University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Providence
UCONN MBB BEGINS BIG EAST PLAY VS. PROVIDENCE
12/16/2021 7:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UConn Athletic Communications / Dec. 17, 2021
The second season of its second stint in the BIG EAST Conference begins Saturday for the UConn men's basketball team when it plays host to longtime New England and conference rival Providence at the XL Center in Hartford. The game, expected to be a sellout, is set for a 5 p.m. tipoff (FOX).
The No. 20/22 Huskies (9-2) will be meeting a red-hot team in Providence (10-1), which is riding a five-game winning streak since suffering a 58-40 loss to Virginia in the Legends Classic at the Prudential Center, the Friars' lone defeat of the season.
UConn completed its 2021-22 non-conference schedule with a 74-64 win over St. Bonaventure in the Never Forget Tribute at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., last Saturday.
Graduate student guard R.J. Cole leads the Huskies in scoring (16.0) and assists (4.2), while both sophomore Adama Sanogo (15.6) and senior Tyrese Martin (12.9) – who have both been out with injuries – are also averaging in double figures. Martin, who may return to action against Providence, is the Huskies' top rebounder (7.7), with sophomore Andre Jackson a close second (7.5).
Through its non-conference slate, UConn has produced a +19.7 scoring advantage over its opponents and a +8.6 rebounding advantage. Besides scoring margin, the Huskies lead the conference in offensive rebounds (15.0) and blocked shots (7.0) and they are second in field goal percentage defense (.375), rebound margin (+8.6) and turnover margin (+3.9).
Providence is led in scoring by grad student center Nate Watson (15.3), with grad Al Durham (13.5), senior A.J. Reeves (10.7) and grad Noah Horchler (10.6) also in double figures. Horchler is the top rebounder (8.2) and Durham hands out the most assists (3.7).
The Friars, who average 70.9 ppg, are shooting an impressive .450 as a team and .322 from three-point range. They hold a +8.6 scoring advantage and +4.5 rebounding advantage over opponents. Providence's one true away game so far was a 63-58 win at Wisconsin.
In 35 BIG EAST Conference openers, UConn has a 17-18 record, 8-8 at home.
