The University of Connecticut is not playing the type of basketball the program has become accustomed to in recent years. The Huskies are 17-8 following their most recent loss. Heading into the season, many expected Dan Hurley’s squad to be the top team in the NCAA once again, but for reasons unknown, that has not happened.
Saturday’s loss may go down as one of the worst defeats UConn has experienced in the past few years. Seton Hall came into the game having won only one contest since December 5th. They sit second to last in the Big East, ahead of only DePaul.
There were numerous issues with the road loss. Not only was it a devastating defeat for UConn, but the Huskies had a seven-point lead with just over 36 seconds remaining in the game. With nine seconds left, UConn turned the ball over, allowing Scotty Middleton to score the game-winning tip-in after missing a layup. Following the game, Hurley shared his thoughts on the loss.
“I hate losing to anybody, but if I’m going to lose to anyone, maybe besides my brother, maybe Shaheen,” Hurley said.
The loss also caught the attention of the entire basketball world. CBS bracketologist Jerry Palm had a concerning comment about UConn.
“If this keeps up, we might have an NCAA Tournament without UConn,” Palm warned. “If they keep playing hit-or-miss basketball, they’re going to miss March Madness.”
Palm’s comment raised concerns among the Husky faithful. No one expected UConn to be in this position at this point in the season, but as things stand, the Huskies are in dangerous territory.
Hurley hopes to get his team to start playing more consistent basketball, something the Huskies have struggled with all season. With these ongoing struggles, the road to a three-peat is becoming increasingly difficult.