19. UConn Huskies - 16-6 (8-3 Big East)
After losing two of the last three games, it was understandable why Huskie fans were getting restless concerning the potential return of freshman Liam McNeeley, who has been out for weeks with an ankle injury. The good news is that he’s reportedly set to return soon but, in the end, didn’t get cleared to play in the last two games.
UConn took on perennial Big East bottom-dweller DePaul, and they must have taken them lightly, as they were down eight at halftime. In the end, UConn woke up and held them to just 24 points in the final 20 minutes for the 72-61 win. Solo Ball and Tarris Reed each had 16 points, while Jaylin Stewart chipped in with 15.
The big game for the Huskies was against Marquette on the road this weekend. Even without McNeeley, they dominated early on, up 40-20 to start the game. UConn coasted for a 77-69 victory, led by 25 points and 11 rebounds from Ball, along with 15 points from Alex Karaban.
This win keeps UConn right in the mix for a Big East regular-season title, now one game out of first place. They have another key matchup coming up, taking on St. John’s at home. After that is a road battle at Creighton, the other top-tier team in the conference.