All-time installment No. 95 between Syracuse and Connecticut tips-off Thursday night at 7 p.m. at Madison Square Garden. The No. 15 Orange (2-0) matches up against an unranked Huskies team (2-0) that recently beat Morehead State, 80-70, two days before Syracuse downed the Eagles, 84-70.

Regardless of Thursday’s outcome, the Orange will play on the same floor Friday night against either No. 13 Oregon or Iowa.

Here’s what you need to know about the Huskies.

All-time series: Syracuse leads, 56-38

Last time they played: On Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, Syracuse slipped past UConn, 72-63, behind former forward Matthew Moyer’s career night of 18 points and eight rebounds. He declared, “If I get going like this, I’m going to be a problem,” then proceeded to struggle throughout much of the rest of the season. Point guard Frank Howard shot 1-for-10 with nine turnovers, a performance that kept an outmatched-Huskies unit within reach.

The Connecticut report: Led by first-year head coach Bob Hurley, Connecticut moves on in the post Kevin Ollie era following back-to-back losing seasons. UConn fired Ollie just four years after winning a national championship.

Hurley has brought an up-tempo, fast offensive approach to Storrs, Connecticut in an effort to bring back UConn somewhat near the perennial power it was just a few years ago. The Huskies return all but two players from last year’s rotation. Redshirt sophomore guard Alterique Gilbert didn’t play last season against Syracuse due to injury — he’s been through three shoulder surgeries — but he was Ollie’s best recruit and, combined with Adams, makes for one of the better backcourts SU will play.

“UConn has a good team,” Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim said recently.

This UConn team should be considerably better than last year, according to the Hartford Courant. Hurley has a knack for constant ball pressure and aggressive man-to-man defense.

How Syracuse beats Connecticut: Given UConn’s strength in guard play, the Orange could take full advantage of its size advantage inside. Syracuse’s forwards are bigger than UConn’s, too.

But Jalen Adams (more on him below) could be a matchup issue for what’s essentially a point guard-less Syracuse starting lineup. Minimizing his ability to score and involve others will be key to the SU defensive gameplan. Similarly, much of the Huskies’ approach centers on guard play. Specifically, guards who are a couple of inches shorter and lighter than SU’s starters. Connecticut may apply full-court pressure from the get-go and try to speed up the game. How SU handles the pressure may dictate the outcome of the game.

KenPom odds: KenPom gives Syracuse an 85-percent chance to win on Thursday night, and predicts a 76-64 SU win.

Stat to know: 8 — The number of Connecticut players who are averaging at least 12 minutes per game thus far. That’s an indication of a team that relies on its bench and a spread-out, balanced attack that favors a small lineup.  

Player to watch: Jalen Adams, senior guard, No. 4

If anyone’s going to cut into the 2-3 zone, it’s probably Adams. He’s the Huskies’ most experienced and established scorer. He’s the team leader in scoring and assists over the past two seasons. He averaged 18.1 points per game last season and 14.4 as a sophomore. He considered entering the 2018 NBA Draft but elected to return for his senior season, when he’ll be a dynamic scoring guard. He was a top-25 recruit out of high school because he can drive well, facilitate and create his own shot off the dribble.

Last year at MSG, Adams created all sorts of problems for the Orange backcourt. He scored 22 points, dished out two assists and shot 3-for-6 from deep. He’s quick and explosive at the point.

Published on November 15, 2018 at 12:45 pm

Contact Matthew: mguti100@syr.edu | @MatthewGut21