4. Connecticut (18-1)
When on their game, the Huskies have shown us in recent years that this team can compete with anyone. UConn has won important games this season, beating teams like BYU, Florida, and Illinois, while looking pretty impressive through this first cycle of conference play in the Big East. It’s not always easy street for the Huskies but can anyone realistically challenge them in this league?
Tuesday brought a rare chance for a ranked win, as UConn survived 69-64 at Seton Hall. Tarris Reed Jr. led that charge with 21 points and 9 rebounds while Alex Karaban added 13 points against the Pirates in another win. Saturday’s action became another close call on the road with the Huskies eking out a 64-62 win at Georgetown. Reed was great again with 15 points and 11 rebounds as UConn did just enough to overcome another hungry rival away from home.
Despite two awful shooting nights from outside the arc, the Huskies survived a pair of conference road games and now sit 9-0 in the league. You’ll be hard pressed to find a team more in control in their conference right now, though Dan Hurley hopes those offensive struggles turn themselves around very soon. Following this brilliant work, the Huskies get a nice break before taking on an equally hungry Villanova team next Saturday.