Can UConn hold it going? Within the rugged Huge East, that shall be a problem. The Huskies play No. 7 Marquette twice (on Feb. 17 and Mar. 6) earlier than the common season concludes, and in addition face No. 19 Creighton on the street on Feb. 20.
With a 2.5-game lead on the Golden Eagles for first place in the conference, UConn nonetheless has work to do to lock down the regular-season title and the No. 1 seed within the Huge East Event at Madison Sq. Backyard.
However the Huskies needs to be favored to take action. UConn is ranked third nationally at KenPom — behind solely Houston and Purdue — with Marquette (tenth) and Creighton (18th) the one Huge East golf equipment within the prime 30. Clearly, the Huskies are the category of the convention.
Are they the category of the nation? That query shall be answered come the NCAA Event, however one factor is apparent: UConn has a authentic probability at reaching back-to-back Remaining Fours for the primary time in program, and even changing into the primary repeat males’s champion since Florida in 2006 and 2007.
Probably the most spectacular half about all this? The truth that the Huskies are rolling regardless of sporting a vastly totally different staff than the one that cut down the nets in Houston final April.
Their prime two scorers, Adam Sanogo and Jordan Hawkins, left for the NBA. Their glue man, Andre Jackson Jr., departed as nicely. With these vacancies, flooring basic Tristen Newton, sharpshooters Cam Spencer and Alex Karaban and 7-foot-2 heart Donovan Clingan have been tasked with expanded roles.
However UConn retains chugging alongside. The Huskies are one in every of 4 groups (Purdue, Arizona and Auburn being the opposite three) to boast top-15 marks in adjusted offensive and defensive effectivity, per KenPom.
They’ll beat you from outdoors, they will pound it down low with Clingan they usually can get these essential stops each group wants come March — and April. They’ve Hurley, a hard-nosed, blue-collar child from Jersey Metropolis who has change into among the finest hoops coaches in America, regardless of the extent.
That is, regardless of the standards, a nationwide title contender. Don’t count on that to alter because the season’s defining stretch approaches.
