The No. 21-ranked SMU Mustangs (21-3) visit Connecticut to play the Huskies (18-7) in a game that has the potential to be low-scoring. The game starts at 8:00 pm ET on Thursday, Feb. 18 and will air on ES2 and ES3.
The Huskies edged Tulsa 75-73 the last time they played. Omar Calhoun led all scorers on the team with 14 points on 5-for-8 shooting. The Mustangs, meanwhile, are coming off a 69-60 win over Gonzaga in their last outing. Nic Moore had a good game and claimed his first double-double of the season, recording 25 points and 11 assists.
Over the last five games, Moore has been on a tear for the Mustangs. During that stretch, he has averaged 21.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.6 steals, and 4.0 three-pointers.
Half-court execution will be at a premium as Connecticut ranks 294th in the nation in possessions per game (66.9 possessions per game), while SMU is 328th (65.5). Also, the Mustangs’s fourth-ranked offense (offensive efficiency of 121.3) will face off against the 12th-ranked defense of the Huskies (defensive efficiency of 93.1).
The Huskies look to build on their records of 18-7 Straight Up (SU) and 10-11-1 Against The Spread (ATS). Connecticut has been steady from the free throw line, shooting a superb .773. Connecticut has left their fans wanting more on the defensive side recently. The Huskies have given up an average of 67.4 points to opponents in their last 10 games, well over their defense’s season average of 62.0 PPG. The Huskies are the 35th-best team in the country at blocking shots, averaging 5.0 blocks per game. Connecticut is very careful and attentive with the ball, averaging the 39th-fewest turnovers per game at only 11.2.
On the other side, the Mustangs head into the game with records of 9-11 ATS and 21-3 SU. The Mustangs will be looking to pick it up in this one after recent offensive struggles. In their most recent 10 games, their scoring has dropped to 66.7 PPG, compared to 73.8 for the duration of the season. SMU is one of the better rebounding teams in Division I. The Mustangs average 39.5 rebounds per game, making them the 49th-best team in the country for that category. When it comes to making good decisions with the ball, not many are better than the Mustangs. They have one of the top assist-to-turnover ratios in the country at 1.49. The Mustangs are one of the top defensive teams in the nation, essentially shutting down opponents to the tune of 64.2 points allowed per game. When it comes to defending the rim, the Mustangs are one of the best in the nation with an average of 4.8 blocks per game.
The conference rivals will be facing off in their first head-to-head clash of the season. When they last met the Huskies were winners, but SMU still leads the head-to-head record, 4-1 SU. Additionally, with a 4-1 record, SMU has the advantage ATS.
Predictions: SU Winner – SMU, ATS Winner – SMU
Notes
Connecticut scores an average of just 73.8 points per game (ranked 134th). SMU ranks 21st in points allowed, giving up 64.2 points per game.
Connecticut scores just 76.9 points per home game (ranked 130th). SMU ranks 20th in points allowed on the road, giving up 65.9 points.
The Connecticut Huskies rank 81st for their offensive rating of 110.3. The SMU Mustangs have a defensive rating of 97.6 (ranked 56th).
The Connecticut Huskies average 66.9 possessions per game and 1.103 points per possession, while the SMU Mustangs earn fewer possessions (65.5) but more points per possession (1.213).
SMU has an average effective field goal percentage of 56.0%, ranked 14th in the nation. Connecticut is a winning 2-1 when opponents have a similar or higher effective field goal percentage.
The Connecticut Huskies average 19.0 three point attempts per game, and the SMU Mustangs attempt 15.0 per game. When going for at least 20 three pointers in a game this season, both teams have winning records; Connecticut is 7-3 and SMU is 5-1.
The 16th-ranked team in the category, SMU has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.49 this season. Connecticut ranks 74th with an A/TO of 1.23.
SMU, the 49th-ranked team in rebounding, registers an average of 39.5 rebounds per game. Connecticut does worse, ranked 138th with 37.0.
The Connecticut Huskies make an average of 6.0 steals per game. When the SMU Mustangs allow 5 or more steals, they are an outstanding 19-3.
