UConn men's basketball is gearing up for a crucial showdown against No. 15 St.
John's, aiming to keep their Big East title hopes alive and settle the score after a tough loss at Madison Square Garden. The Huskies showed resilience by bouncing back from a setback against Creighton, cruising past Villanova with a commanding second half.
Meanwhile, St. John's is riding high, defending the nation's second-longest active winning streak at PeoplesBank Arena, having last lost to Providence on January 3rd.
As the game tips off, all eyes will be on St. John's center Zuby Ejiofor, who controlled the opening tip. However, a quick turnover gave UConn an early opportunity to seize momentum.
Starting Lineup
UConn is sticking with its trusted starting five: guards Solo Ball and Silas Demary Jr., forwards Braylon Mullins and Alex Karaban, and center Tarris Reed Jr. With reserve forward Jaylin Stewart sidelined due to a knee injury, expect more minutes from wing Jayden Ross off the bench.
Why Hartford?
The decision to play St. John's in Hartford stems from UConn's previous success there. Coach Dan Hurley had mentioned that after a loss at Gampel, it made sense to return to the XL Center, where they had triumphed the year before.
Referees
Veteran referee Roger Ayers will lead the officiating crew, joined by Brian O'Connell and Tony Chiazza at PeoplesBank Arena.
Injury Update
Jaylin Stewart is out for Wednesday's game due to right knee inflammation, with his status being evaluated day-to-day.
How to Watch
Catch the game on Peacock and NBC Sports Network at 7 p.m. ET, or tune in to the UConn Sports Network and Fox Sports Radio 97.9 for radio coverage.
Matchup Preview
The last encounter saw St. John's exploiting UConn's defensive vulnerability, particularly with their free throw to field goal ratio.
Zuby Ejiofor was a standout, drawing fouls and contributing significantly to St. John's victory.
UConn's frontcourt will need to step up to keep him in check.
UConn's offense will aim to regain its fluidity against St. John's tough defense. In their previous matchup, the Huskies struggled with turnovers, notably from Silas Demary Jr., who had a mixed performance despite his 18 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
Bench Activation
Coach Dan Hurley is looking to better utilize his bench, which played a pivotal role in their win over Villanova. After limited bench minutes in their first meeting with St. John's, Hurley plans to give his reserves more time on the court to counter the Red Storm's high-pressure style.
"I think I've mismanaged my bench probably for the past two weeks, and I've got to get those guys on the court. They're a big reason why we had some of the best non-conference wins of anyone this year," Hurley admitted.
As the Huskies prepare for this pivotal clash, the stakes are high, and the energy in Hartford is palpable. Fans can expect an intense battle as UConn fights to stay in the Big East title race.