Pre-game preview: Columbia
UConn has only four non-conference games remaining this season.
The Huskies (4-4) really need to win a minimum of three to put themselves in a decent position.
They have a great opportunity to start a winning streak tonight, hosting Columbia at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport.
"Hopefully, we can be 5-4 after this game and keep building," coach Kevin Ollie said.
They've dropped four of their last five games.
Here's a pre-game preview:
-- Tip-off: 7:30 p.m. (SNY)
-- Records: Columbia 6-3, UConn 4-4
-- Last game: Columbia beat Hofstra, 82-77, Saturday; UConn lost to. No. 2 Duke, 66-56, Thursday
-- Probable starters:
Columbia, 6-4 jr. guard Isaac Cohen (3.6 pts, 6.7 rebs, 4.4 assists), 6-3 jr. guard Maodo Lo (17.6 pts, 5.1 rebs), 6-4 fr. guard Kyle Castlin (8.8 pts, 4.1 rebs), 6-8 so. forward Chris McComber (5 pts, 2 rebs), 6-11 sr. center Cory Osetkowski (7.8 pts, 7.7 rebs)
UConn, 6-0 sr. guard Ryan Boatright (19.3 pts, 5.8 rebs, 3.9 assists), red-shirt so. Rodney Purvis (7.3 pts), 6-7 fr. forward Daniel Hamilton (11.9 pts, 6.1 rebs), 6-9 so. forward Kentan Facey (7 pts, 6.6 rebs), 7-0 so. center Amida Brimah (12 pts, 4.4 rebs)
Noteworthy:
-- This is only the second game at Webster Bank Arena for Huskies, who beat Eastern Washington, 82-65, last season.
-- Series: UConn leads 7-2, winning last meeting 70-57 in Nov. 2011.
-- The defensive-minded Lions have held seven of their nine foes under 58 points, including Kentucky (56). They rank third in the nation in scoring defense at 53.7 pts. They keep teams off-balance by mixing zone and man defense.
-- Top reserve: 6-2 sr. guard Steve Frankoski (7 pts, 2.1 rebs).
-- Lo, who’s from Berlin, Germany, once was a national team teammate of Niels Giffey. He's a vital offensive source for Columbia.
-- Hot: Facey has converted 13 of 18 from the field in last two games.
He's had consecutive double figure scoring games for the first time in his career.
"He’s finding opportunities to score," Ollie said. "He’s running the court extremely well, and that’s what we want to see from Kentan. (We want him to) be a ball hunter and he’s doing that. ... I’m going to continue to reward him with good solid minutes if he continues that trend.
-- Cold: Reserve Omar Calhoun has missed his last 16 field goal attempts over 12 games dating back to last season. He badly needs a one shot to fall for his confidence.
-- The Huskies have forced 36 turnovers in last two games.
-- Injury update: UConn reserve Terrence Samuel (ankle) is day-to-day. He did some shooting on the side at practice on Sunday.
-- UConn reserve Phil Nolan, a 6-10 forward, has only three rebounds in his last three games. He's played 48 minutes during that stretch.
So Nolan is long overdue for a decent rebounding game.
-- UConn shooters have passed up far too many open shots in recent games. Rodney Purvis and Daniel Hamilton top the list of offenders.
"When they get those shots, they’ve got to take them and believe in themselves and believe in the offense that they’ll make them," Ollie said.
-- For regular updates during the game, follow me on Twitter @GavinKeefe
-- Check back after the game for a post-game breakdown.
-- Up next: UConn hosts Central Connecticut Dec. 28 in Hartford.
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