UConn: Jan. 11, at Marquette
Will the Huskies lose again? We’re kidding … we think. UConn is favored—mostly comfortably—to win all of its remaining games on both KenPom and T-Rank, but the chances of all of those coming true is quite low. How low? KenPom gives it 6.1% odds of happening. UConn’s toughest Big East tests include Marquette, Xavier and Creighton (despite the Bluejays’ recent struggles), and a healthier Villanova could be dangerous as well, now that Cam Whitmore is playing.The Huskies have crushed everyone they’ve played so far, so we haven’t even seen how they’ll respond in a close contest late. Their stretch through mid-January contains some potential pitfalls, and then they don’t travel to Creighton and Villanova until Feb. 11 and March 4, respectively.
We don’t feel great about it, but we’re going to pick UConn’s trip to Marquette as its first defeat. The Golden Eagles have impressed in Shaka Smart’s second season, and they’re catching the Huskies at a good time: Connecticut will be finishing up a tough five-game stretch that includes hosting Villanova and Creighton and traveling to Xavier and Providence. Our main question is whether Marquette’s defense is going to be able to slow UConn’s potent offense.
Link:
Predicting the First Loss for Men’s College Basketball’s Five Undefeated Teams
Purdue, UConn, Mississippi State, Utah State and New Mexico are the only programs without a defeat in 2022-23.
