UConn Gearing Up for Providence Rematch After Overtime Thriller-and a 6 A.M. Wake-Up Call
Coming off an emotional overtime win over Villanova on Saturday night, UConn head coach Dan Hurley wasn’t basking in the victory for long. With just two days to prepare for a rematch against Providence-and a snowstorm barreling toward Connecticut-Hurley made one thing clear: the Huskies were getting back to work immediately.
And by immediately, he meant 6 a.m. Sunday.
“Is that legal?” Hurley quipped as he left the postgame press conference, half-joking about the early morning grind. “If it’s not legal with the NCAA... does anybody know any judges or anything?”
That last line was a tongue-in-cheek nod to the recent situation at Alabama, where a local judge-who also happened to be a booster-reportedly helped clear NBA G-League player Charles Bediako to suit up for the Crimson Tide in their matchup against Tennessee. Hurley’s comment drew laughs, but the early practice was no joke. UConn’s team Instagram confirmed it: the Huskies were in the gym before sunrise.
That kind of urgency makes sense. The Huskies know Providence is coming in hungry-and looking for revenge.
The last time these two teams met, back on January 7, UConn pulled off one of the wildest comebacks of the season. Down 11 with under three minutes to go, the Huskies stormed back to force overtime and eventually walked away with a 103-98 win in Providence. That game was a reminder of just how explosive this UConn team can be when it locks in.
Since then, the Friars have struggled to regain their footing. While they lead the Big East in scoring at 89.2 points per game, they sit dead last in the conference in defense, giving up 86.1 points a night. That imbalance has been at the heart of their recent slide, and it’s something UConn will undoubtedly look to exploit again.
But don’t expect Providence to roll over. They’ve got firepower, especially in the backcourt.
Jaylin Sellers is putting up 16.0 points per game, while Stefan Vaaks adds 15.3. Jamier Jones brings versatility at forward with 12.4 points, and Corey Floyd Jr. and Oswin Erhnumwunse round out a starting five that can score in bunches.
UConn, meanwhile, continues to lean on a balanced attack. Solo Ball leads the way at 14.6 points per game, with center Tarris Reed Jr. right behind at 14.2.
Alex Karaban’s 13.8 points and floor spacing make him a matchup problem, while Silas Demary Jr. (10.2 ppg) and Jaylin Stewart (5.2 ppg) round out a group that’s shown it can win in a variety of ways.
Tuesday night’s tip at 7:30 p.m. will mark the second meeting this month between these two Big East rivals, and it’s shaping up to be another high-energy battle. If the first game was any indication, fans should buckle up for another wild ride.
And if UConn comes out with extra juice early? Don’t be surprised. That 6 a.m. practice might’ve been tough-but it could be just what the Huskies needed to stay sharp in one of the most competitive stretches of their season.