Men's Basketball Preview and Open Thread: UConn vs. Ohio State, Noon | TV: CBS

Ohio State has an interesting place in UConn history, but Saturday's matchup on CBS will be the first meeting between the Huskies and Buckeyes in 16 years.

The Buckeyes have a 3-2 lead in the all-time series, but two of the last three games have gone to the Huskies. UConn defeated Ohio State in the 1999 Final Four en route to the program's first national championship. In 1988, the Huskies earned their other win, a 72-67 win in the NIT Championship Game at Madison Square Garden.

The start of the 2015-16 season has been tough for both. UConn (5-3) is coming off a 10-point loss to Maryland at the Garden. Ohio State (4-4) has won back-to-back games, but those two wins came after four straight losses to Texas-Arlington, Louisiana Tech, Memphis and Virginia.

The Buckeyes are led by Marc Loving, who is averaging 17.1 points and seven rebounds per game.

UConn needs to get another win against a school from a power conference. The Huskies beat Michigan in the Bahamas, but the opportunities for big wins are fading fast. After Ohio State, UConn only has two more notable non-conference games: Texas and Georgetown.

Can the Huskies improve in Saturday's contest? What do they need to do to get rolling again? Share your thoughts on UConn's recent performance and today's game in the open thread below.