When Connecticut returned back to the Big East, these are the type of games that were to be expected. The Huskies are #4 in the nation after a road loss to Xavier, but make no mistake: this Connecticut team is the Big East favorite and has a serious chance to win it all come March.
Providence is no slouch, however. They are building out quite a hot streak of their own, winners of 7 straight and atop the Big East at 4-0. Their last two games have been road wins of 15 and 20 points, and it is safe to say that the Friars are playing their best basketball of the season.
Layer on the raucous home environment of the AMP with an 8:30 PM tip-off and general disdain between these two programs, and we have the makings of a game environment that should rival the Nova home game from last year. If you recall, Villanova won that one on a dagger Colin Gillespie three, but the crowd was at a capacity that even the Dunk security had problem containing. I expect a very similar environment.
Below, we discuss the Connecticut team, what makes them such an elite squad, and what Providence needs to do to pull off the upset.