Villanova vs. UConn: College basketball game preview, TV schedule

UConn coach Kevin Ollie is starting to feel some heat after the loss at Memphis. Can he and the Huskies somehow manage to beat No. 1 Villanova?

TV schedule: Saturday, Jan. 20, 12:00 p.m. ET. CBS

Arena: XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut

No basketball team in the country is playing better right now than Villanova 17-1 (5-1), who is currently the top team in the Big East Conference. In the latest edition of Busting Bracket’s Bracketology, Jay Wright’s team is solidly on the one line and is in great position to be the No. 1 seed overall.

The Wildcats are a high-powered offense, ranked in the top 10 in both scoring and efficiency. They’re led by a pair of potential All-Americans in Jalen Brunson (18.8 ppg) and Mikal Bridges (17.4 ppg). The two of them, along with four other Wildcats, scored in double-figures in the latest win, a 30 point victory over Georgetown. As a team, Villanova shot 60% from the field while making a season-high 17 three-pointers.

As high as the morale must be for the Big East leaders, it’s just as low for UConn 10-8 (3-3) right now. The Huskies are coming off a 34 point loss on the road at Memphis, failing to score 50 points in the game. Terry Larrier, the second leading scorer for the team, was unable to play due to ongoing headaches and is considered questionable for the game.

His absence is particularly bad for a UConn team that is ranked around 300 in scoring offense, with the Memphis game as a clear example. But Jalen Adams has done his part all season, averaging 18.5 ppg and has never been in single digits all season.

No disrespect to Villanova, but this game is all about UConn. The Huskies are nowhere near the bubble picture and is destined for another middle-tier finish in the AAC. That’s not good for head coach Kevin Ollie, whose seat has to ba getting warmer as time goes on.

Next: Top contenders for Villanova in latest Big East rankings

This game is in UConn at noon and upsets tend to happen early in the day. Considering the difference in scoring ability, this would be one of the bigger upsets in the 2017-18 season. The problem is, no matter how I envision it, I can’t see a scenario where UConn has more points than Villanova unless the Wildcats shoot 30% for the game. And I won’t be predicting that.

Prediction: Villanova 76 – UConn 60

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