UConn plays host to DePaul

THE FACTS

Time and Date: Wednesday, December 30th @ 9:00PM

Records: UConn (3-1) | DePaul (1-1)

Rankings: UConn (#47 KenPom) | DePaul (#87 KenPom)

TV Channel: CBSS

ODDS

Spread: UConn (-8.5)

Over/Under: 143.0

GAME PREVIEW

One of the toughest in-conference opponents in the Big East hasn’t been a team in particular, but rather COVID-19. Although most teams across the country have battled against their own struggles with the current pandemic, no team has arguably had a more difficult bout with it than DePaul. As of right now, they’ve played 2 games on the season.

To add insult to DePaul’s injury, their 1 loss out of the 2 games played came to a gritty Providence squad, where AJ Reeves’ game-tying 3-pointer sent the game to an eventual double-overtime defeat for the Blue Demons.

UConn hasn’t had an easy path either, as multiple cancellations have led them to playing only 4 games, with their most recent game coming to a loss to the hands of #9 Creighton.

In the first Big East matchup between the two schools since 2013, UConn looks to find secondary scoring to complement sophomore guard James Bouknight, while DePaul simply looks to continue playing games. In recent press conferences, Hurley has had the back of Howard-transfer R.J. Cole, who missed key free throws down the stretch of the Huskies’ game against Creighton.

Under the direction of former UConn assistant Dave Leitao, DePaul looks to follow in the success of 6’7 sophomore guard Romeo Weems, who dropped 21 points in their loss to Providence.

Although DePaul has had limited success in the newer rendition of the Big East following the conference realignment fiasco, they look to diminish the Huskies’ hype in their re-entrance to the conference at Gampel Pavilion tonight.