University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
DePaul
UCONN MBB RETURNS TO BIG EAST TOURNAMENT AGAINST DePAUL
3/11/2021 1:33:00 AM | Men's Basketball
NEW YORK – After a nine-year absence, the UConn men's basketball team returns to the BIG EAST Tournament Thursday night, meeting DePaul in a quarterfinal match-up at Madison Square Garden. Tipoff is scheduled for 9 p.m., televised by FS1.
UConn (14-6), the No. 3 seed, begins tournament play as the hottest team in the league, riding the crest of a four-game winning streak and boasting six wins in its last seven games. DePaul (5-13), the No. 11 seed, is on the upswing as well, having reached the quarterfinals after upsetting No. 6 seed Providence, 70-62, in Wednesday's opening round.
The game's winner will advance to Friday's semifinals (9 p.m., FS1), taking on the winner of the quarterfinal match between No. 2 Creighton and No. 10 Butler.
The Huskies, who last played in the BIG EAST Tournament in 2012 before the league broke up and UConn became part of the American Athletic Conference, are playing their best ball of the season at the right time. Sophomore James Bouknight, a First Team All-BIG EAST pick, is leading the scoring at 20.2 ppg and is third in rebounding at 5.6 per game. Junior R.J. Cole is second in scoring (12.6) and leads in assists (4.3), while junior Tyrese Martin is also averaging double-figures at 11.0 and is the team's top rebounder.
UConn's strength, however, is in its defense, anchored by senior forward Isaiah Whaley, who was named the co-Defensive Player of the Year by a vote of the BIG EAST coaches. Whaley is among the nation's leaders in blocked shots (2.7). The fifth starter is freshman Adama Sanogo (6.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg), who was named to the BIG EAST All-Freshman team. Senior Tyler Polley was named the BIG EAST Sixth Man of the Year.
DePaul struggled much of the season, in no small part due to COVID-19 issues, but the Blue Demons battled Providence evenly in the first half then took charge in the second by dominating the boards, 46-35. Charlie Moore and Javon Freeman-Liberty each had 21 points to pace the Blue Demons, and each also led the rebounding with 7 boards apiece. The are the Blue Demons' top scorers, with Moore averaging 14.8 and Freeman-Liberty at 14.0.
DePaul, coached by former longtime UConn assistant and associate head coach Dave Leitao, bowed to UConn twice during the regular season, 82-61 at Gampel Pavilion on Dec. 30, and 60-53 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago on Jan. 11.
