UConn Faces Uphill Battle After Big East Tournament Loss

The Huskies look to rebound from a 20-point defeat against St. John's as they enter the NCAA Tournament as a No. 2 seed.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 12:27am

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The UConn Huskies (29-5) are set to begin their March Madness run as a No. 2 seed, but they face an uphill battle after a brutal 20-point loss against St. John's in the Big East Tournament final. The team has shown it can compete with and defeat the best in the country, but has also exhibited some major issues that could hamper their NCAA Tournament hopes.

Why it matters

UConn has proven it can win big games against top opponents, but the team's inconsistency and recent struggles have raised questions about their ability to make a deep NCAA Tournament run. Their performance in the first round against Furman will be crucial in determining if they can shake off the Big East Tournament loss and make another championship push.

The details

UConn's issues have included sloppy ball handling, poor free-throw shooting, and an inability to maintain leads in the second half. The team also faces injury concerns, with starting point guard Silas Demary Jr. and reserve Jaylin Stewart both listed as questionable for the first-round game. Without a true star player to take over in crunch time, the Huskies may struggle to close out close games against hungry opponents.

  • UConn lost to St. John's by 20 points in the Big East Tournament final on March 11, 2026.
  • UConn will face Furman in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 17, 2026.

The players

Dan Hurley

The head coach of the UConn Huskies, who is seeking to lead the team to another NCAA Tournament championship.

Braylon Mullins

A freshman standout for UConn who has shown the ability to lead the team in scoring.

Taris Reed Jr.

A key contributor for the Huskies who can be hindered by foul trouble.

Silas Demary Jr.

UConn's starting point guard, who is listed as questionable for the first-round game due to injury.

Jaylin Stewart

A UConn reserve player who is also listed as questionable for the first-round game due to injury.

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What they’re saying

“We must regroup and refocus after that tough loss. Our guys know what's at stake and I'm confident they'll be ready to go on Friday.”

— Dan Hurley, Head Coach, UConn Huskies

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This UConn team has shown it can beat the best, but its inconsistency and recent struggles have raised doubts about its ability to make a deep NCAA Tournament run. The Huskies will need to address their turnover issues, free-throw shooting, and lack of a true go-to scorer if they hope to make another championship push.