UConn Basketball Preview: Top 10 Games to Watch in the 2011-12

The UConn Huskies are ready to make another serious run in the NCAA tournament.

While Jim Calhoun has to fill the gaping hole that Kemba Walker's departure left behind, the Huskies have an exceptional returning cast:

• Jeremy Lamb (11.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg) 
• Alex Oriakhi (9.6 ppg, 8.7 rpg) 
• Shabazz Napier (7.8 ppg, 3.0 apg)
• Roscoe Smith (6.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg)

Calhoun was already excited about his new arrivals (two four-star recruits: DeAndre Daniels and Ryan Boatright) before the late summer signing of Andre Drummond, one of the top prospects in the Class of 2011. Drummond is a 6'11, 275 lbs. super-athletic post player whose presence might give UConn one of the best front-courts in the nation.  

If Calhoun can blend this talent and find ways to replace Walker's production (23.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.9 spg) and leadership, UConn could be scary.

If you could only watch ten Huskies games this year, here is a Top 10 list of the one's that you wouldn't want to miss.

This is a part of a series of college basketball preview articles, detailing the "must see" hoops action of the upcoming season.

Yesterday, we looked at the ten best games on Duke's schedule.

Tomorrow: Kentucky 

December 3: Arkansas in Hartford, Conn.

There's been a lot of buzz surrounding the Arkansas basketball program during the off-season.

The Razorbacks hired Mike Anderson as their new head coach. Anderson returns to Fayetteville where he assisted Nolan Richardson back in the "40 Minutes of Hell" days. He has had great success at both UAB and Missouri. There's no reason to believe that Anderson will not have Arkansas challenging for the SEC crown on an annual basis.

One of the reasons for such optimism is that Anderson was able to retain a crazy-good recruiting class that will immediately challenge for every starting position.

Marshawn Powell (pictured; 10.8 ppg and 4.5 rpg) returns to provide a nice foundation piece for what Anderson will build.

Because Anderson is likely to play the same uptempo "Fastest 40 Minutes of Basketball" style that he has previously employed, the Razorbacks could give the Huskies a run for their money. 

December 8: Harvard in Storrs, Conn

You're thinking, "Harvard?" Why are they on this list of UConn's "Must See" games?

Because Harvard isn't just an Ivy League pushover anymore.

Tommy Amaker has the Crimson playing very good basketball these days, beating teams like Colorado, Boston College and George Washington last season.

Amaker returns every player on his squad that posted a 23-7 record, including Keith Wright (pictured; 14.9 ppg and 8.4 rpg), one of the most talented Ivy Leaguers in a long time.

These two teams played early last season and UConn hammered Harvard. But that game served as a wake-up call for the Crimson, who won 14 of their next 15 games.

On paper, UConn is still way too talented here. But if Harvard can work the ball and get some shots to fall early, who knows? 

January 9: West Virginia in Hartford, Conn

Bob Huggins' West Virginia teams play tough basketball every time they step on the court.

Last year's Mountaineers were 21-12 (11-7 in the Big East). They beat the Huskies 65-56 in Morgantown in their only matchup last season. 

This year's team will challenge everyone with their customary tenacity, building around seniors Kevin Jones (pictured; 6'8" 260 lbs; 13.1 ppg and 7.4 rpg) and Truck Bryant (10.9 ppg and 3.1 apg).

To go along with his team's experience, Huggins has an infusion of new talent through a seven player recruiting class.

As always, Huggins will emphasize rebounding and defense.

Don't look for this to be an elegant game that is pleasing to the eye. This will be a very physical battle. The team that can establish themselves on the boards and get the most stops will come out on top.

January 14: At Notre Dame

While Mike Brey will be looking to find some way to replace the production and leadership of Ben Hansbrough, the 2011 Big East Player of the Year, the Fighting Irish will be ready to take on UConn when they come to South Bend in this early conference contest.

Notre Dame beat the Huskies both times the two teams played last season.

Seniors Tim Abromaitis (pictured; 6'8" 235 lbs, 15.4 ppg and 6.1 rpg) and Scott Martin (6'8" 219 lbs, 9.9 ppg and 4.0 rpg) will lead the way for Notre Dame this season.

Abromaitis is one of the best perimeter shooters in the Big East, connecting on 43 percent of his shots from beyond the arc last year.

Know that this one (and the one that these two teams play in Hartford on January 29th) will be circled on Calhoun's calendar because of the two defeats that the Fighting Irish handed the Huskies last year.

  

January 18: Cincinnati in Storrs, Conn.

Only in a conference like the Big East can a team be 26-9 (11-7 in league play) and end up in sixth place. That's exactly what Cincinnati did last year.

And there's a good chance that they will be just as good this year.

The Bearcats return their top four scorers and are bringing in an athletic six-man recruiting class.

Yancey Gates (pictured), a 6'9" 265 lbs senior forward, will again lead the way in points and rebounds.

The Huskies beat the Bearcats by eight points during the regular season, and then also in the Round of 32 in the NCAA tournament. Frustrating.

