Let's be honest about the Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball vs UConn Huskies men's basketball matchup. It's become the one game every college hoops fan circles in red on the calendar, not because of some ancient, geographic blood feud, but because these two programs have basically been the gatekeepers of the sport for the last few years.
You’ve got Mark Few, the king of consistency in Spokane, and Dan Hurley, the high-octane, whiteboard-smashing architect of the UConn revival. When they meet, it isn't just a game. It's a clash of cultures.
The Night the Garden Shook
On December 14, 2024, at Madison Square Garden, we saw exactly why this matchup is different. Most people expected a slugfest, but what we got was a masterclass in modern basketball strategy and grit. UConn walked away with a 77-71 victory, but the score barely tells the story.
The Huskies jumped out to a 13-2 lead that felt like a knockout punch. Seriously, for the first five minutes, Gonzaga looked like they were running in sand. But Mark Few’s teams don't just fold. The Bulldogs clawed back, eventually tying it at 55 in the second half. That's when Liam McNeeley, UConn’s freshman sensation, decided he wasn't going to lose in his MSG debut. He dropped 26 points. It was his career-high, and honestly, he looked like the most poised player on the floor.
The ending was pure chaos.
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Gonzaga got within three points with about 3:25 left on the clock. You could feel the momentum shifting. But UConn’s defense turned into a brick wall. The Bulldogs didn't make another field goal for the rest of the game. Alex Karaban, who had struggled all night with his jumper, hit a back-breaking layup as the shot clock expired with 59 seconds left. Game over.
Why This Rivalry Feels Different
Since 2023, UConn has had Gonzaga's number. It's a three-game winning streak for the Huskies, including that brutal 82-54 beatdown in the 2023 Elite Eight. People like to talk about "the blueprint" to beat Gonzaga, and Dan Hurley seems to have found it.
The Huskies use their physicality to disrupt Gonzaga's flow. We usually see the Zags moving the ball with surgical precision, but UConn treats every pass like a personal insult. In that December 2024 matchup, UConn's bench outscored Gonzaga's 26-17. That depth is usually a Gonzaga strength, yet the Huskies flipped the script.
Mark Few and Dan Hurley are currently ranked as two of the best in the business. Hurley was recently voted the No. 1 coach in the sport by CBS Sports, while Few remains the winningest active coach who hasn't (yet) raised the trophy. There's a mutual respect there, but you can tell the losses are starting to grate on the Spokane faithful.
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Recent Matchup History
- Dec 14, 2024: UConn wins 77-71 at Madison Square Garden.
- Dec 15, 2023: UConn wins 76-63 in Seattle.
- Mar 25, 2023: UConn wins 82-54 in the NCAA Tournament (Elite Eight).
- Nov 27, 2015: Gonzaga wins 73-70 in the Bahamas.
The Zags' last win was nearly a decade ago. That's a lifetime in college basketball.
The Roster Shifts of 2025-2026
Fast forward to right now. The landscape has shifted again. Gonzaga is currently sitting on a dominant 2025-26 season, entering mid-January with a 17-1 record. They’ve been blowing teams out of the water, averaging over 91 points per game. Braden Huff and Graham Ike have been an absolute nightmare for opposing frontcourts, both averaging nearly 18 points a night.
UConn, meanwhile, is navigating the post-repeating-championship era with a target on their back. They are still elite, holding a top-5 ranking and recently cruising past DePaul and Providence. Tarris Reed Jr. has stepped into a massive role for the Huskies, providing that interior toughness that Dan Hurley demands.
One thing that's knda wild is the shooting disparity. In their last meeting, UConn only shot 20.8% from three. They won because they went 18-of-21 from the free-throw line and dominated the "toughness" categories. Gonzaga actually shot better from deep (37.5%) but couldn't buy a bucket in the final three minutes.
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What Most People Get Wrong
People often say Gonzaga is "soft" or can't handle the Big East style of play. That’s a lazy take. The Zags have beaten almost everyone else. The issue is specifically the UConn defensive scheme. Hurley’s guards, like Hassan Diarra, pressure the ball so high up the floor that it forces Ryan Nembhard to start the offense 30 feet from the hoop. This burns clock and forces the Bulldogs into late-clock heaves.
If Gonzaga wants to flip the script in a potential March 2026 rematch, they have to solve the "Garden Wall" defense. They need Michael Ajayi and Khalif Battle to be more than just scoring threats; they need them to be physical enforcers on the wing.
Actionable Insights for the Next Matchup
If you're betting on or analyzing the next time Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball vs UConn Huskies men's basketball happens, watch these three things:
- The First 5 Minutes: UConn wins these games in the first media timeout segment. If Gonzaga isn't within three points at the 16-minute mark, they usually lose.
- Point Guard Pressure: Watch how UConn guards the ball. If Gonzaga can't get into their "drag screen" action early, the offense stagnates.
- The Bench Factor: UConn’s depth has been the deciding factor in the last two meetings. Gonzaga needs Braden Huff to stay out of foul trouble to keep their scoring punch alive.
The Bulldogs have the offensive firepower to beat anyone in the country. They’ve proven it this year by dropping 122 on Southern Utah and 94 on Kentucky. But UConn is the final boss. Until Mark Few finds a way to crack Hurley's code, the Huskies hold the crown in this heavyweight rivalry.
Keep an eye on the bracket projections as we head toward March. The committee loves a good narrative, and there isn't a better one in college basketball right now than the Zags trying to finally slay the Husky dragon.