University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Providence College
UConn MBB Set To Renew Rivalry Against Providence
2/9/2021 10:57:00 AM | Men's Basketball
UConn Athletic Communications / Feb. 9, 2021
The UConn men's basketball team renews a long-standing New England rivalry when it travels to Providence College for a BIG EAST contest against the Friars on Wednesday afternoon at on-campus Alumni Hall. The game is set for a 4 p.m. tipoff and will be televised on FS1.
The UConn-Providence series is 93 years old, beginning in 1928. Overall, the teams have met 72 times, with UConn holding a 44-28 edge. As charter members of the original BIG EAST Conference, they played 60 games as league rivals with UConn holding a 37-23 advantage. The last meeting between the teams was a 63-59 UConn win in overtime on March 9, 2013.
Still missing the services of leading scorer (20.3) James Bouknight, who has missed the last six games while recuperating from elbow surgery, UConn (8-4 overall, 5-4 BIG EAST) is led by junior Tyrese Martin (11.7 ppg, 7/1 rpg) and junior R.J. Cole (11.0 ppg, 3.8 apg). Senior Isaiah Whaley (8.3 ppg, 2.9 bpg), junior Brendan Adams (5.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg) and freshman Adama Sanogo (6.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, .556 fg pct.) complete the usual starting lineup.
Although the Huskies dropped a hard-fought 80-73 decision to Seton Hall last time out, they got big lifts off the bench from sophomore Jalen Gaffney, who scored a career-high 20 points, and freshman Andre Jackson, who returned from a wrist injury to score 7 points and corral 4 rebounds.
UConn still leads the BIG EAST in scoring defense, holding opponents to 64.8 points per game. The Huskies also rank second in rebound margin (+2.7), second in offensive rebounding (12.1), second in steals (7.3) and second in blocks (4.4).
Providence (9-10, 5-8) is led by the one-two scoring punch of senior center Nate Watson (17.9 ppg) and junior guard David Duke (17.5). The pair are also the team's top two rebounders (Watson 6.8, Duke 6.0) and Duke leads the Friars in assists (5.1). They will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak.
UConn will remain on the road for its next game, traveling to Cincinnati to meet Xavier on Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Cintas Center. Tipoff time is at noon.
