UConn puts their undefeated Big East record on the line as they travel to take on a hot Villanova team. Can they avoid slipping up against the upset-minded Wildcats?
TV Schedule: Wednesday, January 8, 6:30 pm ET. FS1
Where: Finneran Pavilion, Villanova, Pennsylvania
One of the fiercest rivalries in the Big East takes center stage on Wednesday night, as the ninth-ranked UConn Huskies (12-3) travel to Villanova to clash with a suddenly surging Wildcats team. For the Wildcats, who sit at 10-5 overall and 3-1 inside the league, it will be an opportunity not just to secure their biggest win of the season but to flip the script on a series in which they've lost four straight.
Since a disastrous run in the Maui Invitational that saw them lose three games, the Huskies have gone straight back to their winning ways. They handled Baylor, Texas, and Gonzaga to finish off their non-conference before reeling off four straight to begin Big East play, including a come-from-behind victory over Providence over the weekend.
In much the same way, Villanova has turned their season around after a shaky November start. Following a heartbreaking loss to Maryland ahead of Thanksgiving, the Wildcats have been near perfect, with their lone defeat coming on the road to Creighton. Their 100-point performance in a win over DePaul this past weekend was one of their best showings of the entire Kyle Neptune era, as they shot 60% from the field, hit 16 threes, and played stifling defense against the Blue Demons.
The hot shooting has been the defining factor of both teams playing such strong basketball throughout December and into January, but look for the battle in the paint to set the tone for this matchup. Villanova forward Eric Dixon has solidified himself as one of the best bigs anywhere in the nation, scoring 25 or more points in seven of his last nine games. He'll continue to be the fuel of this offense as he battles the likes of Alex Karaban, Tarris Reed Jr., and the Huskies.
It will be interesting to see how UConn's offense looks moving forward without star freshman Liam McNeeley. They survived their first test without him by overcoming Providence, but it's clear they'll miss his playmaking and floor-spacing ability. Veteran Hassan Diarra is one player that could capitalize on McNeeley's absence, finishing with 19 points and eight assists over 38 minutes against the Friars.
Despite UConn's impressive start to conference action, the next couple games will tell us a lot about them. Going on the road to Villanova and Georgetown in the same week is no easy task in the best of times, but particularly so after a hard-fought victory and without McNeeley.
Villanova offers quite a real challenge to the Huskies in a game that now has significant Big East implications. However, their lack of consistent scoring beyond Dixon makes them a rather one-dimensional team, as opposed all the weapons UConn can throw at them. It should a fun one in Finneran Pavilion, but I suspect the Huskies survive the upset attempt here.
Prediction: UConn, 76 Villanova, 70