The UConn Huskies’ 13-game NCAA tournament winning streak has come crashing down in a 77-75 loss to the top-seeded Florida Gators in the second round of the Big Dance on Sunday.

UConn looked poised to pull off a bracket-busting upset as the Huskies clung to a slim lead late in the second half in Raleigh, North Carolina. But in the end Florida’s size, speed, and determination proved too much for UConn to withstand.

UConn’s head coach Dan Hurley spoke through tears to CBS after the tough defeat and graciously offered praise for Florida’s performance.

“For a team to end what we really wanted to do, they were going to have to put us down. And obviously a worthy opponent like that - there’s honor in the way we went out,” he added

With championships in 2023 and 2024, UConn was already the first team to win back-to-back national championships since their opponent Florida accomplished the feat in 2006 and 2007.

By their own lofty expectations, the Huskies’ season was a bit of a disappointment.

UConn started their campaign ranked in the top 10, but a three-game losing streak against unranked opponents at the Maui Invitational in November was an early indicator that this year’s Huskies squad might not be up to the program’s typical elite standards.

The Huskies’ season was marked by frustrating losses and close scrapes against inferior opponents.

The Huskies appeared to be getting all their horses pulling in the same direction late in the season, and there was belief that the team was capable of making a deep run in the tournament, but UConn ran into a buzz saw on Sunday in the form of the SEC champion Gators.

It has been more than 50 years since a school has won three straight NCAA tournaments, dating all the way back to the UCLA Bruins dynasty of the 1960s and 70s, and it was not meant to be for the 2025 Huskies

No. 1 seed Duke couldn’t have hoped for a much better start to its men’s NCAA tournament as it demolished Mount St. Mary’s 93-49 in the round of 64.

Projected No.1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Cooper Flagg was back in the lineup after injury and back in the points with 14.

The Baylor Bears will have hopes of causing an upset and will be inspired by UConn’s determined effort against No. 1 seed Florida just now.

No. 2 Duke held off a No. 10 Oregon Ducks upset bid on Sunday in women’s NCAA tournament action, becoming the first team to book a trip to the Sweet 16.

The Blue Devils trailed the Ducks at halftime, but surged back after the break to retake the lead and they never gave it up. Ashlon Jackson led the way for Duke with 20 points and Reigan Richardson added 13 more.

For the Ducks, Deja Kelly’s 20 points were the bright spot but the Ducks’ bench scoring did not help matters. No one on the Ducks’ bench scored other than Sofia Bell, who contributed 5 points.

Oregon’s 17 turnovers ended up dooming them, as the Blue Devils turned them into 18 points.

The Blue Devils will now await their opponent in next week’s Sweet 16.

Florida is through to the Sweet 16 after a thrilling win against UConn in Raleigh, North Carolina.

For a long time it looked like Florida was in trouble but the No. 1 seed Gators managed to come up clutch when it mattered most to advance in the NCAA tournament.

The No. 8 seed Huskies hustled hard but failed to come up with two huge defensive rebounds, which allowed Florida to add to its tally to ice the game.

Dan Hurley’s team will leave this round of 32 matchup thinking of what could have been.

Like Florida’s offense in general, it took star Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. a while to get going but the shifty guard came up clutch and finished the game with 23 points – nailing five shots from deep.

The Huskies were right there until the bitter end – including a 3 as the buzzer sounded that meant a lot in Las Vegas but not in this game as it shrunk the final deficit to two instead of five – but lapses in concentration proved vital as they failed to keep hold of their slender lead.

Florida now awaits the winner of the matchup between Colorado State and Maryland.

The Huskies got a quick layup and then forced a Florida foul, making to free throws to cut the lead to four but it won’t be enough.

The Gators sink the second of two free throws on the ensuing possession and with seconds to go it’s the Gators by five.

Connecticut’s Liam McNeely is going to the line to shoot free throws after a Walter Clayton Jr. foul with 6.6 seconds to go.

UConn thought it was given a reprieve when Thomas Haugh missed his second shot from the line.

But Florida grabbed the offensive board as the Huskies were caught sleeping. Walter Clayton Jr. was then fouled and went to the line and made both.

The irrepressible guard then goes up the floor and drains a clutch three to give Florida control.

UConn can’t get anything to fall when they have the ball and suddenly Florida is shooting free throws to ice this game. Another offensive rebound and a dunk from Alijah Martin puts the Gators in control heading toward the final seconds.

Two minutes left and UConn has just tied it up on a big 3 from Solo Ball! There’s 1:52 on the clock now with Florida shooting free throws.

Wow – the game has turned on its head in a matter of seconds.

Walter Clayton Jr. continues to get hot and hits a clutch three from deep to give his Gators the lead.

