NEW YORK – Drama unfolded during the second Big East Tournament semifinal Friday night as Creighton's Jamiya Neal, who had already scored an impressive 19 points, opted for a flashy windmill dunk rather than running out the clock, sealing the game with a final score of 71-62 in favor of the Bluejays.

This decision sparked a heated reaction from UConn's Hassan Diarra, who, frustrated with the showboating, shoved Neal before momentarily considering a confrontation. Meanwhile, tensions escalated as Creighton's head coach Greg McDermott and UConn assistant Luke Murray exchanged words near midcourt before the atmosphere eventually cooled.

UConn's Jayden Ross was ejected for leaving the bench amidst the commotion.

"I got caught up in the emotions of the game," Neal later reflected. "I respect Coach [Dan] Hurley and his team; they have a fantastic program with a history of success. I apologize for my actions – it was purely a heated moment.”

Buried within this flashpoint were underlying issues for both teams that surfaced throughout the game.

For Creighton, advancing to the finals against St. John's symbolizes a successful season, especially given the adversity faced by losing their second-best player, Pop Isaacs, early in the season. Despite this setback, the Bluejays achieved an impressive 15 conference victories and triumphed over tough opponents, establishing themselves as a formidable force.

This marks their fifth appearance in the Big East title matchup over the past 11 tournaments, yet McDermott is still in pursuit of his maiden tournament victory.

Conversely, UConn's struggles loom large, and they now risk entering the NCAA Tournament as an 8 or 9 seed.

The team displayed a dismal defensive performance in the first half, which continues to highlight their inconsistency and diminished hopes of a third consecutive championship. UConn's early-season struggles, including a losing streak at the Maui Invitational, were again evident.

They have grappled with poor decision-making, a lack of physicality, and foul trouble, all of which emerged at a critical juncture in their season.

“We had the third-best record in the regular season, but we clearly weren't worthy of competing for the championship,” Hurley stated candidly. “Our defensive display in the first half didn’t reflect the caliber needed to contend against a team like St. John's.”

Frustration boiled over for Hurley after one of the final shots went in, leading him to chastise his players off the court, urging them to sprint as they exited the court. Reports indicated his anger stemmed from how his players had allowed Creighton to dominate offensively, especially coming off a game where they had limited Villanova’s scoring effectively.

With Chicago's Ryan Kalkbrenner and Steven Ashworth only scoring a combined nine points, the Bluejays still managed a striking 75% shooting rate in the first half, underscoring their offensive prowess.

Neal’s explosive play was matched by contributions from others, with Jasen Green scoring a surprising 15 points in the first half alone.

“This time of year, it’s tough to rectify defensive issues,” Hurley lamented. “We've been unable to guard the ball effectively, and that’s something we’ve faced all season. Our lack of physicality feels particularly costly against opponents who can capitalize on mismatches.”

The defensive dichotomy between the two teams was stark: Creighton's disciplined defense led to only nine fouls, while UConn’s inability to maintain this discipline became a point of contention for Hurley, who vocally confronted officials about perceived injustices against his squad.

His irritation was palpable as he dealt with successive questionable calls.

“This season has been incredibly challenging, and only I know the weight of that frustration,” Hurley admitted after the game.

Meanwhile, McDermott expressed satisfaction with his team's discipline, emphasizing how crucial it is to win the "analytic game" at the free-throw line through mental toughness and consistent execution.

“I've got some tough kids in my locker room,” McDermott remarked. “To achieve what we've accomplished this season requires grit and resilience. We may not create tons of turnovers, but our defensive method has served us well.

As the Bluejays prepare for the title game against St. John's, both teams will need to reckon with the emotional and performance lessons learned from this electrifying semifinal showdown.