University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Marquette
UCONN MBB GOES ON THE ROAD TO CHALLENGE MARQUETTE
12/20/2021 10:07:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UConn Athletic Communications / Dec. 20, 2021
The UConn men's basketball team plays its first BIG EAST Conference road game of the season on Tuesday as it travels to Milwaukee to face Marquette at the Fiserv Forum at 9 p.m. (FS1).
The Huskies (9-3, 0-1) will be out to even their BIG EAST record after suffering a 57-53 loss to Providence in the league opener last Saturday. Marquette (8-4, 0-1) also dropped its conference opener on Saturday at Xavier.
UConn has met Marquette 11 times overall, all as BIG EAST colleagues, and has a 5-6 record against the Golden Eagles. However, the Huskies have a 3-2 edge in games at Marquette, including last season's 65-54 victory at Fiserv Forum.
UConn has been led by a consistently strong effort from grad student guard R.J. Cole, who leads the team in scoring (16.0) and assists (4.5), and who has reached double figures in 10 of 12 games this year, including three 20-plus games.
Senior Tyrese Martin (13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds) returned to the lineup against Providence after missing four games with a wrist injury and was an immediate factor with 15 points and 5 rebounds.
The rest of the probable starting lineup includes grad Isaiah Whaley (7.8 points, 5.2 rebounds), junior Akok Akok (4.8 points, 4.8 rebounds) and sophomore Andre Jackson (6.9 points, 8.1 rebounds), who has registered two 14-rebound games this season.
Getting closer to returning to action after four missed games due to an abdominal strain is sophomore Adama Sanogo, the team's second-leading scorer (15.6) and third-leading rebounder (6.3). Sanogo's status against Marquette will be a gametime decision, but his presence on the floor would clearly give the Huskies a lift.
The Huskies rank high among BIG EAST teams in offensive rebounding (1st), blocked shots (1st), field goal percentage defense (1st), scoring margin (2nd) and rebounding margin (2nd).
Marquette will be looking to snap a two-game losing streak in its conference home opener against UConn. The Golden Eagles' four losses have all been to difficult opponents – St. Bonaventure, Wisconsin, UCLA, and Xavier.
Marquette is led in scoring (15.3) and rebounding (7.8) by redshirt freshman forward Justin Lewis, while redshirt freshman guard Tyler Kolek leads in assists (5.8).
The Golden Eagles, who are 5-1 at home, have a +3.5 scoring edge over opponents, but a -1.9 rebounding deficit. They shoot 43.1 percent overall as a team, and allow 41.6 percent. Marquette averages 26 three-point attempts per game, and averages 8.4 makes.
Following the game at Marquette, UConn will break for Christmas before resuming the schedule on Dec. 28 at Xavier. The Huskies next home game will be on New Year's Day, when they entertain Butler at 4 p.m. Â Â Â
