Wichita State vs. UConn: College basketball game preview, TV schedule
After moving to the American Athletic Conference from the Missouri Valley this past summer, the Wichita State Shockers will be playing in the team’s first league game. Can a desperate UConn team get the much-needed win they need?
TV schedule: Saturday, December 30, 12:00 p.m. ET. CBS
Arena: XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut
Gregg Marshall and the No. 8 Wichita State Shockers 10-2 (0-0) couldn’t have planned their future any better. Not only have they moved into a league that increases their at-large chances year in and year out, but this team is one of the most experienced ones in the country.
Everyone returns from a year ago, including Landry Shamet, one of the top point guards in the country. He leads the team in both points (17.1) and assists (4.6) per game and is considered an elite defender. Dorral Willis is the team’s top rebounder, pulling down 7.5 rpg while scoring in double-digits on average.
His play, in particular, has been important because up to this point the Shockers have been playing with their top scorer from a year ago in Markus McDuffie. He’s been out with an injury until coming back and playing nine minutes in the win over Florida Gulf Coast, scoring just three points. The team altogether isn’t just a top-10 team, but the prohibited favorite to win the AAC.
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While Wichita is getting healthy, Uconn 7-5 (0-0) is going the opposite direction. The starting point guard Alterique Gilbert, who hasn’t played in over a month due to shoulder issues, has been officially shut down for the season. That’s a huge problem for a team that already lacks depth on the scoring front, as well as a ball-handler to help facilitate an offense that is second-to-last in the country in assists.
That leaves a heavy amount of pressure on the top two Huskies, Jalen Adam, and Terry Larrier. Adams is one of the top scorers in the league at 18.2 ppg and is one of the only efficient shooters on the team. After missing last season with an injury, the VCU transfer Larrier is the only forward/center on the team that can score at all, averaging 15.5 ppg. Christian Vital is the other Huskie of note, contributing 12.5 ppg.
One one hand, UConn’s non-conference was better than the year prior, avoiding the embarrassing losses to inferior schools. Problem is, the Huskies lost to all the good teams they played, with exception to an above average Oregon Ducks team.
Wichita State’s arrival increases the overall profile of the league, but there still isn’t too many high-profile games for UConn to win to be in the bubble conversation. A loss here sends them to 7-6 and will start to make things dicey for Kevin Ollie. Win this, and now the Huskies are back in business.
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With this game in Hartford, and Wichita State going through this conference for the first time, UConn has a shot. However, this is a veteran Shockers team that should handle the new road environments well, and unless both Adams and Larrier have big nights, it’s hard to see this ending well for them.
Prediction: Wichita State 78 – UConn 66