UConn has repeatedly taken the equivalent of a sledgehammer to the mid-section in recent games.

Yet the Huskies keep getting back up and fighting back.

They'll be ready to battle again on Sunday when American Athletic Conference co-leader Tulsa visits the XL Center in Hartford at noon (CBS Sports Network).

Three straight tough losses to nationally-ranked opponents hasn't discouraged them one bit.

"The message to the players is there's not a game on the schedule the rest of the way that we can't win," coach Dan Hurley said after Saturday's practice.

"If we continue to compete and battle at the level that we are, there's wins out there for us, enough that we can feel good about what we did this year and that we just have to be mentally tough."

Sunday, when the Huskies (10-8, 1-4) start a two-game homestand, would be a good time to stop their slide. Eight of their wins have come either at XL Center or Gampel Pavilion and the other two at neutral sites.

After that stretch, they'll play three of four games on the road where they're winless.

"Definitely more comfortable at home," redshirt junior Alterique Gilbert said. "So, hopefully we can get some wins down the stretch and make something happen."

UConn has dealt with difficult defeats against Tulsa in AAC play, losing four straight in the series including three each by two points, one in overtime and another in double overtime.

While the Huskies have consistently underachieved in their AAC history, Tulsa has overachieved, finishing higher than its preseason ranking every season so far.

Odds are the Golden Hurricane (13-6, 5-1) will accomplish that feat again. They were picked to place 10th.

"They do a great job," Hurley said. "(Coach) Frank (Haith) has had a tremendous career in coaching. I've got so much respect for how hard they play. Defensively, they're 38th in the country. ... They don't beat themselves."

Tulsa got the nation's attention on Wednesday when it routed No. 20 Memphis, 80-40, setting a program record for largest margin of victory over a ranked team. The Golden Hurricane has won five of their last six.

"A 40-point win in this league against anybody is pretty good," Gilbert said. "We'll definitely come to play."

Junior college transfer Brandon Rachal, a forward who also spent a season at LSU, is one of the top newcomers in the conference. He's the team's leading scorer (14.8) and rebounder (6.5).

Tulsa plays a match-up zone, which could be an issue for UConn. The Huskies are lacking reliable 3-pointer weapons since Tyler Polley went down with a season-ending injury. They're 11 for 50 (22 percent) from beyond the arc in the last three games.

"People right now look at us and will try to take away driving lanes and try to take Josh (Carlton) away in the post, because we do throw it inside a lot," Hurley said. "We're not going to be able to score enough points to win games if we can't make five, six, seven threes."

• UConn received a response from the AAC after questioning the league about a decision with 7.3 seconds left in Thursday's 63-59 loss at Houston that prevented the Huskies from making a substitution. The AAC reviewed the rules interpretation and agreed with Hurley, stating in a release that "the officials should have allowed the substitution."

After forcing a Houston turnover on a five-second call, Hurley tried to replace walk-on Temi Aiyegbusi, who previously had been inserted for defensive purposes, with starter Josh Carlton. Officials denied the change. Left open, Aiyegbusi, who's taken just three shots this season and not scored, missed a potential game-tying jumper with five seconds left.

"It just looked to me like somebody at the scorer's table didn't think we should be allowed to do that," Hurley said. "And from there the two officials demanded that (Josh) be taken off the court. We didn't think the rule was right at the time. ... It was an unfortunate ending the way we battled in the game to not then be able to get a proper offensive group on the court."

g.keefe@theday.com

UCONN vs. TULSA

Location: XL Center, Hartford

Tip: Noon (CBS Sports Network)

Records: UConn 10-8, 1-4; Tulsa 13-6, 5-1

Last game: UConn lost at No. 25 Houston, 63-59, Thursday; Tulsa beat Memphis, 80-40, Wednesday

Probable starters: UConn, 6-0 r-jr. guard Alterique Gilbert (9.6 pts, 4.7 assists), 6-2 sr. guard Christian Vital (14.2 pts, 6.7 rebs), 6-4 fr. guard James Bouknight (9.4 pts, 3.3 rebs), 6-9 r-fr. forward Akok Akok (6.3 pts, 6.1 rebs, 2.8 blks), 6-11 jr. center Josh Carlton (9.4 pts, 6.6 rebs)

Tulsa, 6-3 jr. guard Elijah Joiner (6.6 pts, 3.2 assists), 6-5 sr. guard Lawson Korita (6.1 pts), 6-7 jr. forward Jeriah Horne (1.2 pts, 4.9 rebs), 6-6 jr. forward Brandon Rachal (14.8 pts, 6.5 rebs), 7-0 jr. center Emmanuel Ugboh (2.1 pts, 2 rebs)

Noteworthy: UConn 1-5 in last 6 games, dropping season-high 3 straight. ...　 Series: UConn trails, 6-4, losing last four meetings including 89-83 on the road last season. Four of the last 5 decided by two pts. ... First of 2 games this season, with UConn visiting Tulsa Feb. 6. ... Top reserve: 6-9 sr. forward Martins Igbanu (10.1 pts, 4.4 rebs). ... Tulsa with 4th most AAC wins (57) in league history. ... Racal is a junior college transfer, spent one season at LSU. ... Huskies 9-3 when bench out-scores opponent. ... Hot: Golden Hurricane won four straight. Cold: Akok averaging 4 points in last 4 games. ... Tulsa's foes shooting 38.9 percent, averaging 63.7 pts. ... UConn scored under 60 pts in two straight games. ... At 1-4 in league play, Huskies equaled their worst start in AAC play, tying last season. ... UConn averaging 15.8 turnovers and shooting 25 percent from three in AAC play. ... Hurricane 3-4 on the road, Huskies 8-2 at home. ... Up next: UConn hosts Temple Wednesday in Storrs.

— Gavin Keefe