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Game Notes
TV: SNY (Gary Apple, Tim Welsh, Kerith Burke)
Video Stream: WatchESPN.com
Radio: UConn/IMG Radio Network (Joe D'Ambrosio, Wayne Norman)
Series History: UConn leads 5-0
Last Meeting: UConn 89, Sacred Heart 46 (Nov. 29, 2006)
Preview
After dropping its last two games at the Battle 4 Atlantis, the UConn men's basketball team is back on its home floor for one game before heading to Madison Square Garden next week.
The Huskies (4-2) face the first of two Connecticut opponents this season Wednesday night, as they host the Sacred Heart Pioneers (1-4) of the Northeast Conference.
The Pioneers have lost four games in a row since beating Quinnipiac in their season-opening meeting at the Connecticut 6 Classic. Losses to Yale, Fairfield, Holy Cross and UMass Lowell (who UConn plays later in December) have followed.
The Pioneers are led by Cane Broome, who should have a nice cheering section at the XL Center Wednesday night. Broome, an East Hartford native, averages 23.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game over 38.6 minutes. Broome is eighth in the nation in percentage of minutes played, per Ken Pomeroy. He also has an effective field goal percentage of 56.2 percent.
Despite two straight losses, the Huskies are hanging around at 22nd in KenPom's ratings. UConn had to deal with two difficult opponents—Syracuse and Gonzaga—and lost to both by a combined six points. More patience on a shot here, better execution on free throws there, UConn is 6-0 and probably a top-10 team.
This will be UConn's only tune-up before meeting Maryland at Madison Square Garden next Tuesday night in the Jimmy V Classic. Despite losing to North Carolina Tuesday night, the Terrapins are one of the best teams in the nation and poised for a deep run. That could be UConn's last chance at a notable non-conference win.
The Huskies rate well on both sides of the ball through six games. Their adjusted offensive efficiency rating of 110 is 31st in the nation, while the adjusted defensive rating of 93.4 is 19th.
Ray Natili is the veteran referee on tonight's officiating crew. Kipp Kissinger and Peter Juzenas are on the crew, as well. Tonight's game is on SNY, WatchESPN and the UConn/IMG Radio Network.
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