NEW YORK CITY − It’s known as the “city that never sleeps” and a long night is exactly what’s in store for Xavier head coach Richard Pitino as the Musketeers prepare to face No. 2 seed UConn Huskies (No. 6 AP Poll) in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, March 12.
“Not going to get a lot of rest tonight,” Pitino said. “We’ll have to dive into the film. As we said before, we have not played them well at all. But I think we’ve gotten better, I really do.”
Xavier lost to UConn at Cintas Center on New Year’s Eve, 90-67. Just over a month later in Hartford, UConn rolled to a 92-60 victory over the Musketeers at PeoplesBank Arena.
“We’re going to do the total opposite of what we did the first two times we played them in everything that we do. We’re not going to do anything the same,” Pitino said. “So, we’ve got to stay up all night, and as coaches, put them in a better position because they’re a tough team.”
The madness of March doesn’t allow teams to revel in glory after moving up in a bracket. Xavier has to move on quickly after pulling out an 89-87 thriller over Marquette Wednesday night to open the Big East Tournament.
“We have three more to go,” Jovan Milicevic said after a team-high 21 points against Marquette. “Just stay level-headed and stay mentally strong and hopefully we can go make something happen these next couple games.”
3 keys to a Xavier Musketeers win over UConn Huskies in Big East Tournament
1. Xavier must speed it up against UConn
UConn has had five days to stew in its loss to Marquette in the regular season finale, a defeat that cost the Huskies the Big East regular season title.
Xavier can’t get into long drawn-out possessions against the Huskies, who rank No. 12 in the nation in overall defensive efficiency and No. 2 in the Big East in scoring (65.3 points allowed per game).
The Musketeers have to get their transition game going against a UConn team that plays at the No. 310 tempo in the country.
2. Can Xavier’s defense force more misses?
Xavier’s strategy against Marquette was to close driving lanes with its zone defense and force the Golden Eagles to beat them from deep. It worked as Marquette shot 40 triples and made just 11.
That strategy could be deployed against UConn, which crushed Xavier for 46 points in the paint in the last meeting. The Huskies are No. 36 in the nation in 2-point shooting and No. 74 from beyond the arc.
It will be all hands-on deck for Xavier’s defense in the toughest challenge they’ll face all season. UConn shot 54% overall and 41.8% from 3-point range against Xavier during the regular season.
3. Musketeers need to bring their best rebounding effort to UConn matchup
No team hammered Xavier’s weaknesses on the glass more than UConn. In two meetings, the Huskies pulled down 83 boards to Xavier’s 50.
If Xavier can force long misses from UConn, they have to turn into one-and-done possessions. Xavier is just 7-15 this season when losing the rebounding battle and 8-2 when it wins on the glass.
No. 10 Xavier Musketeers vs. No. 2 UConn
Tip: 7 p.m., Thursday, March 12 at Madison Square Garden (19,500)
How to watch/listen: FS1/55KRC
Ratings: Xavier is No. 95 in KenPom and UConn is No. 10. Xavier is No. 97 in the NCAA NET Rankings and UConn is No. 7.
History: UConn leads the all-time series, 9-5. UConn won the last Big East Tournament meeting, 87-60, in 2024.
UConn Huskies scouting report
Record: 27-4
Head coach: Dan Hurley (192-73 at UConn, eighth season)
Offense: 78.2 ppg
Defense: 65.3 ppg
Overview: Despite a 27-4 record and an impressive non-conference resume, UConn has had its struggles with stagnant stretches in Big East play.
The Huskies had a home loss to Creighton and a pair of close calls against Georgetown, which finished last in the Big East. UConn also squeaked past Providence by six at home.
The warning signs on UConn hit an all-time high after its loss to Marquette at Fiserv Forum March 7. Dan Hurley was fined $25,000 after getting ejected in the closing seconds.
Projected starting lineup
(Pos., Height, Stats)
Solo Ball (G, 6’4″, 13.9 ppg)
Silas Demary Jr. (G, 6’4″, 11.1 ppg)
Braylon Mullins (G, 6’6″, 12 ppg)
Alex Karaban (F, 6’8″, 12.9 ppg)
Tarris Reed Jr. (C, 6’11”, 13.8 ppg)
Xavier Musketeers scouting report
Record: 15-17
Head coach: Richard Pitino (15-17 at Xavier, first season)
Offense: 78.7 ppg
Defense: 80.3 ppg
Projected starting lineup
(Pos., Height, Stats)
All Wright (G, 6’3″, 7.7 ppg)
Malik Messina-Moore (G, 6’5″, 11.1 ppg)
Tre Carroll (F, 6’8″, 18 ppg)
Filip Borovicanin (F, 6’9″, 10.5 ppg)
Jovan Milicevic (F, 6’10”, 12.6 ppg)
Xavier vs. UConn: Players to watch
Tre Carroll shook off the rust and scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half to help Xavier hold off Marquette. Carroll will now try to lead the Musketeers offense against a UConn defense that has given him fits.
Carroll was held to single-digit points three times in Big East play (not counting his four-minute outing against Seton Hall before an injury). Two of those occasions came against UConn. Carroll combined for just 18 points on 7 of 20 shooting and 6 turnovers against the Huskies during the regular season.
UConn had three first-team All-Big East selections, so pick your poison. Down low, Tarris Reed Jr. is a handful and had 24 points on 11 of 14 shooting against Xavier in two meetings. Alex Karaban is shooting 40% from 3-point range and Solo Ball leads the Huskies in scoring. Braylon Mullins, a potential NBA Lottery pick, hit five 3-pointers at Cintas Center.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Xavier vs. UConn in Big East Tournament how to watch, breakdown, pick
Reporting by Shelby Dermer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
