Uconn’s undefeated start to the season will be tested as they travel to Xavier on Saturday, who many are calling the Huskies’ biggest challenger in the Big East this season.
TV Schedule: Saturday, December 31 – 12:00 Eastern, FOX
Arena: Cintas Center – Cincinnati, Ohio
There’s an argument no team in the country has looked better than the Uconn Huskies, as they have won 14 straight games to start the season (including a 3-0 start in the Big East). Their only single-digit win was a home victory over Villanova on Wednesday, 74-66.
With Creighton’s slow start, no Big East team has cemented itself as the clear No. 2 behind Uconn. But after a 4-3 start, Xavier has quietly won seven straight games en route to a 3-0 start in the Big East.
Xavier’s high-powered offense will be put to the test. They rank 9th in KenPom in offensive efficiency, but the Huskies are top five in defense. All five Musketeer starters average double-figures, led by Utep transfer Souley Boum. Sean Miller’s offense does a great job of utilizing each player’s ball-skills. All five starters can shoot, hitting 40.8% as a team, which ranks third nationally. Uconn ranks 7th in three-point field goal defense, so the Musketeers will have to break that trend and hit enough threes to win.
For the Huskies, they will need their role players to continue to score. Star center Adama Sanogo has been held in check the last two games, but guys like Joey Calcaterra and Alex Carraban have stepped up and hit shots. If one of those two can get hot, the Huskies become incredibly difficult to beat. With Sanogo and freshman big man Donovan Clingan off the bench, the Huskies should have the advantage inside. But those two will have to step to the perimeter to guard Xavier’s bigs at times.
Sophomore Jordan Hawkins has been a breakout player and is the Husky’s best backcourt player, so look for Dan Hurley to get him some looks early. He will be needed on the defensive end as well to contain Boum and Colby Jones. This is the best backcourt Uconn has seen this year, and only their third true road game.
Even with Creighton’s losing streak, the second tier of the Big East is competitive and pretty wide open. Providence is off to a surprising 3-0 start, Marquette has been dominant at home, the Bluejays have clawed back to 2-1, and Villanova has looked a little of late with Cam Whitmore back in the lineup. Uconn can continue its dominance and show why they are the clear favorites with a win. But, if Xavier wants to win the Big East, they need to protect home court and go into 2023 in first place.