If you turned off the TV when the Gators were up in the second half, you missed a classic Dan Hurley special. The UConn vs Florida score ended up at 77-73 in favor of the Huskies, but the final number doesn't even come close to describing the chaos that went down at Madison Square Garden.
Madison Square Garden. It’s basically UConn’s second home.
The atmosphere for this Jimmy V Classic matchup felt like a regional final in March. You had two of the last three national champions trading blows in December. Florida came in as the defending champs—having knocked UConn out of the tournament just months prior in Raleigh—and they looked like they were going to do it again.
Honestly, for about thirty minutes, Florida's defense was a nightmare.
The Run That Flipped the Script
UConn was trailing 55-54 with about nine minutes left. They were stone-cold. They couldn't buy a bucket for the first chunk of the second half, and the Florida faithful in the crowd were starting to get loud. Then, everything changed.
UConn went on a 12-3 tear.
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It wasn't just that they scored; it was how they did it. Alex Karaban—who finished with 13 points—hit a massive trailer three that forced Todd Golden to burn a timeout. Then Solo Ball took over. Ball ended the night with 19 points, but his third triple of the game at the 5:01 mark was the dagger. It pushed the lead to eight and basically sucked the air out of the building.
Florida didn't just roll over, though.
They cut it to 66-62. They had chances. But Rueben Chinyelu missed two massive free throws with under three minutes to go. In a game this tight, you just can't leave points on the wire like that. Karaban immediately punished them on the other end with a high-arching floater that felt like the end of the world for the Gators.
Breaking Down the Numbers
UConn shot exactly 50% from the floor. That's efficiency. They also hit 8 of their 18 three-point attempts (44.4%). When you shoot that well from deep against a team as athletic as Florida, you're usually going to win.
Florida, on the other hand, struggled from the perimeter. They only hit 4 of 15 from three. That’s 26.7%. You aren't beating a top-five UConn team in the Garden shooting 26% from beyond the arc. It’s just math.
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The rebounding battle was a different story. Florida absolutely dominated the glass, finishing +12. They grabbed 16 offensive rebounds. Usually, that leads to a win, but UConn’s bench was the equalizer. The Huskies' reserves outscored the Florida bench 20-6. That’s a massive gap.
Key Performances
- Solo Ball (UConn): 19 points, 3-8 from deep. He was the best player on the floor when it mattered.
- Xaivian Lee (Florida): 19 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists. He did everything he could to keep the Gators in it.
- Alex Karaban (UConn): 13 points, 2 blocks, and a team-high +10. The veteran presence was felt.
- Thomas Haugh (Florida): 18 points on 7-12 shooting. He was a bright spot for a Florida frontcourt that struggled with foul trouble.
That Bizarre Five-Second Violation
The end of this game was weird. Like, really weird.
Florida had the ball. 9.4 seconds left. Down by three. They had just forced a UConn turnover in the backcourt and had the ball on the sideline right in front of their own bench. Everyone expected Boogie Fland to take a shot or find a shooter.
Instead? A five-second violation.
Fland couldn't find an open man, and the ref blew the whistle. It was Florida's seventh turnover of the second half, and it was the most painful one. Solo Ball went to the line, sank one of two, and that was the ballgame. A four-point win for the Huskies that felt like a statement.
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Why This Game Matters for March
This wasn't just a random non-conference game. It was a litmus test. UConn (9-1) proved they could win a "grind-it-out" game against an elite SEC opponent without having their best offensive night. For Florida (5-4), it’s a tough pill to swallow. All four of their losses this season have been by a combined 15 points. They are right there, but they haven't quite figured out how to close against the heavyweights yet.
UConn is currently looking like a team that could realistically three-peat. The depth is terrifying. Tarris Reed Jr. came back from injury and immediately put up 12 points and 5 rebounds. If they stay healthy, the Big East is going to have a hard time stopping them.
For the Gators, the focus has to shift to SEC play. They showed they can dominate the boards and play with high-level intensity, but the late-game execution—specifically those free throws and the inbound disaster—needs to be cleaned up before they hit the meat of their conference schedule.
Keep an eye on the AP Poll next week. UConn is definitely staying in that top five, and Florida shouldn't drop too far considering they went toe-to-toe with the Huskies in a neutral-site environment.
To keep track of the Huskies' progress toward another title, monitor their shooting efficiency in Big East play, as their ability to maintain a 40%+ clip from three has been the deciding factor in every major win this season. For Florida fans, watch the development of the Fland-Lee backcourt; if they can cut the turnovers down by 20%, this team is a Final Four contender.