UConn Hosts Baylor For Top-25 Battle Showdown
STORRS - The No. 25 UConn men's basketball team (5-3) is set for a marquee non-conference showdown on Wednesday night when it plays host to No. 15 Baylor (5-2) at Gampel Pavilion in the BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle. The contest will tip at 6:30 p.m. on FS1 with Brandon Gaudin and Bill Raftery on the call.
Fans are encouraged to arrive EARLY and to wear WHITE.
The Huskies and Bears have met only one time in the history of the two programs, with the meeting representing a match-up of two of the last three programs to win a national title. UConn is look to even its record in the Battle, currently sitting at 1-2 after a setback at Kansas last year. Baylor will be the first top-25 program to visit Gampel in non-league action since No. 15 Florida in 2019, and the match-up is the first ranked-ranked contest in Storrs since No. 7 UConn hosted No. 24 Texas in 2014.
UConn is 5-0 at home this season and carries a 29-1 record in its last 30 games at Gampel Pavilion. The Huskies boast an offense ranking in the top-10 in nearly every major statistical category and offensive metric, leading the BIG EAST in field goal percentage (50.7), assists per game (20.9) and assist/turnover ratio (2.03).
Baylor enters Wednesday's contest with a 5-2 overall record, checking it at No. 15 in the AP Poll and top-25 in both Kenpom and Torvik. Big man Norchad Omier, whom the Huskies faced in the 2023 Final Four with Miami, leads Baylor with 15.9 points and 10.3 rebounds per game while shooting 59.5 percent from the floor. Jeremy Roach adds 13.3 points and a team-high 4.7 assists per game, while Jayden Nunn adds 12.9 per contest and is shooting 48.9 percent from 3-point range.
Following the big match-up Wednesday, UConn faces another stiff test when it travels to Austin to face Texas on Dec. 8.
Latest Men's Basketball
- Karaban and McNeeley Sweep Weekly BIG EAST HonorsNEW YORK – After a 2-0 start to BIG EAST play, the UConn men's basketball duo of Alex Karaban and Liam McNeeley have swept the conference's weekly honors, as announced by the league on Monday (Dec. 23). McNeeley is Freshman of the Week for the fourth time and third-straight, while Karaban is Player of the Week for the first time in his career.
- No. 11 Huskies Hold On To Top Butler At HinkleINDIANAPOLIS – The No. 11 UConn men's basketball team (10-3, 2-0 BIG EAST) used a fast start and clutch late shot-making to hang on to a 78-74 victory at Butler (7-6, 0-2 BIG EAST) on Saturday afternoon at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Alex Karaban scored 21 points to lead all players, including a pair of 3-pointers in the final 2:30 to hold Butler at bay. The win was UConn's sixth-straight and second in a row to open conference play.
- No. 11 UConn Visits Butler On Saturday AfternoonINDIANAPOLIS – The No. 11 UConn men's basketball team (9-3, 1-0 BIG EAST) rides a five-game winning streak into its finale contest of 2024, visiting Butler (7-5, 0-1 BIG EAST) for a league match-up on Saturday afternoon at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse. Tip-off is set for high noon, airing exclusively on Peacock with Noah Reed and Tim Welsh on the call.
- No. 11 UConn Wins Wild Overtime BIG EAST OpenerHARTFORD – The No. 11 UConn men's basketball team (9-3, 1-0 BIG EAST) took a wild 94-89 victory over Xavier (8-4, 0-1) in overtime on Wednesday night in front of a sold-out crowd of 15,684 in the league opener at the XL Center. All five starters scored in double-figures and three finished with at least 20 in an offensive explosion that featured 11 ties and 22 lead changes.
- No. 11 Huskies Open BIG EAST Play vs. Xavier At XLHARTFORD – The No. 11 UConn men's basketball team (8-3, 0-0 BIG EAST) begins its dual BIG EAST title defense on Wednesday night when it hosts Xavier (8-3, 0-0 BIG EAST) in the league opener for both squads. Tip-off from the XL Center is set for 7 p.m. on FS1 with Alex Faust and Bill Raftery on the call.
- McNeeley Named BIG EAST Freshman of the WeekNEW YORK – For the third time this season, UConn men's basketball standout Liam McNeeley has been named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week, the league announced on Monday (Dec. 16) morning.