UCONN is a peak at the right time, which could write problems for the rest of the Big East

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The clock had just hit midnight on Manhattan. The quarterfinals of the Big East Trockfinals Tournament turned into Friday on Thursday and number 3 seeds Uconn Huskyes found themselves locked in a tight battle with a six -ranked Vilanova with a place in a semi -final circle on the line.

Then the Uconna leader, Alex Karabantook power.

The big stage is nothing new for the caraban, a guy whose winning percentage would rival almost anyone in Storrs. The junior striker drained the immediate triple triple with 6:18, who remained in the game to give a separation in Connecticut in that fight with crowds.

A few minutes later, just as he appeared, Wildcats could put another rush, Karaban buried the dagger 3 with less than four minutes to say good night of Villan, and good morning in three teams left in the tournament: St. John’s, Marquette and Creighton.

Are Huskyi what they were last year? Not. But they still own DNA cracking and an elite level, and this time of year it will give you a hit against almost anyone.

The Huskija shot 5-off-8 from the range of 3 points in the second half and closed the game on the way 22-5 on the way to the 73-56 victory over Wildcats. The victory sends Huskies in a semi -final showdown and a rubber match with Creighton on Friday at 9pm on Fox.

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Huskii did not only do so with a shooting on the elite on Thursday night. They concluded the leading scorer of the Eric Dixon State, holding him to only eight points in what was probably the last match of his college career. UCONN finished Dixon’s series of 47 consecutive double -figures, a stripe that now belongs to Marquette Star Kam Jones. Doing it, the Husques also denied Dixon from the Kerry Kittles program, which scored a record of 2,243 points and the five -year -old older one sat at 2,235.

But the most important thing for Karabana and Huskies is that the team seems to peak at the perfect time, winning your fifth straight game.

“It’s March, and we’re desperate here for the championship,” Karaban said. “We have to play our best basketball at this time of year. There is no other way. Wearing that UCONN jersey, you have to play with a particular Swagger, especially in March where the championships were won.”

Karaban finished the match with 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists, while Liam McNeeley followed by 12 points and Solo ball and Samson Johnson had 11 per piece.

Samson Johnson completes firmly and 1 setting up, expanding UCONNA leadership over Villanovo

Behind a balanced offense, Huskyi won the Battle of the Battle of the Appeal, 31-22, and used their physicality to close the game.

“I found that we were encouraging that we were at halftime for five years,” said Uconn coach Dan Hurley. “I think we would close such a game to start the postseason, it shows a draft of what is possible for this team.”

In some ways, Huskii reminded all of what was possible after they felt like their season was moving in the wrong direction after a 68-62 defeat until the return of St. Ivana 7 February. But after that, Uconn avenged defeat in the early season of Creighton with an incredible victory over the Bluejays behind 38 points from McNeeley.

Friday night is a rematch fascinating for various reasons. For starters, Creighton coach Greg McDermott is 8-4 against Hurley in his career. UCONN tries to progress into the Big East title game for the second year in a row, something they have not achieved since 2011, before they did so last season. In the meantime, Creighton has reached the semi -final circle of the Big East tournament four times since 2014, but still has not won it.

In what has developed into a rivalry since Husquery returned to the league, the semi -final match on Friday night could deliver the goods in what will probably be Ryan Kalkbrenner’s last match against Connecticut.

But late on Thursday night, in the early hours of Friday morning, Hurley smiled everything after watching his team compile a dominant second half. Huskii have the look of a team that is the highlight at the right time.

“It’s borrowed, so I’m a Catholic who exercises,” Hurley said with smiling after the game. “Return to the hotel room and for me to a slice of cheese pizza. Then we will move to a great team that is Creighton.”

John Fanta is national basketball television and a Fox Sports writer. It covers the sport in various capacities, from the invitation of the games to the FS1 to serving as the leading host on the Big East Digital Network to provide comments on the field of 68 Media Network. Follow him on @John_fant.

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