These teams have already met once this season with the Huskies outscoring Memphis, 81-78. The Tigers, however, covered the spread and will host the showdown this time around.
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HOW THE CONNECTICUT HUSKIES CAN COVER THE SPREAD
Defensively, the Huskies are an elite team. They’re allowing only 61.4 PPG and are holding their opposition to a 36.8 percent shooting mark from the floor. That field goal percentage ranks them third in college hoops.
Connecticut is not an offensive juggernaut, but it can score when needed, evidenced by putting up 81 against Memphis a short month ago. They’re shooting a respectable 46 percent from the floor and delivering on 76.1 percent of their free throws, the 14th best number in the nation.
Individually, Shonn Miller, Rodney Purvis and Sterling Gibbs each average at least 13 PPG with Miller controlling the game inside the paint and shooting 58.1 percent from the floor. Purvis and Gibbs are in control in the backcourt along with Daniel Hamilton who averages 11.6 PPG of his own and a team high 101 assists.
The backcourt is where the Tigers could find issues with Ricky Tarrant and Avery Woodson potentially overmatched. Last month, it was the guards that delivered. Hamilton and Purvis combined for 25 points while Gibbs stole the show with a 26-point performance.
The offense could see an uptick from its recent downturn, too, with the return of Amida Brimah who will help on defense and on the glass.
HOW THE MEMPHIS TIGERS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
Since scoring 81 against Memphis, the Huskies have been held under 70-points in six straight games. The Tigers defense could find more success this time out as they’re holding the opposition to 38.3 percent shooting.
UConn shot a bit better than that on January 9 with a 42.6 percent mark, but they may have a hard time repeating that effort.
For Memphis, Shaq Goodwin had a big game to keep the Huskies close and allow the Tigers to cover the spread. He scored 23-points and shot 11-for-12 from the free throw line. Ricky Tarrant and Trahson Burrell put up 15 and 17 points respectively as well.
While Memphis’s shooting percentage is just 40.9 percent from the floor and they struggled shooting against UConn in the previous meeting, they still manage to score at a reasonable clip, averaging 78.2 PPG thanks to a number of chances the team is able to create for itself.
The Tigers are a great rebounding team, too, with 41.7 RPG; 5.3 more than the opposition. Goodwin is second on the team in rebounds with eight per game, one behind fellow forward Dedric Lawson. Memphis easily won the battle of the boards against the Huskies in January.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The return of center Amida Brimah on Sunday was a bit of a surprise as the big man was expected to be out for another month.
While UConn still fell short of 70-points, they scored 67, their most in four games and Brimah gave the team a couple blocks and a couple rebounds off the bench.
Brimah—if fully healthy—could be a difference maker as he could cause Goodwin and Lawson some trouble inside.
The trends are also favoring the Huskies who’ve now covered the spread in four of their last five games while the Tigers are coming off their fourth ATS loss in their last six outings.
This NCAAB matchup should be as closely contested as the first go round. Look for Brimah to play a bit bigger role on Thursday with Miller stepping up as well. The Huskies should get close to that 70-point threshold considering past offensive success against the Tigers.
UConn 70, Memphis 65
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