Connecticut @ East Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 3, 2019 ) East Carolina 52, Connecticut 76

Already shorthanded, Connecticut will be down yet another starter Sunday when the Huskies conclude the regular season at East Carolina. Both the Huskies and Pirates are among the bottom four teams in the American Athletic Conference and would need a miracle to reach the postseason.

UConn has lost seven of eight, all without leading scorer Jalen Adams, who had to watch from afar as the Huskies lost on his Senior Night 78-71 against Temple on Thursday. Alterique Gilbert suffered an eye injury in that contest and will miss Sunday's affair. East Carolina, meanwhile, has lost eight of nine, including a 17-point setback at Wichita State on Tuesday. Isaac Fleming continued to be a bright spot for the Pirates, notching 17 points and seven rebounds in a losing effort.

TV: 2 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT CONNECTICUT (14-16, 5-12 Big East): The Huskies need to rely on Christian Vital (14.0 points, 5.8 rebounds) in the absence of Adams and Gilbert, and 6-10 sophomore Josh Carlton (8.8, 5.9) could be another candidate to step up. Vital made seven 3-pointers against Temple en route to 26 points and has made 40.6 percent of his 3-pointers this season. Carlton has increased his scoring in each of the last five games, going from two points to eight to 10 to 16 and then to 21 against the Owls.

ABOUT EAST CAROLINA (10-19, 3-14): Over his last five games, Fleming has averaged 16.6 points - roughly seven points more than his season average - and he nearly posted a triple-double against Tulsa last weekend. Freshman forward Jayden Gardner (16.5 points, 8.5 rebounds) leads the team in scoring and rebounding but is averaging only 10 points and six boards in his last four outings. Shawn Williams (12.5 points) has made 20 3-pointers in the last five games.

TIP-INS

1. Carlton had 20 points and 16 rebounds in the first matchup - a 76-52 triumph by UConn.

2. Fleming averages 9.5 points. He averaged that exact same amount as a freshman and as a sophomore at Hawaii.

3. UConn is 8-1 at Gampel Pavilion and 6-15 on all other courts.

PREDICTION: UConn 64, East Carolina 60