UConn Takes On Villanova in a Wednesday Night Showdown!

VILLANOVA, Pa. – The No. 9 UConn men’s basketball squad (12-3, 4-0 BIG EAST) travels for the third time in four outings as it faces Villanova (10-5, 3-1 BIG EAST) for a Wednesday evening showdown at Finneran Pavilion. The matchup between two of the nation’s top offenses is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on FS1, with Dave Sims and Donny Marshall providing the commentary.

The Huskies are on an eight-game winning streak heading into Pennsylvania, poised to play at Villanova’s campus venue with fans present for the first time since 1995. Villanova currently leads the all-time matchup 39-36, a rivalry that traces back to 1941 and the early years of the BIG EAST. The Huskies have triumphed in the last four encounters against the Wildcats and five of the last six, having swept the regular-season series during the past two seasons.

UConn was last seen on Sunday afternoon, rallying from a 14-point deficit in the second half to defeat Providence with a score of 87-84 at Gampel Pavilion. Hassan Diarra netted 17 of his career-best 19 points in Connecticut’s 60-point second half, marking its first 60-point half since 2022 and the first ever in a BIG EAST encounter. Diarra also contributed eight assists and three steals while going 10-of-11 from the free-throw line, including several key late free throws as Providence sought to extend the game. He was one of six Huskies to score in double digits, which included Solo Ball with 16 points and Aidan Mahaney with 15 coming off the bench, with 12 of those points scored in the second half.

Alex Karaban added 13 points, four rebounds, four blocks, and three assists while leading the Huskies to their fourth consecutive victory over their regional rivals. This season, Karaban leads UConn in scoring with an average of 16.3 points per game, and he also contributes 5.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game. The All-America candidate is shooting 48.3 percent from beyond the arc and 42.5 percent overall, helping propel a UConn offense that ranks among the national leaders in all major categories and stands No. 2 in Kenpom efficiency.

Ball posts an average of 13.4 points per game and is among the nation’s elite with a 44.9 percent accuracy from beyond the arc, while Tarris Reed Jr. contributes 10.9 points per game on 67.4 percent shooting and ranks third in the BIG EAST with 7.9 rebounds per game. Diarra has raised his scoring to 8.9 points per game along with a team-high 6.5 assists per game, placing him 11^th in the nation. Samson Johnson returned to the UConn roster after missing a game in late December and has delivered consecutive double-digit scoring performances while maintaining an impressive 78.7 percent shooting from the field.

Liam McNeeley is second on the Huskies with averages of 13.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game but sat out the Providence contest due to an ankle injury and is anticipated to miss Wednesday’s game.

The Wildcats come into this matchup playing their finest basketball of the season, securing seven victories in their last eight games and rising into the top-10 in Kenpom offensive efficiency. Eric Dixon leads the dynamic offense as the nation’s top scorer, averaging 25.9 points per game on a highly efficient .534/.490/.844 shooting split. Wooga Poplar adds 13.7 per game while Jhamir Brickus contributes 11.3 points and 5.9 assists per game.

After Wednesday’s encounter, the Huskies will finish their road stretch against another long-standing rival, traveling to Washington to face Georgetown on Saturday, Jan. 11.