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(NCAAB) Houston vs. Connecticut,
Point Spread: 1.00 | -106.00 Houston (Away)
Result: Win
Point Spread: 1.00 | -106.00 Houston (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: The Huskies were ranked 18th in the AP's preseason poll but as the calendar gets set to turn to 2017, the 5-6 Huskies have six losses before the turn of the new year for the first time since the 1971-72 season. UConn looks for a fresh start with the beginning of conference play, when the Huskies host the 9-3 Houston Cougars in the American Athletic Conference opener for both teams late Wednesday afternoon in Hartford, Conn.
Houston: The Cougars are a veteran team, coming off a 22-win season. They are led in scoring by junior guard Rob Gray (20.1 PPG), while senior Damyean Dotson is second in scoring at 14.8 and is also the team's leading rebounder at 7.2 PPG. 6-7 forward Davis averages 11.1 & 6.5 but he's missed the last four games with finger and foot injuries and is questionable here. The team's fourth double digit scorer is the 6-10 Knowles, averaging 10.9 & 4.0. Houston averages 80.5 PPG (57th) but also leads the AAC and is ranked third nationally by hitting 42.9 percent of its three-point shots.
UConn: The Huskies are down to eight scholarship players because of season-ending injuries to freshman PG Alterique Gilbert (shoulder), freshman forward Mamadou Diarra (knee) and sophomore swingman Terry Larrier (knee). Larrier was averaging 13.5 PPG and Gilbert 10.3 PPG. Sophomore guard Adams (16.6-4.5-5.5) has made big strides from last year (7.3 PPG) and Rodney Purvis (12.8 & 4.8) has proven to be a reliable double digit scorer, now in his third season after transferring from NC State. UConn keeps hoping 7-0 center Amida Brimah will have a breakout season but it's his senior year and his current 6.9 & 5.3 numbers say, it's just more of the same.
The pick: The Huskies are coming off a 70-67 overtime loss to Auburn when they played the majority of the second half and overtime without star guard Jalen Adams, who suffered a gash on his head and a concussion. Adams is expected to play against the Cougars. "When we come back (from the holiday) we've got to make sure we execute the game plan," Ollie told reporters. "Shoot a little bit better, also hit the rebounds and feed our big guys. That starts with me as a coach, demanding that." That all sounds good but this UConn team looks to be in big trouble. Houston is a 10* play.
Houston: The Cougars are a veteran team, coming off a 22-win season. They are led in scoring by junior guard Rob Gray (20.1 PPG), while senior Damyean Dotson is second in scoring at 14.8 and is also the team's leading rebounder at 7.2 PPG. 6-7 forward Davis averages 11.1 & 6.5 but he's missed the last four games with finger and foot injuries and is questionable here. The team's fourth double digit scorer is the 6-10 Knowles, averaging 10.9 & 4.0. Houston averages 80.5 PPG (57th) but also leads the AAC and is ranked third nationally by hitting 42.9 percent of its three-point shots.
UConn: The Huskies are down to eight scholarship players because of season-ending injuries to freshman PG Alterique Gilbert (shoulder), freshman forward Mamadou Diarra (knee) and sophomore swingman Terry Larrier (knee). Larrier was averaging 13.5 PPG and Gilbert 10.3 PPG. Sophomore guard Adams (16.6-4.5-5.5) has made big strides from last year (7.3 PPG) and Rodney Purvis (12.8 & 4.8) has proven to be a reliable double digit scorer, now in his third season after transferring from NC State. UConn keeps hoping 7-0 center Amida Brimah will have a breakout season but it's his senior year and his current 6.9 & 5.3 numbers say, it's just more of the same.
The pick: The Huskies are coming off a 70-67 overtime loss to Auburn when they played the majority of the second half and overtime without star guard Jalen Adams, who suffered a gash on his head and a concussion. Adams is expected to play against the Cougars. "When we come back (from the holiday) we've got to make sure we execute the game plan," Ollie told reporters. "Shoot a little bit better, also hit the rebounds and feed our big guys. That starts with me as a coach, demanding that." That all sounds good but this UConn team looks to be in big trouble. Houston is a 10* play.
