16. Connecticut (8-3)
After winning the last two national titles, Connecticut entered this season with sky-high expectations once again. Only one starter returned from last season though some new talent has Dan Hurley just as excited for this season. A rough showing included three losses at Maui, but the Huskies have quickly rebuilt their reputation beginning with that nice win over Baylor last week.
This week’s glory began way back on Sunday with a 76-65 road win at Texas. The Huskies played well against a tough SEC team, getting 21 points and 11 rebounds from Alex Karaban in the process. This team was then at Madison Square Garden on Saturday and notched another ranked win, beating Gonzaga 77-71 in a fantastic showdown. Freshman Liam McNeeley starred with 26 points and 8 rebounds as the Huskies proved again that they are for real.
We were very concerned about the direction of this program when November ended, but these last three wins have all been significant. We can’t just forget about the poor defensive showing in Hawaii, though the Huskies are an elite offense with immense potential when healthy and playing solid ball. Big East play now begins for the Huskies, with a slew of winnable games in the coming weeks.