03/24/26 10:58:00
Printable Page
03/24 10:56 CDT Ahead of UConn vs. Michigan State, Hurley can't help but look
to a St. John's rematch in Elite Eight
Ahead of UConn vs. Michigan State, Hurley can't help but look to a St. John's
rematch in Elite Eight
By DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer
PHILADELPHIA (AP) --- The warning comes from about every coach, every player
each March --- heck, in any sport as the stakes are raised as the games carry
more gravitas --- don't look too far ahead.
Worry about the next practice, the next game, not what could happen down the
road.
Then there's Dan Hurley.
The two-time national champion UConn coach seems to be reinforcing his classic
brash ways by sharing his focus for Friday's Sweet 16 game in the NCAA
Tournament against Michigan State with the prospects of an Elite Eight matchup
against St. John's.
Just like any East Coast fan or gambler who filled out a bracket this season,
Hurley can't help but follow the lines in the East Regional and see what a
Huskies' win against Tom Izzo's team could get them --- a rematch in Washington
with two-time reigning Big East season and tournament champions, St. John's.
Coach Rick Pitino has the tougher task between Hurley and his Big East rivals
--- at least on paper --- in getting the Red Storm past top-seeded Duke.
Hurley, though, has a plea --- the fanbases need to rally together for one
night and root for their rivals so there is a chance for a fourth game this
season between the schools, this time with a spot in the Final Four at stake.
"It will be a live building. It's probably a little bit early, but obviously, I
think we've got to support each other," Hurley said. "It's pretty brutal on
Twitter, I think, and socials between our fan bases, but I think we have to try
to come together Friday night against our opponent so we can have a bloodbath
on Sunday."
Hurley noted "it stinks a little bit" that two conference teams are set to
potentially play in the regional final rather than in a Final Four.
St. John's took two of three meetings this season against UConn, the second
being a 20-point win in the Big East Tournament title game. The Feb. 25 blowout
loss at UConn stands as St. John's lone setback since standing at 9-5 as of
Jan. 3, with the Red Storm beating Northern Iowa and Kansas in the tournament.
UConn started 22-1 but closed the regular season on a 7-4 stretch, a pedestrian
record for a program that won consecutive national championships in 2023 and
2024. The Huskies rebounded with wins over Furman and UCLA in first- and
second-round games last weekend in Philadelphia to reach their 17th Sweet 16.
(The Huskies beat Michigan State in an exhibition game in late October.)
Maybe it was playing in the East Coast that stirred up questions and comments
about a St. John's-UConn showdown before it could even happen. Duke is a
comfortable 6 1/2-point favorite to beat fifth-seeded St. John's while the
Huskies are just 1 1/2-point favorites to beat Michigan State, per BetMGM
Sportsbook.
If both Big East teams win, look out, the home of the Wizards and Capitals
could look and sound a bit like Madison Square Garden in conference tourney
time.
"I think it speaks to the quality of what us and St. John's are this year,"
Hurley said. "I think they're a great team. I think we're a great team. I think
it was much needed."
Winning two games in the NCAA Tournament were much needed for UConn a year
after it was bounced by Florida in the second round.
The Gators would win the national championship --- yet there's no repeat this
season after they were bounced by Iowa.
The Huskies are back in their proper spot among college basketball's hierarchy.
They can thank Tarris Reed Jr. and Alex Karaban for getting the Huskies back to
the Sweet 16.
Reed had 31 points and 27 rebounds, the kind of sensational stat line not seen
in the NCAA Tournament in nearly 60 years, in the opener against Furman.
Karaban scored a career-high 27 points in the second round against UCLA.
Karaban is a fourth-year senior in a career spent all at UConn --- a rarity in
today's instant transfer, greater riches game --- and a third national title
would rank him with the players of John Wooden's UCLA heyday in the rarified
air of players with three rings.
"I think he can just take us wherever we need to go," UConn guard Braylon
Mullins said. "We all have the confidence with him and he's our leader. We all
look up to him. He holds the standard with this program."
The Huskies hope they'll be closer to full strength in the Sweet 16.
Silas Demary Jr., a first team All-Big East selection, returned to the lineup
against UCLA and played 22 minutes after he sustained an ankle injury in the
Big East Tournament. Jaylin Stewart again sat out both tournament games with a
knee injury that's sidelined him since late February.
The deeper the Huskies, the better shot they have at going deep in the
tournament --- and maybe get that date with Pitino and St. John's.
___
AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and
coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
|
