Can UConn preserve it going? Within the rugged Huge East, that will probably 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 highway 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 Match 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 will probably be answered come the NCAA Match, however one factor is clear: UConn has a legit probability at reaching back-to-back Ultimate Fours for the primary time in program, and even turning into the primary repeat males’s champion since Florida in 2006 and 2007.
Essentially the most spectacular half about all this? The truth that the Huskies are rolling regardless of sporting a vastly totally different crew 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 properly. With these vacancies, flooring common 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 considered one 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 exterior, they’ll pound it down low with Clingan and so they 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 probably the greatest hoops coaches in America, regardless of the extent.
That is, regardless of the factors, a nationwide title contender. Don’t anticipate that to vary because the season’s defining stretch approaches.