Houston @ Connecticut preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 23, 2020 ) Connecticut 59, Houston 63

Houston entered a difficult final week of the regular season tied for first place in the American Athletic Conference, and faces its final road test Thursday night against surging Connecticut. The Cougars, who are 4-4 on the road in conference play and host Memphis on Sunday, knocked off Cincinnati 68-55 in their last contest and stand one-half game behind Tulsa after the Golden Hurricane beat Temple on Wednesday.

“We have a big game coming up Thursday, and we’re focused on the process,” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson told reporters. “Championships are destinations. This journey that we’re on is not over. When you start to get ahead of yourself, you lose sight of what you started in June. Our kids work so hard, but we’ve won nothing.” UConn gave the Cougars one of their toughest games at home (63-59 loss) Jan. 23 and suffered an overtime defeat to Tulsa in its next outing, but the Huskies have won seven of 10 since and three in a row after Saturday’s 84-63 victory at East Carolina. UConn had a short bench due to injuries and suspensions as four players logged at least 33 minutes Saturday, led by AAC Player of the Week Christian Vital (27 points, four steals), but the Huskies are brimming with confidence against all odds. “I used to say all the time,” UConn freshman guard James Bouknight told the Hartford Courant, “and people looked at me like I was crazy. I still think we can make the (NCAA) Tournament. I think we can win this conference.”

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: CBS Sports Network

ABOUT HOUSTON (22-7, 12-4 AAC): Freshman guard Marcus Sasser, who leads the team in made 3-pointers (57), is becoming a major weapon for the offense after totaling 39 points in the last two games and draining 9-of-22 from behind the arc. Freshman Caleb Mills is also raising his production level, averaging 21 points over the past three games to boost his team-leading mark to 13.3, while sophomore guard Nate Hinton contributes 10.5 points and a team-best nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Quentin Grimes (11.5 points per game) returned to the lineup after missing one game with a hip injury and scored four in 19 minutes Sunday.

ABOUT CONNECTICUT (17-12, 8-8): Vital is averaging 22.6 points over the last five games, pushing his team-leading mark to 15.6, and drained 14-of-32 from 3-point range to go along with 14 steals in the past four contests. Bouknight has emerged as a major threat on the offensive end as well, scoring at least 16 in nine straight games to boost his season average to 13.0 - second-best for the Huskies. Junior forward Isaiah Whaley is also becoming a factor after scoring 34 total points in the last two contests and averaging 15 (almost 10 above his season average) along with 9.3 rebounds in his his past four outings.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. UConn junior G Alterique Gilbert leads the team in assists (3.8), but is 7-of-21 from the field the last four games.

2. Houston junior G DeJon Jarreau (9.3 points, team-high 3.8 assists) is 7-of-27 from the floor the past three contests.

3. Huskies sophomore F Sidney Wilson (3.6 points) is suspended indefinitely for a violation of university policy.

PREDICTION: UConn 76, Houston 73