Recent Play Details

We don't lay big numbers like this very often, but it's warranted in this spot. UConn has lost five of its last six and desperately needs a "get right" game, and Butler is an ideal candidate. The Huskies crushed the Bulldogs by 22 in Indianapolis in mid-December to open their Big East campaign, but it's been a rocky road since then. Head coach Dan Hurley and an assistant missed the mid-week loss at Seton Hall after testing positive for Covid, and there were whispers that other members of the program were under the weather last week as well. Hurley will return this afternoon, and he will be bringing plenty of fire with him as his squad looks to snap this losing streak. As evident by that 68-46 scoreline in the first meeting, the Huskies present a matchup nightmare for the Bulldogs. Butler is the worst rebounding team in the Big East, and UConn's size and athletecism in the front court is going to overwhelm them. The Huskies out-rebounded the Bulldogs 54-30 in that first meeting. Butler is No. 347 in the country in offensive rebounding rate. UConn won last year's meetings by 17 and 19, so this isn't just a one-year issue for Butler. Adama Sanogo had 27 points and 14 rebounds in that first meeting, but opponents have held him in check over the last couple weeks. Look for him to break out of his mini-slump and cause havoc under the basket. UConn should roll.