Connecticut-Texas Basketball: Previewing the Rebounding Party In Austin

Date: Saturday, Jan. 8
Time: 2:30 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN

Before Texas starts its conference play, it’ll have to face a highly-ranked UConn team that is coming in off of a sputtering start to the Big East season at 1-2, and could easily have lost all three.  

Some may think it’s a surprise after an undefeated non-conference season with some big wins against Kentucky and Michigan State, but if you look at the numbers, you shouldn’t be too surprised.

The Huskies have a star-studded team, and if you can keep them in check, most teams won’t have a problem beating this team.  

Guard Kemba Walker has had an amazing start, leading the team with 26.1 points per game and 3.9 assists per game, as has forward-center Alex Orlakhi, leading with 8.4 rebounds per game and an amazing 29 blocks. Otherwise, that’s basically it.  

This team has low field goal and 3-point percentages (43.7 percent and 33.2 percent, respectively), but that’s mainly due to getting a ton of second-chance points with 41.7 offensive rebounds per game.  

The rest of the points come from the free-throw line, as UConn is shooting 76 percent and ranked 18th in the nation. The defense is above average, and will be a threat for Texas.

Since the bad loss to USC, Texas has rebounded after polishing off a few cupcakes and getting big wins against Michigan State and North Carolina. The Longhorns are nearly a carbon copy of the Huskies, led by guard-forward Jordan Hamilton, with 19.6 points per game, and forward Tristan Thompson, with eight rebounds per game and 28 blocks.

Texas is just simply big like UConn, and is ranked high in offensive rebounds with 43 per game. That's good for fifth in the nation, the Huskies are around average on the defensive end with 31.2 per game.  

The only main difference on offense is better 3-point shooting and worse free throw shooting. Both defenses are nearly the same, suffocating opponents into poor field goal percentage. Texas comes in with a six-game winning streak.

This could be a sloppy game, and I would definitely not be surprised, but expect both teams to have multiple opportunities to score and heavy action at the forward position.

Texas has the wild card with Jordan Hamilton being the best guard by far on either team, and he could be the difference in the game.

Prediction: Texas