No. 12 Marquette (21-5, 10-3 Big East) at UConn (16-9, 6-7)
Marquette is the nation's best-kept secret. This scrappy club, which was already height-challenged coming into the season, lost its starting center to a torn ACL back in early December and has played the last four games without its second-leading rebounder, sophomore forward Davante Gardner, because of a sprained knee. (He is listed as doubtful for Saturday.) Yet, the Golden Eagles are tied for second in the Big East through toughness, defense and heady guard play. By all rights, they should be able to handle a reeling UConn team that has lost six out of its last eight games. However, the Huskies are playing at home (albeit in Hartford, not Gampel), and they can ill-afford another loss if they want to stay in strong position for an at-large bid. And you all know how much I like desperate home teams.
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/seth_davis/02/17/Weekend.picks/index.html#ixzz1mfcFeEfD
You neglect to mention that he predicts a two point UConn win.
Quote from: LittleMurs on February 17, 2012, 01:52:48 PM
You neglect to mention that he predicts a two point UConn win.
Selective reading??
I tend to disagree with the notion that UConn will play with any sense of desperation. UConn generally seems to be very talented and play with no sense of desperation. Kemba did last year, but he's really the only one since MU has been in the big east. The year Walker was a freshman, I thought UConn at least had a great shot at winning the nat'l championship against that UNC team, and they never played with desperation. They lost to an MSU team that digs for every possession under Izzo. MU's first year in the Big East UConn was a bunch super-talented sleepwalkers/zombies.
I believe MU will play with more heart and desire than UConn and my hope is that will win out.
This is a massive game, but it depends vastly on how much UConn feels pressed against the wall. They played close to both Cincy and ND, but lost to both at home. This isn't an unwinnable game, especially with Calhoun out and the fact it isn't in Storrs.
I think it will be a nailbiter, but we have a good chance to prevail.
While this game scares me because this is a must win for UConn, there is also the fact that if UConn is punched in the face in a big game, they break. No matter how we start, we have to keep playing our game and make life uncomfortable for them. Pressure will make the break.