UConn has rarely been pushed this season, winning all but one of its games by double digits. The No. 1 Huskies entered Sunday as the lone undefeated team left in Division I basketball and had led by at least 10 points at halftime in 21 of their first 22 games.
That pattern nearly broke against rival Tennessee. The Huskies trailed by four with just over two minutes remaining in the first half before rallying to tie the game at 42 heading into the break.
Huskies Dominate Second Half to Stay Perfect
As they have done all season, UConn responded with overwhelming force after halftime. The Huskies turned a competitive game into a runaway, outscoring Tennessee decisively on their way to a 96–66 victory.
Coach Geno Auriemma welcomed the early adversity and praised his team’s response. “I think had it been a 30-point lead at halftime, I would have been really, really disappointed,” Auriemma said. “You play these games to be really tested, to find out a little bit about what your team is made of.”
A Historic Run of Blowout Wins
UConn has now won 39 straight games dating back to last season and may not face another serious challenge until the NCAA Tournament. With only Big East opponents remaining, the Huskies enter a stretch where they have already beaten conference foes by at least 30 points.
Their current streak of 18 consecutive wins by at least 25 points is the longest by any Division I program in the past 25 years, according to ESPN. This week, they travel to DePaul and Butler — teams they previously defeated by 67 and 47 points.
NET Ratings Hold Steady
With most teams idle for part of last week, the NCAA’s NET ratings saw little movement. UConn remains No. 1, followed by UCLA, Texas, and South Carolina — the same top four as the previous Monday.
North Dakota State and Princeton continue to lead the mid‑major programs, ranking 42nd and 43rd.
The NET system, introduced in 2021, has been a strong predictor of NCAA Tournament success. Four of the past five national champions were ranked No. 1 in the NET on Selection Sunday.
