Huskies Prepare for a Tough Schedule Ahead

The next month is going to let the world of college basketball know just how good this UConn Huskies are. A team that is currently ranked 10th in the nation, the Huskies still have a lot of questions regarding where they stand with the top programs in 2010.

It all starts with the blue uniforms coming out against a tough Cincinnati team.  This Uconn team will be facing a hostile environment for the first time all season, and how they react is going to be key to setting the tempo of the game.

Over the next month, UConn is going to be faced with some stiff competition. The early season struggles have to stop or else the losses will start to add up quickly.

After tonight's game, the Huskies go back home for Notre Dame on Saturday at the XL Center and then an underrated Seton Hall team at Gampel Pavillion on Jan. 6. 

Seton Hall has played top five programs West Virginia and Syracuse right down to the wire and Jeremy Hazell, who has scored 41 and 38 points in his last two games, can flat out score.

From there, UConn goes to Georgetown on Jan. 9 and then has Pittsburgh at home on Wednesday Jan. 13. Georgetown is currently ranked 13th in the polls and on the road that always going to be a tough task.

Then UConn takes a trip to Ann Arbor to square off against Michigan. Michigan has showed promise this season and any time a Big East team plays a team from the Big Ten it's going to be a battle. 

The Huskies come back and take on St. Johns at the XL Center on Jan. 20. The Red Storm are a very improved team and have seemed to move past their recruiting violations and NCAA sanctions from a few years ago.

Next up is arguably the biggest game of the season and has received a lot of buzz around the Storrs campus as Texas comes to town on Jan. 23. 

Currently the No. 2 team in the country could be undefeated when they square off with UConn. The Huskies have already lost tough games to Kentucky and Duke, who are respectively ranked third and seventh in the nation.

The Huskies should be prepared for a final four caliber game when it battles Texas.

This Texas team is loaded with talent. Dexter Pittman and Damian Jones can flat out dominate the game. UConn's frontcourt better have its problems worked out or it could be a long Saturday afternoon.

It doesn't stop there as the Huskies finish off this 10-game stretch at the Dunkin Donuts Center against Providence on Jan. 27, and then home on Saturday Jan. 30 versus Marquette.

The Golden Eagles lost on a buzzer-beater in West Virginia, went to overtime against Seton Hall, and almost beat Syracuse last night. Syracuse and West Virginia are currently ranked fifth and sixth.

Let's not forget about Villanova who is ranked eighth. If you think it gets any easier for the Huskies, you're wrong. In a 12-day stretch UConn goes to Syracuse, Villanova, and takes on West Virginia at home.

Now the rankings could be different then, but the Big East currently has five teams in the top-15. The power this conference has is unbelievable and these teams are going to beat each other up over the next two months.

After conference play, then comes the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden. What happens in New York City is unpredictable. Just look at Syracuse's victory over UConn in six overtimes last season.

Well Stanley, Jerome, and Kemba let's see what this team is made of. Jim Calhoun understands the tests his team will face coming up and they better be ready for a challenge night in and night out.