Hartford, CT (My Sportsbook) - A Top-25 showdown in the Big East is set for Hartford this evening, as the third-ranked Connecticut Huskies play host to the 20th-ranked Villanova Wildcats from the XL Center.
Jim Calhoun's Huskies have a great deal of momentum on their side, as they enter this game with a six-game win streak in tow. UConn has won five of its six league tilts thus far and is coming off a 76-61 pasting of Seton Hall on Sunday. In addition, UConn has won eight of its last nine games against ranked opponents dating back to last year. The one loss during that stretch took place this year against Georgetown in the Big East opener for the Huskies.
Jay Wright's Wildcats have been solid for much of the season, but have struggled with consistency since the conference slate has begun. Villanova has alternated wins and losses in-conference, but does enter this game on a high, routing St. John's at home on Sunday, 76-57.
The Wildcats own a 32-26 lead in 58 prior meetings with the Huskies and have won three of the last four matchups, including a 67-65 nail-biter last February at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. Still, UConn has won six of the last seven meetings in Hartford.
Villanova is not the offensive juggernaut that UConn is, but the team certainly can't be taken for granted at that end of the floor, especially with the inside/out combination of Dante Cunningham and Scottie Reynolds. Cunningham has been a beast in the low post, delivering on just over 54 percent of his shots. He also happens to leads the team in scoring (17.4 ppg), rebounding (7.4 rpg), steals (29) and blocks (21). Reynolds is a potent perimeter threat at 15.2 ppg and is instrumental in the passing game, pacing the team with 68 assists. Corey Fisher rounds out the double digit threats for the team at 10.0 ppg, but Corey Stokes, who leads the team with 38 three- pointers, is edging closer to joining the trio, with 9.9 ppg. The Wildcats got off to a fast start and never looked back, posting a lopsided win over the Red Storm this past weekend and in the process setting a new record for consecutive wins at the Pavilion, now standing at 24 games. A 19-3 opening run by 'Nova proved too much for St. John's to overcome, as four players finished in double figures for the Wildcats. Leading the way was Cunningham and his 17 points. Dwayne Anderson tallied 14 in support, while Antonio Pena and Fisher chipped in with 13 and 12 points, respectively. The Wildcats shot a scorching .588 from the field in the game and forced St. John's into 19 costly turnovers.
Offense is something that UConn has had no trouble with this season. In fact, the Huskies have shown the ability to win games at either end of the floor this year, averaging 78.7 ppg, while limiting the opposition to a mere 61.4. Five players currently boast of double-digit scoring averages, but the strength of this team lies in the low post in the form of forward Jeff Adrien and center Hasheem Thabeet. Adrien is converting 56.3 percent of the time from the floor and is averaging 14.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Thabeet is a monster in the middle, delivering on 66.7 percent of his shots, and averaging 13.4 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. He is also one of the conference's top shot-blockers, with 63 on the season. The perimeter game is in fine shape as well, as guards Jerome Dyson (13.1 ppg), A.J. Price (10.8 ppg) and Kemba Walker (10.2 ppg) all have the ability to put the ball in the basket. The Huskies were able to keep Seton Hall winless in Big East play thanks to 50.8 percent shooting from the field. Price led the way with 23 points, hitting 9- of-16 from the floor. Thabeet (15 pts, 17 rbs) and Adrien (13 pts, 12 rbs) continued their mastery down low.
