COLUMBIA, S.C. — It was not a hopeless blowout, but it felt like a rout. In the process of handling its closest out-of-conference rival, Connecticut demonstrated it remains in a league of its own.
A showdown with second-ranked and unbeaten South Carolina was supposed to give the No. 1 Huskies their first quality challenge since December victories over Notre Dame and Maryland. A raucous capacity crowd announced at 18,000 jammed Colonial Life Arena for the occasion. In the end, the score — 66-54, Connecticut — did not reflect the relative ease with which Huskies (23-0) dealt the Gamecocks (22-1) their first home defeat in 46 games.