Connecticut @ Southern Methodist preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 21, 2019 ) Connecticut 59, Southern Methodist 77

Despite a glossy history that includes four national titles, Connecticut has earned a reputation for being the team that couldn't over recent seasons in American Athletic Conference play. Attempting to make a late-season run at a postseason bid, the Huskies vie for their third consecutive victory when they pay a visit to Southern Methodist on Wednesday night.

Connecticut has posted back-to-back wins over teams that were sitting atop the AAC standings, posting its first true road win at Tulsa before knocking off Cincinnati in overtime. “We’ve beaten the two hottest teams in the conference in back-to-back games,” coach Dan Hurley said after Sunday's 72-71 victory over Cincinnati. “We’ve developed resilience and toughness." The Huskies will need that toughness against the Mustangs, who have dropped two of their last three but own a 12-1 record at Moody Coliseum. "There are no big games. They're all humongous games," SMU coach Tim Jankovich said. "Every one of them in NCAA basketball, they count the same -- whether it's a big win or a bad loss or a mediocre win supposedly, they're all critical."

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: ESPNews

ABOUT CONNECTICUT (13-10, 4-6 AAC): James Bouknight has shown flashes of star power in his freshman season and elevated his level of play in the last two victories by scoring 45 points to earn conference player of the week honors. Bouknight was at his best when the Huskies needed him most, erupting for 19 of his 22 points in the second half at Tulsa before scoring 19 of his 23 points after halftime against Cincinnati. “I said it early in the year. I feel I’m ready,” said Bouknight, who hit 7 of 11 3-pointers in the two wins.

ABOUT SMU (16-6, 6-4): Four players are scoring in double figures for the Mustangs, who lead the AAC in field goal percentage (45.9), free-throw percentage (76.3), assists (16.8) and 3-pointers made (8.6 per game). Leading scorer Kendric Davis barely missed a triple-double with 18 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds in a win over Tulane before registering his third career double-double with 23 points and 10 assists in the loss at Temple. Davis leads the AAC and ranks fourth nationally at 7.3 assists per game.

TIP-INS

1. UConn leading scorer Christian Vital has been in double figures in nine straight games.

2. SMU has won five of the past seven meetings, including a 77-59 victory at home last season.

3. The Huskies were 21-of-48 from behind the arc in the last two games.

PREDICTION: SMU 78, Connecticut 71