UConn, Cincy look to get on track in regular season finale as Big East tournament looms

Saturday, March 8, 2008
4 PM Gampel Pavilion
Storrs, CT

Both UConn and Cincinnati need some momentum heading into the Big East tournament next week, but after Saturday, one of these teams won’t be feeling too hot heading into Madison Square Garden.

No.14 UConn has bounced back and then some, following their trials and tribulations a year ago when Jim Calhoun’s Huskies missed the NCAA Tournament. Things have changed dramatically around Storrs this season, with UConn (23-7, 12-5) firmly planting themselves as one of the upper echelon teams in the Big East. The highlight of UConn’s season to date has been their 10-game winning streak that lasted from mid-January to mid-February. During the streak, the Huskies beat three ranked opponents, including a gutsy win at Indiana without guards Jerome Dyson and Doug Wiggins, who were suspended from the team the day before, due to drug and alcohol related incidents.

Since winning 10 straight, UConn has played just .500 ball since, going 2-2. Providence handed UConn an 85-76 loss on Thursday night, a game in which UConn hasn’t looked that bad in quite some time. The Huskies were held to just 39 percent shooting, while committing a season-worst 21 turnovers, and surrendering the second-most points they’ve allowed all year. UConn looked as if they tried to coast throughout the game, more focused on next week’s Big East tournament than the Friars. Though UConn has already locked up one of the four coveted byes in the Big East tournament, and the Huskies won’t finish any worse than fourth, UConn came crashing back to Earth, as the duo of Weyinmi Efejuku and Jeff Xavier dished out a harsh dose of reality. The Providence duo combined for 46 points, leading the Friars to a season sweep of the Huskies. UConn will look to re-focus against Cincinnati and collect their eight straight win at home this year.

Cincinnati will be accompanying UConn into the Big East tournament next week, but the Bearcats have been in a free fall in the latter stages of the regular season. The Bearcats (13-16, 8-9) have lost four in a row, falling into a three-way tie for eighth place in the Big East following an ugly 60-54 loss at home to DePaul on Thursday. Cincinnati has been ineffective and lethargic on offense of late. Senior John Williamson was the lone Bearcat to record double figures in scoring in the loss against DePaul. Williamson led Cincy with 19 points, but no other player for Cincinnati finished with more than eight points. The Bearcats haven’t scored more than 60 points in five of their past eight games.

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Cincinnati pushed UConn to limit in their first meeting, losing 84-83 in Cincinnati. UConn has excelled at home, boasting a robust 13-1 home record, whereas Cincinnati is just 3-9 away from Fifth Third Arena and have lost their past two road games by an average of 13 points per contest.

by Frank Minniti
BigEast-fans.com Director of Content

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