Fourth-ranked UConn has shown that it can respond to adversity this season.
Case in point: the Huskies (15-1, 5-0 Big East) rallied from a 13-point deficit to record a 103-98 overtime win over Providence on Wednesday.
Fresh off that spirited victory, UConn carries an 11-game winning streak into Saturday afternoon’s game against DePaul (10-6, 2-3) in Hartford, Conn.
“We’re a championship program,” senior forward Alex Karaban said following his 23-point performance versus the Friars. “We’re never going to back down no matter what the circumstances are. We’re going to keep pushing for 40, 45 minutes, whatever it’s got to be.”
The Blue Demons come in feeling good about themselves after a 56-50 win over Georgetown on Tuesday night. They held the Hoyas to just one field goal in the second half for their second consecutive win.
DePaul’s effort on the defensive end didn’t surprise head coach Chris Holtmann.
“I think right now, and now this could change, but right now they are really bought in to having a defensive identity as a group,” Holtmann said. “I think they believe that we can be good on that end, and they are really bought in. They practice really hard.”
The Blue Demons are allowing 68.4 points per game while averaging 73.7 at the other end of the court. And they’ll need to be at their best on defense against a UConn team averaging 80.4 points per contest and that has scored 90 or more points in two of its last three games.
Holtmann knows his team will have its hands full against the Huskies.
“The thing that makes them so difficult this year is all the different ways they can hurt you,” Holtmann said. “So, you have to defend really hard.”
The Huskies and Blue Demons are meeting for the second time this season, with UConn posting a 72-54 victory on Dec. 21 in Chicago.
The Huskies trailed by eight in the first half of that matchup before getting on track and securing a win.
Karaban, who scored 21 in the win, is averaging 13.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
Karaban said the win over Providence is a reminder of the toughness of the Big East, and the importance of being ready every night.
“Throughout my experience in Big East play, every Big East game is a battle,” Karaban said.
Karaban is one of four UConn players averaging in double figures. Solo Ball leads the charge at 15.3 points per contest. Tarris Reed Jr., who scored 20 against Providence, is averaging 14.5 points per game.
Braylon Mullins sports an 11.3 points per game average and led all UConn scorers with 24 in the victory over the Friars.
DePaul has several scoring options as well, including Brandon Maclin, who is averaging only 7.6 points per game but recorded his first career double-double (13 points, 11 rebounds) in the win over Georgetown.
CJ Gunn is the Blue Demons’ leading scorer at 13.7 points per outing. Layden Blocker (11.4) and NJ Benson (10.7) also have been steady contributors.
