UConn guard Malachi Smith reacts after making a three-point basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Illinois, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Adam Hunger/Associated Press
NEW YORK — The dateline preceding this sentence could read MALI’S WORLD. That’s what the city was on Friday, what Madison Square Garden became: a showcase for backup point guard Malachi Smith as the fifth-ranked UConn men’s basketball team rode the depth of its rotation to a 74-61 victory over No. 13 Illinois.
With starter Silas Demary Jr. in foul trouble, Smith provided answers early and often — and late, with a particular exclamation point, banking in an unlikely 3-pointer while fouled for a four-point play that beat back the Fighting Illinis for good.
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“Mali’s World,” Alex Karaban said during a post-game press conference. “Yeah, Mali’s World.”
That’s what Smith’s new teammates have taken to calling him and/or saying in his presence, a play on Smith’s Instragram handle (maliz_world). On Friday, the moniker was shouted often, inspired by a performance that pushed the Huskies (6-1) into December and deeper into their grueling nonconference schedule with another valuable victory.
Smith, the redshirt senior who transferred from Dayton, matched a season-high with 14 points and had a season-high nine assists in a season-high 23-plus minutes. He also converted that four-point play with 2:11 remaining after Illinois had cut UConn’s 21-point lead to just seven.
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Malachi Smith #0 of the UConn Huskies looks to pass the ball against Kylan Boswell #4 of the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second half of the SentinelOne Showdown at Madison Square Garden on November 28, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
Ishika Samant/Getty Images
“Mali’s World,” Karaban repeated later outside the UConn locker room. “It felt like we were in Mali’s World. He definitely felt the electricity. When he made that 3 we were like, it’s definitely Mali’s World. He locked it in early in the game but then it was like, all right, he just did that.”
The aforementioned play was bizarre. A Karaban miss near the basket was rebounded by Eric Reibe, who got the ball to Smith up top, well behind the 3-point line. The shot clock had mistakenly been reset, as Karaban’s shot did not hit the rim.
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Jake Davis closed on Smith and fouled, aggressively guarding a clear shooting situation. Smith drew contact and banked in a heave. A long video review acknowledged the clock miscue but upheld the basket, ruling that the foul occurred before the shot clock would have expired. Smith made the free throw to give UConn a 70-59 lead.
“I didn’t know the shot clock was going off so I just looked at the sideline and everybody told me shoot it,” Smith said. “He fouled me. So I just tried to concentrate just a little bit, at least hit the rim. It went in.”
Smith made all three of his 3-point attempts Friday and UConn leaned on parts of its B team to overwhelm and then hold off Illinois (6-2).
UConn forward Jayden Ross (23) reacts with guard Malachi Smith (0) after making a three-point basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Illinois, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Adam Hunger/Associated Press
How encouraging, when considering UConn’s depth, to see Smith play the way he did with Demary in foul trouble and see Reibe play the way he did on a day when Tarris Reed Jr. was only a shell of himself as he continues to recover from an ankle injury.
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Reibe played 22 electric minutes, all confidence and polish, and finished with eight points and seven rebounds, allowing UConn to hold its own against the seven-foot-plus Ivisic brothers. Reed, though valuable simply for his presence, was limited to 15 minutes by design and limited, period — basically unable to engage much offensively (he was 0-for-3 from the field).
Outside, freshman guard Braylon Mullins made his UConn debut after missing six games with an ankle injury. He made just one of five shots in 10 minutes but at least he’s now sweated out those first-game jitters. UConn plays Tuesday at Kansas, a daunting stage, and the team is coming together even while it remains challenged by its incomplete status.
You need depth to get through a schedule like this. You need depth to win a national championship. You need depth on days like Friday, when Karaban did his usual thing — just about everything, some of it probably unnoticed or unappreciated — and enough teammates elevated their play. UConn didn’t was lacking for much.
Illinois guard Keaton Wagler, center, fights for a loose ball with UConn guard Malachi Smith, right, and Solo Ball, left, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Adam Hunger/Associated Press
“Going into the year, that was where our confidence about what we can potentially be at some point,” coach Dan Hurley said. “It was very dangerous for us to play the level of opponents we’re playing without a healthy team, especially a guy like Tarris Reed, who is one of the most impactful players in the country. He’s one of the best big guys in the country. He’s going to be an NBA Draft pick this year. He changes everything about our offense and defense. With that being said, his situation health-wise has been great for Eric. It’s giving us two centers, I think, who are going to be able to play at a high level and that’s been a key to a lot of our success in ’23 and ’24.”
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Tristen Newton was the starting point guard on those national championship teams, of course, but important minutes at the position were provided in 2023 by Joey Calcaterra and Nahiem Alleyne and in 2024 by Hassan Diarra. The second wave matters.
“I still think point guard play is so critical,” Hurley said. “It looked tonight kind of like the guard play looked in ’23 and ’24. Malachi made a huge difference off the bench with 14 and 9, and making that crazy 3 there to get it back to doubles when we were wavering. He’s the story of the game. And Tarris Reed’s courage.”
UConn head coach Dan Hurley reacts during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Illinois, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Adam Hunger/Associated Press
Karaban has been at the heart of all these teams, of course.
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“The depth is crazy on this team,” Karaban said. “The two years we won the national championship, our depth was the key to everything. When someone is not playing as well as they should be or injuries, what not, the next man steps up. Eric is getting way more comfortable out there. He’s played in big-time games and really showed out for us. And Mali stepped us for Silas when we needed him.”
Smith was 5-for-5 on free throws, 3-for-6 from the field. He’s brand new. So is Demary. Point guard play was a weakness at times last season. Currently, it is not.
“I just want to make sure I’m ready whenever my number is called,” Smith said. “Silas got in some foul trouble. My number was called. They needed me to come in early. … I just wanted to make sure I made plays, controlled the game, get my shooters some good shots, attack the paint. And when my shot is here, make it.”
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