For the second year in a row, Seton Hall stunned a ranked UConn team at Prudential Center.
Kadary Richmond went for 23 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 8 steals and Dre Davis tallied 17 points and 5 boards as the Pirates overpowered the defending NCAA champions and No. 5 team in the nation, 75-60, in the Big East opener for both teams. The 15-point victory was The Hall’s largest ever over an AP top-5 opponent.
“Obviously, just really stunned by just how unprepared I had these guys for a tough, physical conference game,” Huskies coach and former Seton Hall guard Dan Hurley said. “Credit Shaheen [Holloway], credit Seton Hall.
“They just kind of punked us in Big East fashion.”
A year ago, The Hall (8-4, 1-0 Big East) beat then-No. 15 UConn in a game that Hurley missed because of COVID.
This latest victory marked The Hall’s first win over a Top-5 opponent since they won at No. 4 Michigan, 67-65, on Nov. 16, 2021 under former coach Kevin Willard.
Jaden Bediako notched 10 points and 9 boards with 3 blocks while battling 7-foot-2 big man Donovan Clingan in the paint before Clingan exited the game in the second half with what Hurley called a sprained ankle. He wasn’t clear on his status going forward.
Al-Amir Dawes added 11 points and Dylan Addae-Wusu chipped in 9 points and 6 boards.
It was The Hall’s second straight victory after they outlasted Missouri in Kansas City, Mo. on Sunday. The Pirates have now won seven of their last nine Big East home openers at Prudential Center.
“I thought we played a solid game tonight,” Holloway said. “I don’t think we did something great, special. I thought we just played solid against a good team.”
“I think it was more about us, our expectations our goals,” Davis said. “We’re capable of beating any top team, and just coming day in and day out and executing our game plan.”
UConn (10-2, 0-1) lost for just the second time this season. Their only other defeat came at No. 5 Kansas on Dec. 1. The Huskies beat Indiana, Texas, North Carolina and Gonzaga in the non-conference.
It was UConn’s first double-digit loss since falling to St. John’s, 85-74, on Jan. 15 in Hartford. The loss also snapped a 17-game winning streak against unranked opponents.
“That was a pretty embarrassing performance for all of us,” Hurley said. “I’m having a hard time even looking you guys in the eyes right now when you ask me a question because it’s a little feeling of shame. I coached bad, I prepared the team bad, our scout was bad.”
The Hall outscored the Huskies 46-36 in the paint and scored 17 points off turnovers. They also excelled at the stripe, making 14-of-18 to 12-of-13 for the Huskies. The Pirates won despite attempting just eight 3-pointers, making three. The Huskies shot 4-of-21 from deep.
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A turnaround jumper in the paint by Davis put Seton Hall up 10, 52-42, after they trailed by as many as 10 in the first stanza.
Jaquan Sanders came off the bench and drained a corner three that gave the Pirates a 55-46 edge.
A nifty putback by Richmond off the glass gave the Pirates a 63-50 lead with 5 minutes remaining.
Richmond then drove to the basket and fouled out Rutgers transfer Cam Spencer (5 points on 2-of-7 shooting) on a three-point play that made it 66-51.
“I feel like I just come and play the way I play every game,” Richmond said of why he plays well against UConn.
A breakaway transition dunk by Davis pushed the Pirates up 68-51 and sent the crowd into a roar.
Al-Amir Dawes drained a 3-pointer that gave The Hall a 71-54 lead.
After trailing by as many as 10 points, the Pirates seized a 34-29 halftime lead behind nine points apiece from Richmond and Davis. Addae-Wusu had seven at the break. The Hall closed the half on a 24-9 run, getting seven straight from Richmond during one stretch.
For UConn, Clingan (14 points, 7 rebounds) went out with 16:31 left in the second half with the ankle injury, limping off the court.
Tristen Newton, the early favorite for Big East Player of the Year, led the Huskies with 16 points and 5 rebounds.
Seton Hall travels to Xavier on Saturday, while UConn hosts Rick Pitino and St. John’s in Hartford.
“We just came and played Seton Hall basketball,” Richmond said. “That’s the tradition around here.
“We just gotta bring it every night.”
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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter who covers Seton Hall and NJ college basketball for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.com.
