PHILADELPHIA, PA — Tarris Reed Jr. was a man amongst boys Friday night in the City of Brotherly Love.
Actually, that would be an understatement as the senior center quite frankly put the number two seeded Huskies on his back, carrying UConn, placed in the East Region of the 2026 NCAA March Madness Tournament, to an opening round 82-71 win over No. 15 Furman at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
With 31 points, 27 rebounds, and three assists across 35 minutes of action, yes, that is a real stat line, Reed Jr., already an intimidating figure on the hardwood, rounding out to six-eleven and 265 pounds, proved to be even more scary than what the Panthers had him out to be heading into Friday.
While Reed Jr., becoming the first player in 58 years to record a 30 point-25 rebound stat line in a NCAA Tournament game, fought for 27 total rebounds, with 16 coming on the defensive end of the floor, Furman combined for 23 boards as a team.
Historic. Elite. Dominant. You name it, that’s what Tarris Reed Jr. was.
“It’s as dominant of a performance as you probably have seen from a big guy in tournament history. But that’s what he’s capable of. This guy is a total monster and today, he was a real grizzly bear.”
-head coach Dan Hurley on Tarris Reed Jr.’s 31 point-27 rebound performance vs. No. 15 Furman in Round of 64
“Looking at what Tarris did, he was dominant the whole game,” said UConn junior guard Silas Demary Jr., who was sidelined in Friday’s Round of 64 matchup vs. Furman due to an ankle injury though is trending in an upward direction.
“He did everything the coaches asked him and what we’ve been asking him to do, so just to see him do it on this stage, I’m glad to see it happen and I’m glad God blessed him to be able to do that today. I want him to continue to stay confident and keep doing what he’s doing.”
On Friday night in Philadelphia, Tarris Reed Jr. became just the third college basketball player to ever record a 30 point-25 rebound stat line in a NCAA Tournament game, joining Elvin Hayes and Jerry Lucas – Image Credit: UConn Men’s Basketball
Confidence was the key according to Reed Jr. in the postgame just after 1:00 in the morning eastern time.
“My mindset coming into the game is really just to be dominant,” he said. “This is my last March Madness. My days are numbered in college basketball. Just giving all I got and having fun with the guys around me. We have a special team and special coaching staff. Really just have fun and enjoy the process and enjoy the journey.”
Giving it all he had for sure, and the same went for redshirt senior guard Malachi Smith out of the Bronx, New York, compiling four points, seven assists, one rebound, one block and a steal on 31 minutes played.
With Demary Jr. out, head coach Dan Hurley made the move to have Smith in Friday’s starting lineup, which marked the very first start of his UConn career, beginning this season after spending the last four years at Dayton.
Despite not being 100% in Friday’s opening March Madness round vs. No. 15 Furman, Malachi Smith stepped up for UConn, starting in his first-ever game for the Huskies due to Silas Demary Jr. sidelined with an injury – Image Credit: UConn Men’s Basketball
During his time at Dayton, the Flyers did indeed appear in one NCAA Tournament (2024), but Smith was sidelined with an injury. So with that, just as much as it was UConn’s opening game of this year’s NCAA Tournament on Friday, it was also Smith’s first taste of March Madness.
And yes, his family made the trip down to Philadelphia from the Bronx to witness him take in the March experience.
Additionally, Smith—with Puerto Rican roots as his father grew up on the island—was at or close to 80% because he injured his knee earlier this week at practice before UConn caught a flight to Philadelphia.
“We thought he hurt his knee in a catastrophe on Wednesday at the end of practice,” Hurley revealed in the postgame. “So he was banged up out there playing 31 minutes. The guy’s a warrior and showed that New York toughness today.”
During Friday’s postgame, UConn head coach Dan Hurley said that Malachi Smith, a native of the Bronx, NY, showed his New York toughness in the Round of 64 win vs. No. 15 Furman – Image Credit: UConn Men’s Basketball
On whether Smith believes he showed that “New York toughness” as Hurley phrased it, he responded:
“Yeah, I think so. I try to bring it every time but you know today, it’s one and done now. I tried to give the team some energy and get the crowd up, that’s just my personality. There was a little bit of (knee) discomfort but I mean, this time of the year, it’s our last year, I’m trying to make sure I embrace the moment and attack it.”
“Mali’s my roommate. We talk about that all the time, about how fun it is to go out here and play in March Madness. Knowing that, he had to step up tonight, and he really did his job. All credit to my guy, Mali.”
-Tarris Reed Jr. on Malachi Smith stepping up in Friday’s Round of 64 matchup against No. 15 Furman
Not surprised by the impact Smith had was his teammate Demary Jr. stating, “it’s not nothing we’ve seen him do before… Malachi is a guy with over 500 career assists so he knows how to read the floor and control the game. I feel like he did a great job doing that tonight.”
Silas Demary Jr.’s status for Sunday’s Round of 32 matchup vs. No. 7 UCLA is still up in the air though he is trending in the right direction – Image Credit: UConn Men’s Basketball
With Smith controlling the game as UConn’s floor general, bringing the ball up on many possessions, paired with Reed Jr.’s minute by minute dominance, causing space on the offensive end to open up even more than it already was, redshirt senior Alex Karaban scored 22 points at ease while freshman Braylon Mullins had 12.
What’s Next?
No. 2 UConn (29-5) and No. 7 UCLA (23-11) will meet in the Round of 32 this Sunday, March 22nd, at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, with the winner advancing to the Sweet 16 of the East Region—tip-off set for 8:45PM ET on TNT.
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