A storm is brewing for UConn men’s basketball-and this one has nothing to do with the weather.
Forget the snow sweeping across the East Coast. And no, it’s not Rick Pitino’s Red Storm just yet either (though that matchup is coming soon enough).
The real storm? It’s the gauntlet of games No.
2 UConn is about to walk into-a stretch that could define their Big East season.
The Huskies are sitting pretty at 18-1 overall and a perfect 8-0 in Big East play. But that record, as impressive as it is, has come against the conference’s bottom tier. Now, the real tests begin.
It starts Saturday at PeoplesBank Arena, where UConn faces a Villanova team that’s quietly reestablishing itself under first-year head coach Kevin Willard. The Wildcats, at 15-4 and 6-2 in the Big East, are one of three teams nipping at UConn’s heels in the standings. This will be the first time the Huskies face one of those top-tier challengers in league play-and it won’t be the last.
Next up: Providence comes to Storrs on Tuesday, followed by a trip to Omaha to take on Creighton. That’s a building where UConn has struggled in recent years-winning just once in their last five tries.
That lone victory required 38 points from Liam McNeeley to get it done. The Bluejays know how to defend their home court, and they’ll be ready.
Then comes what we’ll call “Pitino Week.” On February 3, UConn hosts Xavier, now led by Richard Pitino.
Just three days later, it’s a Friday night showdown at Madison Square Garden against Rick Pitino and St. John’s.
That’s the kind of week that tests not just talent, but stamina, focus, and maturity.
To be fair, UConn hasn’t exactly been dodging competition. Their nonconference slate was stacked, and they came out of it 5-1 with wins over Arizona (No.
1), Illinois (No. 11), BYU (No.
13), Florida (No. 16), Kansas (No. 19), and Texas.
The only blemish? That loss to Arizona.
So they’ve proven they can win against elite teams.
But in Big East play, the road’s been a little smoother. Their first eight games came against the league’s bottom seven squads-Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, Xavier, DePaul (twice), Butler, and Seton Hall.
Those teams have a combined Big East record of 18-39. That’s not exactly murderers’ row.
Dan Hurley has voiced his frustration with the condensed schedule-five games in 13 days is no joke-but the truth is, UConn’s early conference schedule gave them a chance to build momentum. Now, after a much-needed week off, the Huskies are stepping into the fire.
Over the next two weeks, UConn’s mettle will be tested in a way it hasn’t been since the nonconference grind. And it doesn’t let up after that.
A late-February stretch features Creighton, a road trip to Villanova, St. John’s, and Seton Hall-all in a 10-day window.
It’s the kind of stretch that separates contenders from champions. UConn’s got the talent, the depth, and the coaching. Now we find out if they’ve got the toughness to match.