UConn vs. Marquette score, takeaways: No. 1 Huskies dominate, add to nation's longest winning streak

The Huskies are now winners of 14 straight after beating a projected NCAA Tournament 2-seed by 28 points

No. 1 UConn extended the nation's best winning streak to 14 games in dominant fashion on Saturday by eviscerating No. 4 Marquette 81-53 in a critical Big East battle. The Huskies used a 13-0 run late in the first half to take control and never let Marquette within 16 points in the second half.

The Huskies (24-2, 14-1 Big East) landed as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament selection committee's in-season Bracket Preview earlier in the day and looked every bit the part in dismantling the Golden Eagles (19-6, 10-4). Marquette had won eight straight games entering the day and landed as a No. 2 seed in the bracket preview.

But in a hostile road environment at the XL Center, the Golden Eagles never found a rhythm. UConn got double figures from four players, including a huge performance from 7-foot-4 center Donovan Clingan, who turned in his second double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds on 7 of 8 shooting. Three of his buckets came on dunks as the Golden Eagles struggled to match his size.

UConn finished with 24 assists as a team, led by eight from Tristen Newton. It was the 11th time the Huskies have surpassed 20 assists in a game as they continue to rank among the nation's top 10 teams in assists per game. All eight players who were part of the team's rotation in the first half scored.

Kam Jones and Oso Ighodaro led Marquette with 15 and 14 points, respectively, while star Marquette point guard Tyler Kolek was held to 7 points on 2 of 11 shooting.

CBS Sports was with you for the entire game. Be sure to read below for takeaways from No. 1 UConn vs. No. 4 Marquette.

[Feb 17, 2024 at 5:34 pm ET · David Cobb]

UConn gets diverse contributions

Among the keys to UConn's recent surge of dominance has been the excellent play of freshman guard Stephon Castle, who averaged 12.5 points on 49.6% shooting over the first 13 games in UConn's winning streak. What makes the Huskies special is how they can beat a top-five foe like Marquette by 28 points even when an X-factor like Castle is off. Castle finished with 3 points on 1 of 7 shooting in arguably the worst game of his young career.

In his place, Hassan Diarra stepped up and tied a season-high with 14 points on 3 of 6 shooting from 3-point range. Diarra added 6 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. If you take away one of UConn's weapons, the Huskies have several more to throw back at you. That was evident Saturday, when Cam Spencer shined in the first half and Diarra shined in the second while Tristen Newton and Donovan Clingan were steady throughout.

[Feb 17, 2024 at 5:24 pm ET · David Cobb]

Marquette finally meets its match

Over the course of its eight-game winning streak, Marquette ranked No. 4 nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency, according to barttorvik.com. The Golden Eagles shot 50% or better from the floor in seven of those eight games and 47.7% in the other while rising all the way to No. 32 nationally in field-goal percentage for the season at 47.9%.

After some early offensive struggles during an 11-5 (2-3) start, they had found their stride offensively. Until playing UConn, that is. Marquette shot just 36.8% from the floor against the Huskies and made only 5 of 23 attempts from 3-point range, marking its third-worst 3-point shooting percentage of the season at 21.7%.

Kolek's struggles embodied his team's offensive woes. Marquette's star point guard made 51.7% of his shots, including 47.6% of his 3-pointers over the eight-game winning streak. He also dished out 9.4 assists during the stretch and turned it over just 2.6 times per game. Against UConn, he not only struggled to score but also struggled to facilitate the offense, finishing with three assists and four turnovers. He was 0 for 4 in the second half.

[Feb 17, 2024 at 5:16 pm ET · David Cobb]

Big East title march

Since rejoining the Big East for the 2020-21 season, the Huskies have not won a conference regular-season or tournament title. The program's last league title of any sort was the 2016 AAC Tournament championship. But Saturday's win inched UConn one step closer to completing a dominant run through this year's Big East. With five games remaining, the Huskies now own a three-game edge in the league standings on Marquette, which remains their closest challenger.

A return trip to face the Golden Eagles awaits on March 6, but the Huskies would have to slip up a couple of times elsewhere to relinquish their firm lead in the conference title race. A Tuesday road trip to Creighton could prove tough, and there are no outright cupcakes such as DePaul or Georgetown left on the slate. But it's nearly inconceivable that the Huskies won't win at least a share the Big East crown, and it would take a stunning collapse to deprive this team of an outright title.

