University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Providence College
UConn, Providence Add To Longtime Rivalry
1/3/2023 6:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UConn Athletic Communications / Jan. 3, 2023
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Talk about a longtime rivalry? How about one that dates back 95 years?
The UConn and Providence College basketball teams first met in 1928 and have clashed 74 times since (UConn holds a 45-30 edge). Game No. 76 between the New England neighbors takes place on Wednesday when the No. 4 Huskies (14-1 overall, 3-1 BIG EAST) travel to the Amica Mutual Pavilion to meet the surging Friars (12-3, 4-0).
UConn will be looking to bounce back from its first loss of the season, while Providence will be trying to extend its seven-game winning streak.
"I think the further you get away from losing, you forget what it feels like and it's a bad feeling," UConn coach Dan Hurley said. "And the further you get away from losing, you start to get further away from your identity. There's been cracks from us getting away from our identity, which begins at the defensive end of the court. That defensive performance on Saturday (against Xavier), both in the game plan and the execution, were very poor."
UConn allowed Xavier to shoot 53.8 percent overall in an 83-73 loss, by far the highest the Huskies have allowed all season.
"There were opportunities for us in that game," Hurley said. "We came out in the second half and got it (the lead) to seven and then just a really, really brutal defensive effort."
The Huskies will be going from one heavily hostile environment to another even more so, which Hurley is extremely familiar with after six seasons as the head coach at Rhode Island.
"Basketball in Rhode Island, when you have a good team there are great fan bases," the UConn coach said. "They have an intensity to them, they are loud the entire game. They are into the game from when you walk into the arena until the game ends. But we get the chance to play the defending (BIG EAST) regular-season champs on their home floor."
The hostile environment is one thing, but the Huskies are much more concerned with the players on the Friars. After a mediocre start as a host of Providence newcomers learned to play together, the Friars seemed to have jelled as a team and are currently on a roll, 4-0 in conference play. Leading the charge is sophomore swingman Bryce Hopkins, a transfer from Kentucky, who leads the team in scoring (15.7) and rebounding (9.5).
"Whew, yeah, he's a big worry," Hurley said. "He looks to me like a Player of the Year candidate. Just his blend of athleticism, strength, and fluidity. He pushes the ball off the defensive glass like Andre (Jackson) does for us."
Devin Carter, who came from South Carolina, and Noah Locke, who came from Louisville, have also crashed the Friars' starting lineup, joining Providence veterans Ed Croswell and Jared Bynum.
The Friars average 80.2 points per game and have a plus-12.5 scoring margin and a plus-9.9 rebounding advantage. They have yet to lose at home, boasting an 8-0 record.
UConn is led by junior big man Adama Sanogo, who tops the Huskies in scoring (17.8) and rebounding (6.7). Sophomore Jordan Hawkins is also averaging double figures (14.6). Junior Andre Jackson Jr. leads the team in assists (5.1).
"I knew there were things we had to fix and those things just caught up with us," Hawkins said about the Huskies' first loss of the season. "So those are things we have to fix now. The main thing is to get back to our identity."
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