Tonight, UConn will face Cincinnati in the final XL Center game of the season. The Bearcats (19-7, 7-6) are having an up-and-down year. They won the first 14 games of the season, but are 5-7 since.
They are led by junior guard Sean Kilpatrick, who averages 18 points per game, and is one third of a dynamic backcourt that also features Cashmere Wright and JaQuon Parker. Cincy lost last time out to a red hot Georgetown team.
UConn is coming off a disappointing loss of their own. The Huskies (17-7, 7-5) lost to Villanova in a game that saw star guards Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright vanish off the face of the Earth. Freshman Omar Calhoun picked up some of the slack, scoring 16 points including 9-9 from the foul line.
The UConn backcourt will need to rediscover themselves and outplay their Cincinnati counterparts in order to come away with a victory.
Notes:
- Head coach Kevin Ollie reiterated this week that center Enosch Wolf will remain suspended indefinitely.
- Omar Calhoun is battling a sore wrist but it doesn’t appear it will keep him from starting tonight.
- Ollie was very upset with his team’s effort in practice this week. Early effort will be key for the Huskies.
- Get used to rooting against Cincinnati, since they will be UConn’s main rival in two years.
Tip will be at 7pm and the game can be seen on ESPN.
