No. 2 UConn loses to Colorado for second defeat against unranked opponent in as many days

No. 2 UConn suffered its second consecutive defeat to an unranked opponent at the Maui Invitational on Tuesday, falling 73-72 to Colorado. The loss came just a day after the Huskies had dropped a narrow 99-97 game to Memphis, putting them at 4-2 on the season.

In the game against Colorado, the Buffaloes made a remarkable comeback after trailing 40-32 at halftime. Andrej Jakimovski played the hero for Colorado, scoring a layup with just eight seconds left to give his team the lead and secure the win. This dramatic finish followed an 11-0 run in the second half, during which Colorado shot an impressive 62.5%, overturning the Huskies’ halftime lead. The Buffaloes had fallen behind by as many as 11 points earlier in the game but gained momentum as the second half progressed, eventually taking their first lead of the game with just over 14 minutes remaining.

In the closing moments, UConn had a chance to win the game. Hassan Diarra, who had been a key contributor throughout the contest, took a three-point shot in the final seconds, but it missed, sealing the victory for Colorado. Jakimovski, who was also fouled on his game-winning play, finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Colorado’s Julian Hammond III and Elijah Malone each contributed 16 points to the victory.

UConn’s star players, Liam McNeeley and Solo Ball, each had strong performances, with McNeeley leading the team with 20 points and Ball adding 16. Despite these efforts, the Huskies could not overcome their defensive struggles, which were highlighted throughout both of their losses in Hawaii.

Head coach Dan Hurley expressed frustration with his team’s defensive performance, describing it as “dreadful.” “Obviously, we didn’t expect to find ourselves in this position out here based on where we’ve been, but this is where we are,” Hurley said, acknowledging that the team’s defensive lapses in the second half contributed to their defeat. “We’ve been bad out here defensively,” he added, referring to UConn’s poor defensive efforts during both games in the tournament.

Before these losses, UConn had been riding a 17-game unbeaten streak that included their back-to-back NCAA national championships in April. Their unexpected struggles in Hawaii have raised questions about the team’s form, particularly on the defensive end. Despite the setbacks, UConn players remain optimistic about their ability to recover. Solo Ball reflected on the team’s mindset after the loss, telling reporters, “It’s difficult being in this position, but as a team we’ve just got to be able to lift each other up and move on to the next game because we have a long season to go. Of course, it’s two tough losses, but it’s about how we recover from these and get better.”

Looking ahead, UConn will aim to bounce back against Dayton on Wednesday. The Huskies will need to address their defensive issues and regroup quickly if they hope to stay on track for another successful season. Despite the challenges, UConn’s players and coaches are focused on moving forward, hoping to learn from their mistakes and use the defeats as motivation for the remainder of the season.

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