The Creighton Blue Jays ended UConn basketball’s 14-game win streak, dethroning the number one ranked team in a stunning 85-66 victory at home Tuesday night.
UConn’s coach Dan Hurley said his team “ran into a buzz saw there,” according to ESPN.
Creighton fans stormed the court in a well-deserved and raucous celebration as their 15-ranked Blue Jays took an unlikely win.
DOWN GOES NO. 1 UCONN!!!!!!! 🔥🐦 @BluejayMBB pic.twitter.com/iM3iQaGPO0
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) February 21, 2024
Legendary Creighton coach Greg McDermott praised the Huskies and relished his team’s win over such a vaunted program. “We played a really good game and we beat an incredible team, a team that has a legitimate chance to win a national championship. But we’re pretty good as well,” McDermott said, according to ESPN.
The victory is the first time the Blue Jays have beaten a number-one-ranked team in program history, ESPN reported.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 12: Christian Bishop #13 of the Creighton Bluejays reacts after his team’s win in the second half against the Connecticut Huskies during the Semifinals of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 12, 2021 in New York City. The Bluejays won 59-56. Sarah Stier/Getty Images
The win is also McDermott’s 600th career win, according to ESPN. “This is one I’ll never forget because of how it transpired and how good the team was we were playing. One of the best crowds we’ve ever had here,” he said, according to ESPN. (RELATED: Rick Pitino Goes Scorched Earth On His Own Team, Calls Them ‘Unathletic’)
This is so awesome. Creighton isn’t necessarily a terrible team, they’re ranked 15 and this was their fourth straight win, but this is about as close to a David defeats Goliath story as we’ve seen all year.
Some may say a courtstorming of this proportion should be reserved for March, but I say go on Creighton fans. This is a huge moment in Blue Jays’ history. They’ve literally never beaten a number-one-ranked team in history. And the team they beat is as good as any number one I’ve seen. UConn is coming off a DRUBBING of number four ranked Marquette, defeating the Golden Eagles by 28 points.
So celebrate on, Creighton. You’ve earned it.