UConn’s fearlessness and never-ending hunger may be most impressive sign of Husky dominance after obliterating Marquette

Donovan Clingan flushes second-half dunk as UConn dominated Marquette Saturday, defeating Golden Eagles by 28 for Huskies’ 14th straight win since a December 20 loss to Seton Hall. (Photo by UConn Men’s Basketball)

HARTFORD, Conn. — UConn has spent the past 13 months making statements in the college basketball world, beginning with its dominant stretch drive last season that kick-started a run to the program’s fifth national championship, putting the Huskies in rarified air among the royalty of the sport.

One could argue Saturday’s latest salvo, an 81-53 demolition of a Marquette team ranked fourth in the nation — and perhaps, the Huskies’ chief competition in the Big East Conference this year — was its most resonant, and by far, the most impactful.

The top-ranked team in the country fed off a sellout XL Center crowd that threw its collective voice behind UConn early and often, taking Marquette out of its element along with the Huskies’ unique defense and physicality that opened up a 24-6 run over nine minutes in the latter part of the first half.

So how did it look so easy for a team that avenged its Big East tournament semifinal loss last March?

“We were just trying to prove who we are,” Donovan Clingan said, shrugging off the notion that his team was playing with a revenge factor from last year. We’re out here just trying to win, one game at a time.”

“Us older guys, especially coming back from the national championship last year, we really want to just do it for these young guys, do it for the program, the coaches, each other. We’re always looking to see someone else be successful and help another person out.”

That unselfish nature was on full display Saturday, as UConn connected for 24 assists on 29 made field goals, with Tristen Newton and Hassan Diarra combining for 14 of those helpers from the point guard position. For Diarra, who had a more vocal role on last year’s squad before transitioning into more of an understated veteran leader for this outfit, the commitment to seeing each player thrive has been a cultivation he has taken personally.

“I would say we love each other,” he said. “We want to see each other win, and I think that’s the main thing. That’s why we have so many assists every game. We love to see our teammates prosper, we love to see them succeed, and that’s why we’re so unselfish with each other. You can see that on offense and on the defensive end.”

Dan Hurley had his own moments of self-reflection in the wake of the decisive victory that moved UConn to 24-2 on the season and 14-1 in Big East play, once again revealing the adversity the Huskies endured in January of 2023 as a seminal moment that helped shape the foundation for a current run that has seen his program lose just four games since February of last year, three of which by single digits.

“We did it all last year, but this is who we’ve been,” the coach imparted. “I think what’s dangerous about how we feel as a program right now is we don’t fear losing. Knowing what we dealt with last year, that tough stretch in January, and going on and doing what we did and dominating the tournament, winning a national championship, as a leader of the program, I just think I’m way more relaxed and confident. And I think that runs through the team. I was manic as hell last January when things were going real crappy, and I think I’m not holding the program back. I’m probably just handling that balance between intense and ready to play, but also joyful and excited to play. But I’m still learning on the job. I’m gonna keep getting better as a coach.”

“They’ve been playing terrific,” Hurley's counterpart, Shaka Smart, echoed. “And today, I thought they played even better than they’ve been playing. They’re a very, very connected team. They have an understanding and a trust in what they do and in each other that is superior, right now, to anyone, and that goes along with their terrific system, coaching and players. I don’t know how many points that’s worth, but it’s worth a lot.”

With five games remaining in the regular season, UConn’s magic number to clinch a Big East championship is now down to two. Hurley dismissed the need to talk about tournament implications or standings, a mindset his players have adamantly co-signed as the Huskies are merely concerned with jumping the next hurdle in front of them and then whetting their insatiable appetites from there.

“We’re all very confident, and I feel like you can see that a lot when we’re out on the floor,” Clingan admitted. “But it’s the way we carry ourselves in practice, the way we carry ourselves in shootaround, how we warm up before the game. I feel like no one really practices how hard we do, especially the day before a game. (Hurley) prepares us to go out there and just battle against the best, and it’s a special group of guys. We all work hard enough to have our confidence level at the level it’s at.”

Hurley, a perfectionist by nature, shared his philosophy behind that approach, highlighting his desire to attract players who share his vision, who are cut from a similar cloth,

“To get to where we were, the work that this staff did, I just think we get like-minded people to come and play here,” he candidly stated. “I think we hold out in recruiting and just try to recruit winners and people that it’s just never enough for. Whatever we are right now, 24-2, I could promise you right now in the leadup to our next game, that the way we’re going to work, we’re going to work like 25-2 is never enough. We’ve got people like that, Cam Spencer, Tristen Newton, people that the goal posts are always moving for them. They’re always wanting more.”