UConn at Xavier: 2021-22 college basketball game preview, TV schedule

In a matchup between a pair of top 25 teams in the Big East, UConn travels out to Cincinnati to take on a struggling Xavier team. Can the Musketeers get back on track? 

TV schedule: Friday, February 11, 2022, on FS1 at 7:00 p.m. EST

Location: Cintas Center, Cincinnati OH

After the first matchup of the season was postponed due to COVID issues, the No. 25 Xavier Musketeers (16-7, 6-6) look to get back on track against the No. 24 UConn Huskies (16-6, 7-4) at the Cintas Center in a Big East conference matchup. The Musketeers are looking for their first victory against the Huskies since they became conference opponents, with the Huskies winning the lone matchup last season

In their last game, UConn cooled down a red-hot Marquette team that had won eight of its last nine. They were fueled by a pair of monster double-doubles, one by sophomore forward Adama Sanogo, who finished with 24 points and 15 rebounds. The other double-double was by senior guard Tyrese Martin, who had 18 points and a season-high 15 rebounds. The Huskies played an all-around great game on both sides of the ball and got a solid performance out of the bench that fueled them to victory.

UConn has had a very strong start to the season so far and would finish as the 3-seed in the Big East Tournament if the season ended today. They are led by a three-headed monster of scorers, with Martin, Sanogo, and senior guard RJ Cole all averaging at least 13.5 PPG. The Huskies are also a very strong team on the other side of the ball, with sophomore guard Andre Jackson and senior forward Isaiah Whaley anchoring it down on the defensive end. Head coach Dan Hurley stresses the importance of defense every day in practice and the players are producing.

On the other side, Xavier head coach Travis Steele has the Musketeers in position to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in his four-year tenure at the school. Last time out, they lost a heartbreaking game on the road to Seton Hall 73-71. Junior forward Jack Nunge led the team with 22 points and senior guard Paul Scruggs scored 21 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and dished out seven assists in the loss. Three-point shooting plagued the Musketeers all night long and they finished under 29% from deep.

Despite only being 6-6 in conference play up to this point, Xavier has still had a strong start to the season with notable victories over teams such as Ohio St., Marquette, and crosstown rival Cincinnati. They are a very balanced team when it comes to scoring the basketball, with five players averaging between 9.6 and 12.7 PPG up to this point in the season. They can attack you in multiple ways, whether it be Scruggs or senior guard Nate Johnson from downtown, or Nunge or junior forward Zach Freemantle down low.

In their matchup last season, UConn defeated Xavier 80-72, led by Cole’s 24 points and seven assists. Whaley also added a double-double for the Huskies with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Junior forward Akok Akok scored seven points in a season-high 10 minutes as he was working his way back from a torn Achilles.

For Xavier, Freemantle had arguably the best game of his career in the loss with 30 points and 15 rebounds. Johnson also added 14 points and four made threes. The loss was season-altering for the Musketeers, as this was the first of a brutal 2-6 stretch to end the season after starting 11-2 and they ultimately missed the tournament.

Overall, this should be a very close, down to the wire, matchup between two teams that will do everything in their power to come out on top. It will come down to who takes care of the ball and who can make the most shots. Despite the Musketeers needing a big win to boost not only their resume but their confidence as a program, I have the Huskies coming out on top.

Prediction: UConn 71, Xavier 63