Marquette at UConn: 2021-22 college basketball game preview, TV schedule
In a matchup between a pair of teams trending in different directions as of late, a struggling UConn squad returns home to Hartford to take on a surging Marquette team. Can the Huskies complete the season sweep? Here’s a preview of the matchup.
TV schedule: Tuesday, February 8, 2022, on FS1 at 6:30 p.m. EST
Location: XL Center, Hartford CT
After losing the first matchup in Milwaukee, the No. 18 Marquette Golden Eagles (16-7, 8-4) look to get revenge on a No. 24 UConn Huskies (15-6, 6-4) team that has dropped two straight games – at home against Creighton and on the road against Villanova. The Golden Eagles are looking for their first victory in Hartford since 2012, back when both squads were members of the original Big East.
In their last game, UConn surprisingly struggled defensively against a Villanova team that was missing their second-leading scorer in Justin Moore, falling to the Wildcats 85-74. As a team, the Huskies shot the ball pretty well, shooting 50% from the field and 40% from downtown.
Senior guard RJ Cole scored 25 points for the second time in three games and freshman guard Jordan Hawkins found his shot again, drilling three triples off the bench. The loss gave UConn its first two-game losing streak of the season and was the start of a daunting seven-game stretch for the Huskies, bookended by games against Villanova.
Despite consecutive losses, the Huskies have had a strong start to their second season after rejoining the Big East, winning at least 15 of their first 21 for the first time since the 2015-16 season. They even beat No. 1 Auburn earlier this season to give the Tigers their only loss, so that’s something. They are led in scoring by a trio of players who average at least 13 PPG: Cole, sophomore forward Adama Sanogo, and senior guard Tyrese Martin
On the other side, in his first season as head coach, Shaka Smart has the Marquette in position to not only make the NCAA tournament but win multiple games. The Golden Eagles have won eight of their last nine games (with the lone loss by two against Providence). Last time out they defeated Villanova in Milwaukee, 83-73.
Marquette did a great job on the offensive side of the ball, led by a pair of players with freshman eligibility, guard Tyler Kolek and forward Justin Lewis, who scored 18 and 19 points respectively. The team went on to shoot over 53% from the field and 41% from three. Despite the hot shooting, they struggled with ball control, turning it over 16 times in the victory.
The way that Smart built this Marquette team up to the point they’re at now – No. 18 in the country, is very fascinating. The Golden Eagles are the youngest team in the conference and four of their five starters weren’t in the program a year ago. One of their best players this season has been Maryland transfer Darryl Morsell, the reigning Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year. He is averaging a career-high 13.5 PPG and shooting a career-best 38% from downtown.
In their previous matchup in December, UConn defeated Marquette 78-70, led by Martin who had 25 points and seven rebounds. Those 25 points were good for a career-high until he broke it a month later. The first game in December could be a bit misleading, however, as the Golden Eagles were missing Morsell and the Huskies only got 12 limited minutes out of Sanogo, who was working his way back from an abdominal injury. Things could be very different this time around in Hartford.
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Overall, this should be a very close, down to the wire, matchup between two of the best teams in the conference and country. It could come down to who has more heart and toughness until the final whistle. Despite the Huskies having struggled as of late, I think that they will persevere in front of the home fans and secure a close, hard-fought win.
Prediction: UConn 75, Marquette 70