When a team on the fringe like UConn beats SMU, with an RPI in the national top 20, it’s a win that can take that team off of the bubble and put them squarely in the field. It’s the kind of win that can build momentum for them to finish strong, avoiding any losses that would remove them from the tournament picture.
That’s exactly what the Huskies got last night, holding off the SMU rally to win 68-62 in Hartford and putting themselves right at No. 35 in the RPI. Most importantly though, UConn now has a predicted RPI finish of No. 33, making their tournament resume hard to ignore on Selection Sunday.
Kevin Ollie’s group missed the tournament a year ago, flopping just one season after winning the national title and removing the Huskies from the national consciousness. But now they’re back, a team that will give any higher seed reason for pause once the brackets are released.
The Huskies got a big night from Amida Brimah, who chipped in 16 points, eight rebounds, and five blocks. With him healthy once again, UConn finally has their rim protector and x-factor back, giving a bit more balance to the roster. Most promising, though, was the performance by Jalen Adams, the talented freshman star who’s had a few up and downs this year. Just one game after attempting only two shots against Tulsa, he came back against SMU to show the aggressiveness we’ve been looking for from him.
None of this is to say that UConn is about to make a run to the national title, but once the Huskies get into the field, who’s to say that they don’t have a shot?