Do you think that the Bearcats head coach Mick Cronin will have any trouble getting his team up for this game? Yeah, me neither!

February 6: At Louisville

Talk about a big game with two big teams!

Louisville is as deep, talented and athletic as anyone in the conference.

Head coach Rick Pitino played ten players at least ten minutes per game last year, and only Preston Knowles, the Cardinals leading scorer, does not return.

Plus, Pitino may have pulled in his best recruiting class (two McDonald's All-Americans: Wayne Blackshear and Chane Behanan, five players overall) since arriving in Louisville ten years ago.

Peyton Siva (pictured) is the one who makes it all happen on the court. He very well could emerge as one of the top PGs in the country.

Because Louisville really believes in taking three's (they led the league in 3 pt. attempts with 24 per game), they could be behind by double-digits late in any game, and still come back—even against UConn.

Louisville beat UConn two out of three times last year. Don't expect the Cardinals to come into this game the least bit over-confident.

February 11: At Syracuse

Going into the 2011-12 season, the coaches of these two legendary programs are separated by one win: Jim Boeheim has 856 (No. 7 all-time) and Jim Calhoun has 855 (No. 8).

By the time that these two teams square off in mid-February, they both could have passed Adolph Rupp, who finished his career at Kentucky with 876 victories.

This game will set the record for the most combined wins by opposing coaches in a Division I game, a record that these two coaches set the last time them faced each other in the 2010-11 season.

But the real action will happen on the Carrier Dome court when these two teams face off in what could be very important in terms of conference championship implications.

These two teams split their two games last season, and they play each other twice in the regular season (also on February 25th).

The Orange's top scorer, Kris Joseph (pictured; 14.3 ppg and 5.2 rpg) returns, along with assists leader Scoop Jardine (12.5 ppg and 5.9 apg), and Brandon Triche (11.1 ppg).

Boeheim also welcomes an excellent recruiting class that includes McDonalds' All Americans Rakeem Christmas and Michael Carter-Williams.

While this game may not have all of the drama of the six-OT slugfest in 2009, there is a very good chance that this will go down to the last possession.

February 18: Marquette in Hartford, Conn

Marquette finished eleventh in the Big East last year, and still made it to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament. Is that crazy, or what?

Even though the Golden Eagles lost Jimmy Butler early to the NBA Draft, head coach Buzz Williams still has plenty of fire power.

Darius Johnson-Odom (pictured; 15.8 ppg) and Jae Crowder (11.8 ppg and 6.8 rpg) return to anchor the Marquette attack. 

Williams also has an outstanding recruiting class from which to draw.

When facing each other twice last season, both of these teams won the road contest.

The biggest challenge that Marquette will face against the Huskies is frontcourt size.

Even though the Golden Eagles have some bulk down low, they will give up three or four inches at almost every position.  

March 20: At Villanova

Defense will be the name of the game for this year's Villanova Wildcats.

In losing both Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes, the team's leading scorers from year ago, head coach Jay Wright will rely on his squad's ability to shut their opponents down.

Maalik Wayns (pictured; 13.8 ppg and 4.5 apg) is ready to become a featured player in the Big Easthe's just that good.

JayVaughn Pinkston (6'7 260 lbs), a former McDonald's All-American, returns to the Wildcats roster after serving a season-long suspension last year.

Mouphtaou Yarou (6'10" 250 lbs; 8.4 ppg and 7.1 rpg) will be counted on to carry a bigger scoring role.

Wright may look to some of his super-talented recruiting class, that features three Four-star players, to contribute from the very beginning.

The key to this matchup will be how the Huskies defend Wayns. If they can contain him, they can shut down the Wildcats.

March 3: Pittsburgh in Storrs, Conn

It is more than possible that this game will determine who will come out on top in conference play.

Pitt won the Big East regular season title last year. Head coach Jamie Dixon will miss Brad Wanamaker (last year's assist leader), Gilbert Brown and Gary McGhee (last year's rebound leader), but he will still put a talented group on the floor who will play excellent defense.

Leading scorer and senior guard Ashton Gibbs (pictured; 16.8 ppg) returns. Gibbs, a first team All Big East selection last year, is one of the best pure shooters in the country.

Dixon welcomes one of the best recruiting classes in the country.

Incoming freshman, and McDonald's All-American, Khem Birch was ESPNU's No. 2 center in the nation (behind UConn's Andre Drummond). Birch may be one of the most athletic Big that Pitt has had in a long time.

Can't wait to see Drummond and Birch go head-to-head.

If Birch isn't enough, the Panthers will also welcome 6'11" Malcolm Gilbert. ESPNU's No. 9 center.

As much as I look forward to seeing the two freshmen Bigs go at it, the showdown between Gibbs and the Huskies' Jeremy Lamb could settle the Big East Player of the Year selection.

Pitt beat the Huskies in their regular season showdown a year ago. The Huskies returned the favor in the Big East Tournament Championship game.

While this won't be the highest scoring game in the upcoming season, this could be one of the best games in college basketball. Period.