a season record of 20-7 and a conference record of 11-5.
Social media platforms were abuzz with praise for Creighton’s performance:
DOWN GOES NO. 1 🚨
For the first time in history, @BluejayMBB defeats a No. 1 team 🤩 pic.twitter.com/pVZeNn3qKu
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) February 21, 2024
CBS Sports College Basketball celebrated Creighton’s historic win.
Creighton Men’s Basketball highlighted key moments from the game.
THIS SEQUENCE 😍🏀
WHAT A FIRST HALF#GoJays pic.twitter.com/1SIKcoYfIg
— Creighton Men’s Basketball (@BluejayMBB) February 21, 2024
THIS IS A 20 POINT BASKETBALL GAME
📺 FS1
Creighton 51, Connecticut 31#GoJays pic.twitter.com/FBMpNandYy
— Creighton Men’s Basketball (@BluejayMBB) February 21, 2024
Analysts like Sam Vecenie and Matt Norlander acknowledged Creighton’s exceptional shooting and performance.
Journalists such as Dana O’Neil and Nicole Auerbach commended Creighton’s victory and shooting accuracy.
Experts like Rob Dauster and John Fanta analyzed Creighton’s defensive prowess and offensive strategy.
Throughout the game, Creighton demonstrated dominance, particularly in three-point shooting, finishing 14-of-28 from beyond the arc. They also showcased strong perimeter defense, limiting UConn to a mere 3-of-16 shooting from three-point range.
Key contributors for Creighton included Steven Ashworth, who led with 20 points and seven rebounds, alongside Ryan Kalkbrenner and Trey Alexander, who provided valuable support with 15 points and six rebounds, and 16 points and four assists, respectively.
Despite Tristen Newton’s commendable effort for UConn with a double-double of 27 points and 12 rebounds, Creighton’s overall performance proved too much for the Huskies to overcome.
Looking ahead, Creighton aims to maintain their momentum as they face St. John’s next, while UConn seeks to rebound against Villanova in their upcoming matchup.
