UConn pulls away from Marquette to win Big East Tournament championship, virtually locks up a No. 1 seed

Reigning national champions UConn made a strong closing argument on the season prior to the NCAA Tournament, outpacing defending Big East Tournament champion Marquette, 73-57, and securing the 2024 league title. With the win, the Huskies also more than certainly locked up a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The game was not pretty early, with the teams tied, 4-4, at the under-12 media timeout in the first half. But eventually the offenses started to get out of the muck and the Huskies took a 26-24 lead into the break.

In the first half, UConn center Donovan Clingan was the driving force when the Huskies did get things going, posting a 10 point, 10 rebound double-double in the first half. He continued to control the paint, and game, in the second half. Clingan finished with 22 points and 16 rebounds.

Along with Clingan, point guard Tristen Newton hit double figures for the Huskies, scoring 13 points. Newton also won the honors as the tournament’s most outstanding player.

Guard David Joplin managed to add 12 points for Marquette and star guard Kam Jones managed to score 13, but was a focus of the UConn defense. He finished shooting 5-of-17 from the field. The Golden Eagles were also without their biggest star and main offensive driver, Tyler Kolek.

Marquette also doesn’t stand to be hurt too much by the loss in terms of NCAA Tournament seeding. The Golden Eagles won 25 games and is 9-8 vs. Quad 1 teams, now. Against Quads 2-4, the Golden Eagles have been near flawless, going 16-1. A third loss to UConn, one of the top teams in the country, won’t damage the resume much for Marquette. Currently, On3’s James Fletcher has them sitting on the No. 2 seed line, where they’re likely to remain.

The UConn fans at Madison Square Garden made it home away from home for the Huskies

On the podium accepting the championship trophy, UConn head coach Dan Hurley called MSG “Storrs South” in reference to the hordes of UConn fans that descended upon the Big East Tournament.

And the opposing coach from UConn’s semifinal win, a legend in his own right, paid the fanbase some high respects.

Rick Pitino and his St. John’s squad will be waiting to see their fate on Selection Sunday after getting ousted from the Big East Tournament by UConn on Friday. And it was practically a home environment for the Huskies in Madison Square Garden.

That’s despite MSG and St. John’s both being in New York City. But after the 95-90 loss to UConn, Pitino credited the Huskies fanbase.

“They’re the Kentucky of the East. They’ve got the greatest fanbase in basketball. Kentucky had the greatest fanbase in their part of the country. Kansas has the greatest fanbase in their part of the country,” Pitino said, according to ESPN’s Jeff Borzello.