[Feb 17, 2024 at 5:07 pm ET · David Cobb]

Impressive performance from UConn

Final: UConn 81, Marquette 53

in a hostile road environment at the XL Center, the Golden Eagles could never find a rhythm. UConn got double figures from four players, including a huge performance from 7-foot-4 center Donovan Clingan, who turned in his second double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds on 7 of 8 shooting. Three of his buckets came on dunks as the Golden Eagles struggled to match his size. What an impressive showing from the Huskies.

[Feb 17, 2024 at 4:58 pm ET · David Cobb]

Lead up to 29

UConn has its largest lead of the game at the u4 timeout. It's up to 78-49, which should give Dan Hurley a chance to clear the bench before this one ends. The Huskies are shooting 58.3% from the floor in the second half and now have four players in double figures. This has been utter and total domination in all facets.

[Feb 17, 2024 at 4:52 pm ET · David Cobb]

Clingan is flexing

Donovan Clingan is turning in one of his better performances of the season. He's got a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds as the Huskies lead 69-47 with 6:44 to play. Clingan has also avoided foul trouble while contributing 2 steals, 2 assists and a block.

[Feb 17, 2024 at 4:39 pm ET · David Cobb]

UConn holding strong

It's 57-39 UConn at the u12 timeout. Marquette cut it to 52-35 on a Chase Ross 3-pointer, but UConn responded with a quick 5-0 spurt from Hassan Diarra to extend UConn's lead back to 20. Diarra drilled an open 3-pointer from the left wing, courtesy of a great extra pass from Alex Karaban. The sequence was emblematic of the unselfishness and offensive cohesion that makes UConn so menacing.

[Feb 17, 2024 at 4:25 pm ET · David Cobb]

Great start to the second half for UConn

UConn just turned the lights on Marquette to begin the second half. The Huskies are on a 9-4 spurt to begin the half. Donovan Clingan just forced a timeout from Shaka Smart with a thunderous dunk to make it 51-30 at the 15:52 mark. Clingan is up to 12 points and has been great defensively early in the second half as well.

[Feb 17, 2024 at 4:17 pm ET · David Cobb]

Second half keys

Marquette will have to start hitting 3-pointers to get back in this game. The Golden Eagles entered shooting 36% in Big East play, which was third in the league. They also need to be aggressive, where possible, in attacking the basket against UConn. The Golden Eagles shot only two free throws in the first half versus 10 for UConn, and the Huskies made all 10. It will be hard to beat anyone on the road with a free throw discrepancy of that magnitude.

[Feb 17, 2024 at 4:02 pm ET · David Cobb]

UConn looking dominant

Half: UConn 42, Marquette 26

No. 1 UConn held No. 4 Marquette to just 34.4% shooting and takes a 42-26 lead into halftime in a seismic Big East showdown on Saturday. The Golden Eagles have shot 50% or better from the floor seven times during their current eight-game winning streak. But they hit just 2 of 13 of looks from 3-point range in the first half against the Huskies, who used a 13-0 run late in the first half to rattle the visitors. 

UConn built the lead with a balanced attack as all eight players who entered for the Huskies scored in the first half, led by nine points from Cam Spencer and eight Donovan Clingan, who scored six early. Huskies coach Dan Hurley lamented his team's 6-2 early deficit in offensive rebounds, and it responded by ending the half with an 11-6 edge in that category, which produced a 9-2 advantage in second-chance points.

[Feb 17, 2024 at 3:49 pm ET · David Cobb]

Diverse contributions 

All eight UConn players who have entered the game have scored, led by 9 from Cam Spencer as the Huskies take a 32-24 lead into the u4 timeout. Defending just looks exhausting for Marquette right now, as it is for most teams facing the Huskies. The variety of actions and options in the UConn offensive arsenal is a lot to handle.

[Feb 17, 2024 at 3:44 pm ET · David Cobb]

Tyler Kolek calms the storm

Tyler Kolek just drilled a 3-pointer from the left corner to end a 9-0 UConn run and bring Marquette within 27-21. That was a huge shot for the Golden Eagles, who have opted to keep Kam Jones on the bench with two fouls. Marquette is fortunate to be within striking distance as the first half goes down the stretch. If UConn were shooting any better from beyond the arc, this thing could easily be a double-digit game.

[Feb 17, 2024 at 3:37 pm ET · David Cobb]

Looking shaky

Marquette is looking a little shaky, forcing things in transition and then getting hurt in transition going back the other way. Huskies have an 8-2 edge in fast break points and are up 23-18 at the u8 timeout. Huskies got a nice lift from Jaylin Stewart off the bench with a second-chance bucket and big transition block over the last couple of minutes.

