Bracketology 2024: Christmas gifts for UConn, Purdue, Kansas, Arizona, and Houston

No. 5 UConn Huskies - Improved perimeter defense

A year after winning the national title, the UConn Huskies are really good again. So good in fact that they might have the best chance at repeating as champs since Florida did it in 2006 and 2007. The 10-1 Huskies hold wins over the likes of Texas, North Carolina, and Gonzaga. The only time they've been beaten was a 69-65 loss at Kansas.

The loss to Kansas illustrates why an improved perimeter defense needs to be at the top of the Christmas wish list for Dan Hurley's team. It isn't about the volume of three-pointers allowed by the Huskies as prior to Wednesday’s game against Seton Hall, opponents shoot 18 per game, it’s the percentage at which they shoot it. In that loss to Kansas, the Jayhawks shot 64% on just 14 shots and that was one of the differences in the game.

On the year Huskies' opponents have shot 36% from beyond the arc and that includes holding Gonzaga to a much improved 2-12. Before the Gonzaga game, the Huskies allowed their opponents to make 70 of their 187 attempts, a 37.4% clip. While the win over Gonzaga was a good start If the Huskies want to repeat as champions they're going to have to find a better way to defend the perimeter more consistently.