No. 5 UConn Suffers Upset Loss to Creighton

Huskies' hopes for a No. 1 NCAA tournament seed take a hit with home defeat

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

The No. 5 ranked UConn Huskies suffered a surprising home loss to the Creighton Bluejays on Wednesday night, denting their chances of securing a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament. The Huskies, who were heavily favored, fell apart down the stretch and allowed Creighton, a team that has struggled all season, to pull off the upset victory at Gampel Pavilion.

Why it matters

UConn was widely expected to be in contention for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, but this loss to an unranked Creighton squad will likely hurt their seeding and chances of making a deep tournament run. The Huskies have been one of the top teams in the country all season, so this defeat at home is considered a major upset.

The details

The Huskies led for much of the game, but Creighton was able to mount a late comeback and ultimately prevailed. UConn's offense went cold in the final minutes, allowing the Bluejays to capitalize and secure the victory. This was a rare home loss for the Huskies, who have been dominant at Gampel Pavilion this season.

  • The game took place on Wednesday, February 19, 2026.

The players

Dan Hurley

The head coach of the UConn Huskies men's basketball team.

Creighton Bluejays

The men's basketball team from Creighton University, which pulled off the upset victory over UConn.

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What they’re saying

“We just couldn't get it going in the final minutes and Creighton made the plays they needed to win. It's a tough loss, but we'll learn from this and get back to work.”

— Dan Hurley, Head Coach, UConn Huskies

What’s next

UConn will look to bounce back in their next game as they continue their pursuit of a high NCAA tournament seed.

The takeaway

This upset loss at home is a setback for the Huskies, who were widely expected to be a top contender for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. The team will need to regroup and learn from this defeat as they prepare for the postseason.