[Feb 17, 2024 at 3:28 pm ET · David Cobb]

Tied up early

At the u12 timeout, it's 16-16. Kam Jones is on the bench with a couple of early fouls for Marquette. The Golden Eagles have already committed five as a team versus just one on UConn. Huskies on their way to spending a hefty chunk of this half in the bonus. Marquette still hasn't hit a 3 (0 for 5) but has gotten away with it so far, with 14 of its 16 points in the paint. Cam Spencer is at the line for UConn coming back from the timeout.

[Feb 17, 2024 at 3:15 pm ET · David Cobb]

Early intensity

The intensity is sky-high early with both teams cold from the outside — a combined 0 for 7 from 3-point range — and getting their points in the paint. Donovan Clingan has 6 for the Huskies while Jones, Ighodaro, Joplin and Kolek have each contributed buckets for Marquette. Tied 8-8 at the u16 media timeout.

[Feb 17, 2024 at 3:05 pm ET · David Cobb]

UConn vs. Marquette starters

Marquette: Tyler Kolek, Kam Jones, Stevie Mitchell, David Joplin, Oso Ighodaro

UConn: Tristen Newton, Stephon Castle, Cam Spencer, Alex Karajan, Donovan Clingan

[Feb 17, 2024 at 2:45 pm ET · David Cobb]

UConn has been dominant

There is one big problem with the idea that college basketball is experiencing a renaissance of parity: UConn. The Huskies (23-2, 13-1 Big East) own the nation's longest winning streak at 13 games and are threatening to become the sport's first back-to-back national champion since Florida did it in 2006 and 2007. Last year's Huskies were 19-7 (8-7) at this point in the calendar and proceeded to win 12 of their next 13 games before cutting down the nets inside NRG Stadium in Houston on April 3. UConn became just the fifth national champion ever to win all six NCAA Tournament games by double digits.

This year's Huskies have already demonstrated a similar capability for dominance with plenty of time left to improve even further.

College basketball power rankings: UConn separating itself from pack with nation's longest winning streak

David Cobb

[Feb 17, 2024 at 2:30 pm ET · David Cobb]

No love for Shaka Smart?

Our staff made its choices this week for who we'd pick for National Coach of the Year at this point. One of the coaches in today's matchup made the list. One of them didn't. But there is a case to be made for Shaka Smart, especially if the Golden Eagles pull the upset today. Marquette dealt with injuries and a slower than expected start. But it has bounced back well and is playing excellent basketball as of late. If Smart keeps Marquette on this trajectory, he'll certainly be in the mix for various COTY honors as the dust settles.

Dribble Handoff: UConn's Dan Hurley, Purdue's Matt Painter among college basketball coach of the year picks

David Cobb

[Feb 17, 2024 at 2:00 pm ET · David Cobb]

College basketball expert picks

See how our entire expert panel predicted the UConn vs. Marquette game to turn out. Plus, we have predictions for several of the day's other top contests. The NFL season has come to an end and even with NBA All-Star Weekend events happening over the next few days, it will be college basketball that will be drawing a great deal of attention on Saturday. Twenty-one teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 poll will be in action during the day's loaded slate.

College basketball picks, schedule: Predictions for Kentucky vs. Auburn and more Top 25 games on Saturday

Cameron Salerno

[Feb 17, 2024 at 1:21 pm ET · David Cobb]

Early Bracket Reveal

UConn was a No. 1 seed but not the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament selection committee's bracket preview today. Jerry Palm explains why:

"Purdue is the top seed primarily because it has the most Quad 1 wins, tied with UConn and Houston, and has the most wins in Quads 1 and 2 combined. It isn't just the Boilermakers' number of Quad 1 and 2 wins that gives them the edge though, but the quality of those victories. Not all Quad 1 wins are the same. The Boilermakers are 6-0 against teams in the committee's top 16 and have played only one of those games at Mackey Arena."

Bracketology: Purdue, UConn, Houston and Arizona are No. 1s as NCAA reveals early top seeds

Jerry Palm

[Feb 17, 2024 at 1:15 pm ET · David Cobb]

UConn vs. Marquette prediction, picks

Marquette was the last team to beat UConn last season, and the fact that the Golden Eagles won the season series 2-1 should motivate the Huskies. UConn is coming out of a relatively easy portion of its schedule and will be fresh enough to stretch out the lead in the second half. The Huskies are operating at a level above the rest of college basketball, and it would be difficult for anyone — even a quality team like Marquette — to keep things close on the road against this team. Prediction: UConn -7