A costly turnover then results in a Will Richard dunk to extend Florida’s lead to three. There is just over two minutes to go!

Both teams are playing like their seasons are on the line – and they are.

The Gators and the Huskies are scrapping for every point and rebound as the game nears the clutch with just under four minutes still to play.

Walter Clayton Jr. is starting to get more involved for Florida and now has 15 points, including three big shots from deep.

The Gators will look to go back to their main man as they try to overcome this slight deficit and keep their March Madness dreams alive.

The Southeastern Conference sent a record 14 teams to the tournament this year. But the conference’s performance has been disappointing once the games started.

The SEC went 8-6 in the opening round and have already seen another squad – Texas A&M – bounced in the round of 32.

Florida, the conference’s tournament champion, is now at risk of going home early as well.

The SEC has been widely considered the nation’s best basketball conference this year. Unfortunately for SEC-lovers, so far it’s not performed that way under the brightest lights.

Florida trails by three with 5:24 to play.

UConn’s work rebounding is proving to be critical as the Huskies hold their lead in this game.

Backup center Tarris Reed Jr. is having a big game from the bench for the Huskies and is causing problems in the paint for Florida.

But while UConn is enjoying its time down low, the struggles from deep continue.

The Huskies are 5-from-24 on shots from three-point range

Walter Clayton Jr. just hit a big shot from Florida to draw the Gators closer, but they still trail with 7:30 to go.

This game looks like it will be heading right down to the wire.

Will Richard is keeping his Florida team in the game as it stands. The guard has scored seven quick points for the Gators to help keep the No. 1 seed in touching distance of the Huskies.

But despite Richard’s best efforts, UConn has extended its lead.

The Huskies look more patient on offense in this second half as they continue to work the ball inside for easy looks.

Much of this good work is being done by UConn’s Hassan Diarra. The guard is controlling this Huskies offense as things stand.

UConn has come out of the halftime break meaning business and we have our first game of the day on upset watch!

Huskies center Samson Johnson got things going and opened the second half scoring with a monster alley-oop from a Hassan Diarra assist.

Just plays later, Diarra strengthened UConn’s advantage with a tough and-1.

On the other end of the court, Florida looks unusually out of sorts with Dan Hurley’s side locked in defensively.

The Florida Gators and the UConn Huskies have restarted their closely contested matchup.

The scores were level heading into the halftime break thanks to an incredible deep shot from UConn guard Hassan Diarra.

Florida will know it needs to improve in this half to secure a spot in the Sweet 16.

The drama doesn’t stop coming in the NCAA tournament and it looks like we’re in for an early treat from today’s matchups.

We are all tied up going into halftime as the No. 1 seed Florida is struggling against the UConn Huskies.

UConn has impressed throughout the opening 20 minutes – particularly on defense – with the Gators unable to unlock their free-flowing offense.

With both teams shooting fewer than 40% from the field, it has not been an offensive masterclass by any means, but the game is being played at a ferocious pace.

The second half should see more of the same as UConn continues its quest for a three-peat and Florida looks to avoid an upset.

Florida certainly knows its in a battle and UConn is making things difficult for the No. 1 seed.

The Gators are being prevented from stretching their lead thanks to some determined defending from Dan Hurley’s back-to-back champs

But there are positive signs for Florida on offense. Alijah Martin is off to a hot start and Walter Clayton Jr. has sunk two quick shots from deep to get himself going.

UConn is starting to see Liam McNeeley find his rhythm which will be key if the Huskies are to cause an upset.

Gators star Walter Clayton Jr. has taken a while to get going but finally has his first points – courtesy of a trip to the free throw line.

Florida fans will be hoping that this ignites a spark in Clayton as the Gators struggle to build a lead against a scrappy UConn.

UConn’s shooting struggles have continued but the Huskies’ hustle is keeping them close.

It’s a one-point game and the Huskies are very much in this.

UConn has gone 3-for-16 from the field in a sluggish start to this game, yet somehow only finds itself down three.

The Gators have failed to protect the ball and have already been forced into turning the ball over six times.

Alijah Martin is proving to be the difference early on and has nine of Florida’s 11 points.

It has not been a pretty start to this game, but it is certainly being played with some tempo.

UConn has made just one field goal in just over four minutes, but fiery head coach Dan Hurley will be encouraged by the looks his team are getting.

Hurley will be more concerned about Florida’s ability to get down the court. The Gators are killing the Huskies in transition and Alijah Martin has already put down two huge dunks.

The round of 32 game between UConn and Florida is underway with the Huskies looking to cause an upset against the No. 1 seed Gators.

Will Sunday’s March Madness start with a quasi-Cinderella story for the back-to-back champs?