No one ever thought it would be easy for UConn to three-peat as NCAA Tournament champions. But on Saturday, the Huskies revealed how challenging it will be with two late collapses in a 69-68 overtime loss at Seton Hall.
First, UConn squandered a 57-50 with under a minute left in regulation, allowing the tying three with five seconds left to send the game to overtime.
DYLAN ADDAE-WUSU WITH THE HUGE 3 FOR OVERTIME!!! @SetonHallMBB pic.twitter.com/jRJpDEcabb
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) February 15, 2025
During the extra session, Seton Hall (7-18, 2-12 in Big East) ended the game on a 6-0 run over the final 48 seconds to stun the Huskies, who entered as a 14.5-point favorite.
UConn turned the ball over three times in the final minute, including two by heralded freshman forward Liam McNeeley.
But sophomore guard Solo Ball had the most critical turnover, losing the ball with under 10 seconds left near UConn's basket, which Seton Hall forward Scotty Middleton turned into the winning layup.
SETON HALL PIRATES WITH THE STEAL AND BUCKET FOR THE WIN OVER UCONN pic.twitter.com/c5HXMzojw9
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) February 15, 2025
UConn (17-8, 9-5 in Big East) fell out of the Associated Press Top 25 on Feb. 10. After back-to-back national titles, the Huskies set the tone for their frustrating season with an 0-3 showing in November at the Maui Invitational.
UConn is 5-5 in its last 10 games, having also lost to Villanova (15-10, 8-6 in Big East), Xavier (16-10, 8-7 in Big East), No. 24 Creighton (18-7, 11-3 in Big East) and No. 9 St. John's (21-4, 12-2 in Big East).
Seton Hall is by far UConn's worst defeat of the bunch. The Pirates entered Saturday No. 224 in NET rankings, riding a nine-game losing streak.
UConn is running out of time to find its groove ahead of another NCAA Tournament run. With an unseemly loss to Seton Hall, the Huskies appear in no shape to defend their title.
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