UConn cracks Top 25, holds off DePaul
CHICAGO — UConn returned to the Top 25 for the first time in more than four years, then immediately got all it could handle from a struggling DePaul squad.
The close score aside, the Huskies made a big statement Monday night about the direction of the program.
Tyrese Martin scored 18 points and 25th-ranked Connecticut beat DePaul 60-53 without leading scorer James Bouknight for its fourth straight victory.
UConn (7-1, 4-1 Big East) endured three straight losing seasons before winning 19 games in 2019-20. In their third season since Danny Hurley replaced former UConn guard Kevin Ollie as coach, the Huskies are back in familiar territory.
They cracked the Top 25 earlier Monday for the first time since they were ranked 18th in the 201617 preseason poll.
Connecticut scored the final eight points and improved to 12-1 against the Blue Demons (1-4, 0-4) despite some shaky free-throw shooting down the stretch.