UConn defeats Michigan 85-77 in opening-week showdown, reaffirms title ambitions
Connecticut beat Michigan 85-77 at the TD Garden, prompting coach Dan Hurley to call the win a confidence builder and keeping the Huskies on track as a national championship contender.
UConn (No. 4) opened its season with an 85-77 victory over Michigan (No. 16) at Boston's TD Garden on Friday, marking the earliest rematch of the previous season's national title game since 1999. The contest was physically demanding, featuring 59 free-throw attempts and 48 fouls, and lasted nearly two and a half hours.
Michigan coach Mike Boynton said, "This team isn't defending a national championship. They're trying to establish their own legacy." The Wolverines fell to 0-1, their first opening-season loss since 2000-01, while UConn secured its tenth straight regular-season, neutral-site win against a ranked opponent.
UConn guard duo Silas Demary Jr. and Braylon Mullins combined for 44 points, 11 rebounds and three steals, helping the Huskies outshoot Michigan from the field (41.8% to 34.1%) and from three-point range (40.9% to 7%). After the game, Hurley said, "I think we're one of the best teams in the country, kind of a game that you should win by 15 and you win by eight. We're great at that."
Demary, who played through a sprained ankle, described his recovery process and emphasized his leadership role, noting, "I've had enough experience to be around the right guys and to know how to lead a team."
Hurley highlighted the win as a "confidence builder" ahead of a schedule that includes games against Marquette, Villanova, Ohio State, Arizona and Duke. The Huskies remain a top-tier contender alongside preseason favorites such as Florida and Illinois.