Storrs — UConn kicks off its Payback Tour on Wednesday night.

Over the next three games, all at home, the No. 24 Huskies will have a chance to avenge losses from earlier this season while also strengthening their hold on third place in the Big East standings.

First up, Seton Hall, then Xavier on Saturday and finally No. 10 Villanova visits on Tuesday.

"That's a huge motivation, honestly," veteran guard R.J. Cole said. "You always want to come back and get some type of revenge. We just want to go out and make sure that we fix the mistakes that we had in those games that we lost, because it cost us, big time."

UConn (17-7, 8-5) hosts a Seton Hall team (8:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network) at Gampel Pavilion that scored a 90-87 overtime win in the first meeting on Jan. 8 in Newark, N.J. Coming off a prolonged COVID-related pause, the Huskies were hurt by 19 turnovers and defensive breakdowns, allowing the Pirates to shoot 54 percent.

The Pirates (15-8, 6-7) are playing well, winning three of four despite missing guard Bryce Aiken, who's been sidelined the last seven games with a concussion. The Huskies are feeling good after making clutch plays down the stretch and playing stellar defense in Sunday's 63-60 win against St. John's at Madison Square Garden.

There's plenty at stake for both teams.

UConn will be fighting to improve its resume for postseason consideration and seeding position in both the Big East and NCAA tournaments. A marquee win on the road would go a long way in helping Seton Hall's case for a postseason bid.

"We've gotten this thing to a really good spot," coach Dan Hurley said. "Obviously, we're third in the league which at UConn is never where you want to be. This is a championship-level program. Year Four for me, I feel like going into this week, we've played top 25 level basketball this year.

"We're in a good spot. Can we take it to another level? Can we take that next step as a program and become more like an elite team? It's hard. Gampel is not going to win these games for us because we're playing two NCAA caliber, top 25 level opponents this week here, whether they're ranked or not."

With Aitken, Seton Hall's second leading scorer at 14.5 points per game, likely out, UConn will have one less scorer to be concerned about. Senior guard Jared Rhoden is the most dangerous player, averaging a team-high 15.4 points.

The Huskies will have to do a better job against guard sophomore Kadary Richmond, who scored a career-high 27 points in the first meeting. Since then, Richmond hasn't finished with more than 16 points.

During their recent run of success, the Pirates beat Georgetown, Creighton and Xavier and lost to Villanova by six.

"For these guys to be coming in at 6-7 in this league speaks to what this league is this year," Hurley said. "This league is a monster. They're a type of team that's got a chance to win the Big East tournament, win games in the NCAA tournament. These guys are really, really good."

The Huskies believe they're ready for their Payback Tour, particularly playing in a building where they're undefeated (5-0) this season.

'We're definitely locked in," senior Tyrese Martin said. "We're definitely approaching it as revenge games. We're definitely going to come out harder knowing it's a home game in front of our home crowd. We don't like losing at home.

"We're definitely going to come out harder than we did the first time we (played)."

News and notes

Reserve Akok Akok will miss his fourth straight game with a foot sprain. "Akok is getting closer," Hurley said. "Maybe a week or so, maybe more." ... UConn will play in the 2022 Phil Knight Invitational that runs Nov. 24-27 in Portland, Ore. Other teams in the field: North Carolina, Michigan State, Alabama, Villanova, Oregon, Iowa State and Portland.

g.keefe@theday.com

No. 24 UCONN vs. SETON HALL

Location: Gampel Pavilion, Storrs

Tip: 8:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)

Records: UConn 17-7, 8-5; Seton Hall 15-8, 6-7

Last game: UConn won at St. John's, 63-60, Sunday; Seton Hall

Probable starters: UConn, 6-1 grad. guard R.J. Cole (16.2 pts, 4.5 assists), 6-6 so. Andre Jackson (7 pts, 7.6 rebs), 6-6 sr. guard Tyrese Martin (13.9 pts, 6.7 rebs), 6-9 grad forward Isaiah Whaley (7.5 pts, 5 rebs, 2.2 blks), 6-9 so. forward Adama Sanogo (14.9 pts, 8.2 rebs, 2 blks)

Seton Hall, 6-6 grad guard Myles Cale (9.8 pts, 3.9 rebs), 6-6 sr. guard Jared Rhoden (15.4 pts, 6.8 rebs), 6-6 so. guard Kadary Richmond (8.9 pts, 4 rebs, 4.1 assists), 6-10 jr. forward Tray Jackson (8 pts, 3.9 rebs), 7-2 grad center Ike Obiagu (2.4 pts, 4.5 rebs, 3.4 blks).

Noteworthy: Huskies 2-3 in the last five games, Pirates 3-2. ... Series: UConn leads series, 46-20, losing last meeting 90-87 (OT) on Jan. 8. Sanogo led the way with 18 pts, 16 rebs, Cole with 15 pts. ... UConn and Seton Hall ranked 2nd (77.0) and 3rd (75.4), respectively in scoring offense in the Big East. ... Obiagu, 1st in Big East in blocks and sixth nationally, a strong candidate for league defensive player of the year. ... Top reserve: 6-8 grad forward Alexis Yetna (9.1 pts, 7.8 rebs), who attended Putnam Science Academy. ... Pirates are 3-4 vs. ranked teams. No. 34 in NCAA NET rankings. ... Hot: Martin shooting a career-best 45.2 percent from 3-point range. Cold: Polley shooting a career-low 32.4 percent from 3-point range. ... Sanogo 1st in Big East action in rebounds (9.5) and offensive rebounds (3.9) per game and FG percentage (49.3). ... Huskies 10-2 at home, including 5-0 at Gampel Pavilion. Pirates are 4-4 on the road. ...  Injury update: UConn reserve Akok Akok (foot sprain) out, Seton Hall's Bryce Aiken (concussion) questionable. ... Coach Dan Hurley, who played at Seton Hall (1991-96), ninth on the Pirate program's career assist list with 437. ... UConn sinking 42.3 percent from the field in Big East play, allowing foes to shoot 41.1. ... Up next: UConn hosts Xavier Saturday in Storrs.

— Gavin Keefe