CINCINNATI, OHIO – The No. 19 UConn men's basketball team (14-5, 6-2 BIG EAST) is back in action on Saturday night when it visits Xavier (12-8, 4-5 BIG EAST) to close the regular season series with the Musketeers. The contest will air on FOX Primetime Hoops at 8 p.m. with Jason Benetti and Robbie Hummel on the call.
The Huskies will meet the Musketeers for the 12th time in the history of the respective programs, dating back to the 1991 NCAA Tournament. The last nine meetings have come as BIG EAST foes and UConn has won four-straight in the series, including a 94-89 overtime victory in Hartford on Dec. 18. In that win to open league play three Huskies scored 20+, including Tarris Reed Jr. posting a 20-point, 13-rebound double-double and Solo Ball pumping in 22. UConn is coming off a Tuesday night overtime win over Butler, while Xavier had a three-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday in an overtime affair of its own at St. John's.
Ball led the Huskies with a career-high 23 points on Tuesday night, adding a personal-best six rebounds and knocking down five 3-pointers. Alex Karaban added 19 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three blocks while Samson Johnson and Reed Jr. combined for 28 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks from the pivot spot. The Huskies led by as many as 15 in the first half but aw an eight-point halftime lead dissipate before a buzzer-beat attempt was off the mark. UConn pulled out its second overtime win in league play thanks in part to a Ball go-ahead 3-pointer in a decisive 8-0 run.
Karaban leads UConn this season with 15.8 points per game and has added 5.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 41.3 percent from 3-point range – making him the only player in the nation with such a diverse stat line. Ball adds 14.2 points a night and is shooting 45.1 percent from beyond the arc, putting him among the top-10 nationally. Hassan Diarra is scoring in double-figures during league play and leads the BIG EAST in assists per game in all games (6.7) and during league play (8.0). He has been the trigger of an offense that ranks top-ten nationally in nearly every major category, including first in the country with a 1.92 assist/turnover ratio.
Xavier sits at 12-8 on the year and 4-5 in the BIG EAST after a 79-71 loss at MSG in overtime to St. John's on Wednesday. Prior to that Xavier had won three-straight, including a top-10 road win at Marquette. Ryan Conwell leads XU with 16.7 points per game while Zach Freemantle adds 16.6 and a team-high 7.6 rebounds. The Musketeers boast a top-40 defense nationally, per Kenpom, and hold opponents to 38.2 percent shooting.
UConn returns home after Saturday night's contest to close its regular season series with DePaul on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at the XL Center.
Players Mentioned
- G
- 6' 2"
- Senior
- F
- 6' 10"
- Junior
- F
- 6' 8"
- Redshirt Sophomore
- G
- 6' 3"
- Freshman
- C
- 6' 10"
- Junior
Players Mentioned
- 6' 2"
- Senior
- G
- 6' 10"
- Junior
- F
- 6' 8"
- Redshirt Sophomore
- F
- 6' 3"
- Freshman
- G
- 6' 10"
- Junior
- C
Latest Men's Basketball
- Karaban Named To Oscar Robertson Trophy Watch ListINDIANAPOLIS – UConn men's basketball star Alex Karaban has been named to the Midseason Watch List for the Oscar Robertston Trophy, as announced by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association on Monday (Feb. 3). Karaban is one of 50 members of the watch list who will be considered as contenders for the National Player of the Year.
- Solo Ball Named BIG EAST Player of the WeekNEW YORK – UConn men's basketball sophomore Solo Ball has been named BIG EAST Player of the Week, the conference announced on Monday morning (Feb. 3). It is the first Player of the Week nod of Ball's career and his fourth weekly conference honor.
- Ball Goes Off, #25 UConn Wins At #9 MarquetteMILWAUKEE, Wis. – Solo Ball posted career-highs of 25 points and 11 rebounds to lead the No. 25 UConn men's basketball team (16-6, 8-3 BIG EAST) to a massive 77-69 win at No. 9 Marquette (18-4, 9-2 BIG EAST) on Saturday night at the Fiserv Forum. The win was UConn's ninth-straight over a top-10 foe and saw it improve to 3-0 this season against ranked opponents.
- #25 Huskies Visit #9 Marquette For Saturday Night ShowdownMILWAUKEE, Wis. – The No. 25 UConn men's basketball team (15-6, 7-3 BIG EAST) heads to Fiserv Forum on Saturday night for a marquee showdown at No. 9 Marquette (18-3, 9-1 BIG EAST). The FOX Primetime Hoops showdown will air at 8 p.m. with Gus Johnson, Jim Jackson and Kristina Pink on the call.
- #25 Huskies Rally To Top DePaul At XL CenterHARTFORD – The No. 25 UConn men's basketball team (15-6, 7-3 BIG EAST) rallied from a halftime deficit to top DePaul (10-12, 1-10 BIG EAST) by a score of 72-61 on Wednesday night at the XL Center. UConn was down as many as 14 in the first half before storming back with a huge second frame.
- #25 UConn Welcomes DePaul To XL for CvC GameHARTFORD – The No. 25 UConn men's basketball team (14-6, 6-3 BIG EAST) is back in action on Wednesday night when it welcomes DePaul (10-11, 1-9 BIG EAST) to the XL Center. The Huskies and Blue Demons will conclude their regular season series at 8 p.m. on Peacock with John Fanta and Jordan Cornette on the call.
