For the first time in 54 weeks, UConn fell out of the AP Top 25 this week, following a 68-62 loss to St. John’s on Friday night in Storrs. However, the two-time defending national champion Huskies responded by securing Dan Hurley’s first-career win in Omaha, beating Creighton 70-66 behind a stellar outing from freshman Liam McNeeley.
After last season’s dominance, the Huskies have fallen out of the race for the regular season Big East crown, but if McNeeley morphs into one of college basketball’s best players after a midseason ankle injury, UConn can keep its chance of three-peating alive a little longer.
Heading into the weekend, all the Huskies need to do to begin a new AP Poll ranking streak is beat Big East bottom-dweller Seton Hall on the road, and here’s how you can watch the matchup on FOX.
How to watch UConn vs. Seton Hall
- Date: Saturday, February 15
- Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: Prudential Center
- How to Watch (TV): FOX
- Streaming: fubo TV
- UConn record: 17-7 (9-4)
- Seton Hall record: 6-18 (1-12)
UConn vs. Seton Hall odds, spread and total
Odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook
Moneyline
- UConn -1600
- Seton Hall +860
Spread
- UConn -14.5 (-110)
- Seton Hall +14.5 (-110)
Total
- 133.5 (over -115/under -105)
UConn injury report
- Ramon Walker Jr., G: OUT (hand)
Seton Hall injury report
- Emmanuel Okorafor, C: Questionable (ankle)
- Scotty Middleton, F: Questionable (ankle)
- Dylan Addae-Wusu, G: Questionable (ankle)
- Chaunce Jenkins, G: Questionable (hamstring)
Seton Hall and UConn series history
- Seton Hall all-time record vs. UConn: 23-49
UConn vs. Seton Hall prediction
UConn is finally getting a bit of reprieve after a three-game stretch against Marquette, St. John’s and Creighton. Dan Hurley ended that gauntlet 2-1, finally getting his first win in Omaha behind a 38-point performance from freshman Liam McNeeley, however, the Huskies still have a glaring flaw they’ve yet to address.
Yes, the Huskies still need to establish a reliable secondary scoring option game-in and game-out. With McNeeley clearly emerging as the alpha on the offensive end since returning from his injury, Hurley needs Solo Ball to continue to play at a high level for his team to contend for a three-peat and that just hasn’t happened. However, when UConn loses games, it’s typically for the same reason: turnovers.
UConn only has a 14.4% turnover rate on offense, and has a positive turnover differential, however, against quality defensive teams, the Huskies have given the ball away far too much. They survived Marquette despite turning it over 25 times and lost to St. John’s with 22 giveaways. UConn is averaging 14 turnovers in Big East losses this season with a -24 turnover differential across those four games.
Seton Hall has just one Big East victory this season and after Kadary Richmond left for St. John’s this offseason, Shaheen Holloway’s program fell apart. The Pirates aren’t good at much and defensively they allow very high shooting percentages to their opponents, but they do turn teams over. Despite playing at a slow pace, Seton Hall forces 14.1 turnovers a game which is a 19.1% turnover rate (95th percentile).
The Huskies will win this one, but Seton Hall will capitalize on just enough of UConn’s mistakes to hang around and make it close.