UConn vs. Villanova: 2022-23 college basketball game preview, TV schedule

The UConn Huskies are one of the pleasant surprises of the season, while the Villanova Wildcats are one of the unpleasant disappointments.

TV Schedule: Wednesday, December 28, 6:30 PM ET, FS1

Location: XL Center in Hartford, CT

When the season started, the Villanova Wildcats and UConn Huskies appeared to be in different positions in regards to the rest of the Big East. As the calendar flips to 2023, that remains the case, but they themselves have done the flipping.

The Huskies are one of the lone undefeated teams remaining in the nation, using that unblemished record to rise all the way to No. 2 in the AP poll. Connecticut isn’t just winning, either – it’s dominating. In the 13 games the team has played, not a single victory has come by less than double digits. That includes wins over Oregon, Alabama, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, and Florida.

The Wildcats have not been having the same experience. When Kyle Neptune replaced the retiring Jay Wright in the offseason, there was expected to be a slight decline from the recent years of Big East dominance and Final Four appearances.

But things have gone worse than expected. Villanova is barely hanging above .500. They lost five of their first seven games, including a defeat to Portland during the Phil Knight Invitational and a closer-than-expected victory over Delaware State.

The Wildcats have quietly gotten things moving in the right direction, though. They’ve won five straight ahead of the UConn game, scoring at least 70 points in all five contests. Their most recent victory was a 15-point romp of St. John’s, which had only one loss entering the game.

The Wildcats got off to a characteristic slow start against the Red Storm but used a big run late in the first half to get some distance from the opponent. A positive development for Villanova was the play of Jordan Longino, who scored 13 points and looked like a potential breakout candidate after knee soreness hurt him at the start of the year.

Villanova’s defense has stepped up during the winning streak. Wins over Boston College and Saint Joseph’s marked two of the defenses best performances of the year. The team is getting more consistent at preventing offensive rebounds and letting opponents get to the free throw line.

There isn’t a lot of opportunities to poke holes in the Huskies, though. On both ends of the court, Connecticut is earning its nod as one of the best teams in the nation.

UConn’s best asset may be its depth. The team is simply so well-rounded, with any number of players able to step up in a single game. Against Georgetown, for instance, San Diego transfer Joey Calcaterra came alive in the second half, scoring 14 points during a run that propelled a comeback against the feisty Hoyas.

Donovan Clingan

has also had moments where he has looked like the star he was in high school and is expected to be in college – he’s only a freshman, after all. Clingan is averaging 9.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, even though he’s playing barely more than a dozen minutes per contest. He’s like a secret weapon, one Villanova will struggle to contain.

Villanova is playing better than they were at the start of the year and that should make for a competitive game. If this was being played in Philadelphia, the Wildcats may even be able to spring the upset.

At the XL Center, however, Villanova doesn’t have much of a hope.

Prediction: UConn 82, Villanova 70