UConn coach Kevin Ollie has tried just about every imaginable starting combination while searching for consistency that's eluded his team this season.

Through 25 games, the Huskies have used 17 different lineups to begin a game.

Hard to believe any college basketball team can beat that number.

Could there be an 18th against Tulsa, which visits the XL Center in Hartford on Thursday in an American Athletic Conference game? Start time is 7 p.m.

The latest candidate for a more prominent role is sophomore Kwintin Williams, the only recruited scholarship player yet to crack the starting five this season.

Williams, a 6-foot-7 forward, played his best game in Saturday's 95-74 loss at nationally-ranked Wichita State. He was an active presence inside, contributing four points and a career-high eight rebounds in a career-best 24 minutes.

Up until Saturday, Williams had seen limited action in 13 games and not appeared in the previous three.

"Hopefully, the opportunity comes again," Williams said after practice on Tuesday. "Just waiting my turn. I just try to bring a lot of energy and do what I can to help the team, whatever that entails."

When asked if Williams could be in line for more playing time on Thursday, Ollie didn't make any commitment.

"We'll see," Ollie said. "Got to make sure you practice the right way, too. Everybody has got to practice and hopefully he can come out and make a difference."

While Ollie praised Williams after the Wichita State loss, he expects his Huskies to earn their playing time in practice. Williams still has some work to do in that area.

While a gifted athlete, Williams has an unpolished skill set, partly due to the fact that he bounced around from prep school to two different junior colleges before arriving in Storrs. He has a 44-inch vertical leap, earning him the nickname, "Jump." He can dunk with the best of them.

It's been a big adjustment this season for Williams, who's from Alaska. He's still learning to play within the UConn system and become a better teammate and better student.

"It's a lot different than I thought it would be," Williams said. "But I'm just grateful for the opportunity to play at the next level and do what I can."

Given UConn's rebounding issues, it might be worth giving Williams a longer look. The Huskies have gone eight straight games without winning the rebounding battle. Graduate forward David Onuorah and freshman forward Isaiah Whaley have combined for just five rebounds in the last four games.

Williams is eager to play a bigger role.

"Very frustrating," Williams said of his spectator role. "But it's not my decision. It's up to the coaches. I'm just here to do whatever they need me to do."

With six regular season games remaining, time is running out for the Huskies to make a late-season charge and improve their seeding position for the conference tournament. They've dropped six of their last eight games to fall to 12-13 overall, 5-7 in the AAC.

"We can't look too far ahead," Ollie said. "I'm just really trying to get these guys to go from possession to possession, and that starts in practice, and just playing hard consistently."

Tulsa (14-10, 7-5) is surging toward the finish line, winning four of its last five games. The Golden Hurricane won the first game this season against the Huskies, 90-88, in two overtimes, on Jan. 3, sinking a then conference record 17 3-pointers.

The Huskies will be paying close attention to senior guard Corey Henderson Jr., who scored a career-high 30 points in the first meeting, and senior forward Junior Etou, the team's leading scorer (15.5 points) and rebounder (8.0).

"We've got to play solid defense and we've got to rebound the basketball," Ollie said. "Tulsa, the last three games, they've been 11 plus rebounds. That's even better than Cincinnati and Wichita State, so that's been our main focus (in practice) and trying to beat the zone down the court. And we have to rebound first to do that."

The Huskies could soon add some depth to their frontcourt rotation. Forward Eric Cobb is still getting back in game shape and yet to play since returning from suspension last week.

"He's been practicing pretty well," Ollie said. "Got to get him back in decent shape. We'll see who's rebounding.  ... Hopefully, he can get in there and make a difference, if we choose to play him."

g.keefe@theday.com

UCONN vs. TULSA

Location: XL Center, Hartford

Tip: 7 p.m. (ESPNU)

Records: UConn 12-13, 5-7; Tulsa 14-10, 7-5

Last game: UConn lost at Wichita St., 95-74, Saturday: Tulsa won at Tulane, 91-89 (OT), Thursday

Probable starters: UConn, 6-3 jr. guard Jalen Adams (17.9 pts, 4.3 rebs, 4.2 assists), 6-2 so. guard Christian Vital (14.6 pts, 5.0 rebs), 6-8 r-jr. forward Terry Larrier (14 pts, 4.6 rebs), 6-8 fr. forward Isaiah Whaley (3.1 pts, 2.6 rebs), 6-9 freshman forward Josh Carlton (4.4 pts, 3.9 rebs)

Tulsa, 6-1 jr. guard Sterling Taplin (11.5 pts, 4.4 assists), 6-4 sr. guard Corey Henderson, Jr. (10.3 pts), 6-5 so. guard Lawson Korita (2.6 pts), 6-8 sr. forward Junior Etou (15.5 pts, 8 rebs), 6-8 so. forward Martins Igbanu (9.3 pts, 5.4 rebs)

Noteworthy: In last five games, Huskies 1-4, Hurricane 4-1. ... Series: Tied at 4-4, with UConn losing three of last four including last meeting 90-88 (2OT) on the road on Jan. 3. Adams with 29 pts. ... Hurricane never won at UConn. ... Top reserve: 6-5 jr. guard DaQuan Jeffries (9.7 pts, 4.9 rebs). ...  Etou with six double-doubles. ... Henderson first in AAC action in made 3-pters (38). ... Tulsa fifth in scoring (74.0 pts) and 10th in scoring defense (72.5) overall in AAC.  ...  Taplin played for Jere Quinn at St. Thomas More. ... Hot: UConn shooting 50 percent in last two games, best stretch this season. Cold: Whaley one rebound in last 68 minutes. ... Since wearing a mask, Larrier converting 35.7 percent (15-for-42) from field. ... UConn out-rebounded in five straight games. ... Tulane 41 AAC wins since joining the league, tied for third with Temple. SMU (50) second, Cincinnati first (53). UConn has 35. ... Huskies 10-3 at home. ... Up next: UConn visits East Carolina on Sunday.

— Gavin Keefe