NCAA Basketball: UConn, Purdue rise on top 25 power ranking after Feast Week

10. Connecticut (8-0)

For the first two weeks of the season, we really didn’t know what to think about these Huskies. Connecticut started the year with five games at home against mid-majors, with none of them expected to fare too much this season, though all of the wins came by at least 20 points. This week was when the Huskies were going to get tested and where we’d learn a lot about this program.

Their performance in the Phil Knight Invitational is an indication that they were ready, starting with an 83-59 win over Oregon in the opening round. Tristan Newton had 23 points to lead the Huskies. Connecticut got their best win to date of the season the next day, with an 82-67 victory over #18 Alabama, with talented forward Adama Sanogo starring with 25 points. The Huskies finished the weekend off strong by taking home the tournament title, knocking off Iowa State 71-53 with a phenomenal performance. Two bench players (Donovan Clingan and Andre Jackson Jr.) had double-doubles in the win.

Eight straight wins opens a fantastic season for Dan Hurley and this talented roster, who showed they belonged with three double-digit wins in Portland this past week. They handed both Alabama and Iowa State their first losses of the season and looked great on both sides of the ball the entire week. Next week presents another intriguing game; a home date with Oklahoma State and the Huskies certainly look like one of the early contenders both in the Big East and in the country as a whole.