Overview
- UConn defeated UCLA 73-57 to advance to the Sweet 16 and will face Michigan State in the East Regional semifinal in Washington on Friday.
- St. John’s is slated to meet No. 1 overall seed Duke in the same regional, setting up a possible Elite Eight meeting with UConn if both teams win.
- Dan Hurley said UConn and St. John’s are among the nation’s best and urged both fan bases to back each team Friday to try to create a Sunday “bloodbath.”
- Hurley suggested St. John’s was under-seeded and questioned the decision to place both programs in the same region, while stressing he did not want to challenge the selection committee.
- He said the conference needed this spotlight after receiving only three NCAA bids and cited Seton Hall as a team hurt by the league’s overall profile.