UConn’s 1st loss, Creighton’s bounce back among latest Big East Basketball storylines

3. UConn loses its first game of the season

The UConn Huskies found themselves having to take on the Kansas Jayhawks on the road in a very difficult nonconference matchup. Playing in Allen Fieldhouse is a challenge for anybody, but the Huskies showed that they are right up there with the best teams in the nation despite the loss, even with a banged-up team.

UConn did lose 69-65, the game was close despite not having Stephon Castle, and with Cam Spencer dealing with an injury of his own. The Huskies stayed in it off the back of Tristen Newton, who knocked down contested three after contested three to fend off Kansas runs, and provide offense for this squad. He would finish with 31 points in the losing effort, but his stepping up showed that UConn is very deep at the guard position.

UConn gave up a hot start to Kansas, and that was something they would struggle to make a comeback from all game, but they did take the lead back in the second half. However, the Jayhawks got a great performance out of their stars, and they defended their home turf against a great UConn team. Getting to play great teams like Kansas early in the season is great for this team though, they get the opportunity to get tested before Big East play, and they get the chance to get great resume-boosting victories. This one goes down as a loss, but a loss that does not hurt their chances the way a Villanova loss to Drexel would for example.

Next up this team has UNC, and they close out the season with a tough Gonzaga squad. Now that they have lost to Kansas, you would imagine they want to take those two games against top-tier opponents to help even out the loss they suffered.