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UConn a tourney favorite after historic win vs. Marquette
Connecticut Huskies center Donovan Clingan (32). Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

UConn shows why it should be NCAA Tournament favorite with dominant win over Marquette

By Eric Smithling  |  Last updated 2/17/24

The Huskies are firing on all cylinders a month ahead of Selection Sunday. UConn won its 14th consecutive game on Saturday against Big East rival Marquette, showing why it should be the clear favorite to win back-to-back NCAA Tournament championships.

The Associated Press No. 1 team in the country throttled No. 4 Marquette 81-53 at home, UConn's largest win over the Golden Eagles in program history.

ESPN's Jeff Borzello also noted that it was the largest margin of victory in a top-five conference matchup in AP poll history.

College basketball analyst Jay Bilas hailed the Huskies as the best team in the country after the win, focusing on the team's improvement on the defensive end. 

Entering Saturday, UConn ranked 25th in scoring (82 points per game) and 19th in points allowed (64.1 points per game). The Huskies also had the top offensive rating in the country (123.1) while ranking 35th in defensive rating (96.2).

Opponents shoot 39.8 percent against the Huskies, and on Saturday, they held Marquette to 36.8 percent (21-of-57) from the field, including 21.7 percent (5-of-23) from three.

Offensively, UConn (24-2) senior guards Tristen Newton and Hassan Diarra combined for 14 of the team's 24 assists, and sophomore center Donovan Clingan had 17 points while adding 10 rebounds, his second double-double of the season.

The Huskies are outscoring opponents by 16.9 points per game during their 14-game winning streak while shooting 40.2 percent from beyond the arc.

Per ESPN Bet, UConn (+550) is the co-favorite to win the national title along with Purdue. 

Earlier on Saturday, the Boilermakers were named the No. 1 overall team by the NCAA Tournament selection committee.

However, UConn's dominant win over Marquette is a reminder that other teams are competing to be second-best.

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