UConn Sports Digest: Finally Crushing Opponents

UConn men's hoops has found its killer instinct, just in time.

Author

Aman Kidwai
February 04, 2026

Welcome to the UConn Sports Digest newsletter, and thank you for being a subscriber. We are beating Rick Pitino twice this week, folks!

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Photo: Ian Bethune

Headlines

MBB Winning Big

Dan Hurley’s squad ended its streak of nail-biters with two dominant performances: an 85-58 drubbing of Creighton on Saturday in Omaha, followed by a 92-60 thrashing of Xavier at home Tuesday night.

The 32-point win over the Musketeers marked the team’s largest conference win this year. The Creighton game was the Huskies' sixth-best offensive efficiency in a game since 1997. 

Two of the Huskies' biggest weaknesses of last season are now their strengths: guard play and defense. Braylon Mullins and Silas Demary Jr. have been crucial to the Huskies’ 18 consecutive wins and 12-0 Big East start.

Mullins returned from concussion protocol and poured in a team-high 16 points vs. Creighton, adding 13 more in the blowout of Xavier. He hit six threes over the two games and continues to be UConn’s most dangerous threat from beyond the arc.

“He’s a special player,” Hurley said after the Creighton game. “I think when we watch the film of this, you’re gonna see the two-way (play), too. I think he guarded well on the perimeter.”

Demary has been the engine running the team on both ends of the court and is a Big East Player of the Year candidate. In the last two games, he’s scored 32 points, dished 13 assists, and grabbed 10 boards. His outside shot has come alive — six threes the past two games — and he’s surpassed 1,000 career points. 

“It takes a player time. It’s not easy to be the quarterback… it’s not easy to figure out how to go get your own,” Hurley said after the Xavier win. “It’s taken him time to figure it out. But while he’s done that, he’s changed our defense completely. He’s been this incredible ball hawk.”

After beating Richard Pitino’s team on Tuesday, the Huskies have their biggest test in conference play to date on Friday — the first matchup with St. John’s.

Rick Pitino has his squad rolling,  winners of their last eight in a row and 10-1 in the Big East. They also beat the Huskies handily in both meetings last season.

Tip-off is at 8 p.m. from Madison Square Garden. 

Thabeet to join Huskies of Honor

On Feb. 14, UConn men’s basketball will welcome its 24th member to the Huskies of Honor with the induction of Hasheem Thabeet. 

A three-year standout in Storrs, Thabeet punished opponents with his imposing defense en route to two National Defensive Player of the Year awards. He was also a two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year, averaging a staggering 4.2 blocks per game in three seasons. 

His 2008-09 campaign is among the best in UConn history. In UConn’s 36-game run to the Final Four, he averaged 13.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 4.2 blocks per game, capping the year with an AP All-American naming. Thabeet is one of two Huskies ever, joining only Emeka Okafor, to record over 400 career blocks. His 417 total rejections and 4.2 per game rank second behind Okafor atop the team’s all-time leaderboards. 

The induction will be held during halftime of next Saturday’s bout against Georgetown.

Football will have a spring game

As the winter transfer window closes and National Signing Day wraps up, the final additions to the UConn football roster are in place. 

Candle met with the media on Wednesday to share some updates from his first few weeks at the helm, including plans for a spring game.

On the roster – “I think we have a really good group of guys in here. Guys that are about the right things, that are made up the right way, and are really going to support our mission.”

On his first few weeks – “Very challenging time in college athletics, obviously, with how things are moving. One portal window, taking the job simultaneously to that is a really difficult task because you have so many different parts that you have to get in place…you have to put together a roster in such a short amount of time. Really proud of our staff.” 

On new OC Nunzio Campbell and DC Ryan Manlac – "I’ve respected their work from afar… Nunzio has a tremendous amount of respect in this area and has a great track record as a great recruiter in the Northeast... there’s a ton of depth there when it comes to the football knowledge… Ryan (Manlac), when you talk about defense, you want to be an aggressive style of defense that goes and attacks. Nobody has done that at a higher level than what the University of Pittsburgh has done."

The Allie Ziebell Game

As the women’s basketball team continues its run of dominance, a new star is born. Sophomore guard Allie Ziebell broke through in a big way with a 34-point explosion in the team’s 97-39 win over Xavier last Wednesday.

Ziebell has recorded double-digit points in three straight games after doing so only three prior times in the Huskies’ first 20 games. Her 34 points on Wednesday were the most of any Husky in a single game this season, and her 10 three-pointers tied a single-game program record with Katie Lou Samuelson, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, and Maya Moore.

The Huskies are now 23-0, the undisputed best team in the country, and barreling toward March with title hopes that burn brighter than those of any other team in the nation. Unlocking Ziebell is another step toward that goal. 

Weekly Rewind

Men’s Basketball

What’s Next for Drummond, Hawkins & Jackson Jr.? Evaluating Trade Destinations – Some former Huskies may be on the move ahead of the trade deadline.

UConn dismantles Xavier, 92-60 – Five Huskies scored in double figures. 

UConn men’s basketball falls one spot to No. 3 in AP Poll – The Huskies moved down even as their winning streak stays alive.

UConn handles Creighton in Omaha, 85-58 – UConn hit 16 threes in the victory effort.

Notes and Quotes: Taking Care of Business ($) – “That’s bulletproof basketball,” Hurley said after the game. 


Husky ReView: Creighton (1/31/26) ($) – Breaking down what stood out from UConn’s big win in Omaha. 

Four former Huskies participating in NBA Rising Stars – Steph Castle, Donovan Clingan, Tristen Newton, and Cam Spencer will all represent the Huskies during NBA All-Star weekend.

 

Women’s Basketball

UConn signee Olivia Vukosa named McDonald’s AA – The No. 3 player in the class of 2026 receives an impressive honor. 

UConn uses big second half to throttle Tennessee, 96–66 – The Huskies add another ranked win to their resume.

How UConn pulled away for a historic victory over Tennessee – The stars were shining, but their depth came alive as the Huskies pulled away.

How Geno’s softer approach helped UConn recover vs Tennessee – UConn needed a change in coaching style to pull away from its first close game in a while. 

How last year’s loss to Tennessee sparked UConn to a national championship – The Huskies’ third loss of the season would be their last. 

Injury updates: Blanca Quiñonez, Serah Williams not expected to miss much time – UConn missed six players to injury in its win over Xavier. 

Hockey

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