UConn Stunned by Marquette, 1-Seed in Jeopardy

Huskies' loss puts their NCAA Tournament top seed status in question.

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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The Connecticut Huskies suffered a surprising 68-62 road loss to the Marquette Golden Eagles in their regular-season finale, shooting a season-low 35.6% and committing a season-high 16 turnovers. The defeat has put UConn's status as a projected No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament in jeopardy, as they now have two of the worst losses among teams in contention for top seeds.

Why it matters

UConn was previously considered a lock for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but this loss to a sub-100 NET team has raised serious doubts about their standing. With the Big East tournament coming up, the Huskies will need a dominant performance to reassert themselves as worthy of a top seed in March Madness.

The details

The Huskies shot a season-low 35.6% from the field, including just 12.5% from 3-point range, and committed a season-high 16 turnovers in the loss. Head coach Dan Hurley was also ejected during the game. This defeat, combined with an earlier home loss to Creighton, has given UConn arguably the two worst losses among teams in contention for a No. 1 seed.

  • UConn lost to Marquette on March 4, 2026, in their regular-season finale.
  • The Huskies previously lost at home to Creighton on February 18, 2026.

The players

Dan Hurley

Head coach of the Connecticut Huskies.

Marquette Golden Eagles

The college basketball team that defeated UConn, ranked No. 97 in the NCAA's Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings.

Connecticut Huskies

The college basketball team that suffered the surprising loss, previously considered a lock for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

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What they’re saying

“Saturday's loss gives the Huskies undoubtedly the two worst among teams in the running for a No. 1 seed.”

— Eric Smithling, Writer (Yardbarker)

What’s next

The Huskies will need a dominant run through the upcoming Big East tournament to reassert themselves as a worthy No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This stunning loss to a sub-100 NET team has put UConn's status as a projected No. 1 seed in serious jeopardy, raising questions about their ability to secure a top seed in March Madness. The Huskies will need to bounce back with a strong performance in the Big East tournament to solidify their position.