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Again in March 2016, the major 5 Billboard Hot 100 tracks were being “Work,” “Love You,” “Stressed Out,” “My Home,” and “Sorry.” Those are awfully fitting music for the UConn men’s basketball the final 5 a long time. On Saturday at 7:10 p.m., the Huskies (11-6, 15-7) will just take on the Maryland Terrapins (9-11, 16-13) in the initially round of the NCAA match, bringing a 5-yr March Madness drought which is felt like an eternity to a close.
UConn will be in action on Saturday. For a glimpse at the comprehensive bracket and Friday’s program, SB Nation’s acquired you included.
How to observe
When: Saturday, March 20, 7:10 p.m. ET
Wherever: Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, Indiana
Television set: CBS
Radio: UConn Radio Community (97.9 ESPN and affiliates)
Line: UConn -3. over/below 130
KenPom Predicted Rating: UConn 66, Maryland 64
Past conference
The two groups previous performed in 2015, when Maryland handed UConn a 76-66 decline in the Jimmy V Common. That similar year, Dan Hurley and Maryland Head Coach Mark Turgeon experienced a terse exchange back again when the Carpenter was setting up residences in Rhode Island.
How they acquired here
It is been a prolonged highway back again for UConn following acquiring manhandled by best-seed Kansas in the 2nd round of the 2016 NCAA tournament. The Huskies are winners of five of their last six and just skipped out on the Huge East finals right after slipping to Creighton 59-56. Some in the national media see UConn as a dark horse Final Four prospect supplied they are 11-3 with James Bouknight in the lineup. They are a balanced unit (No. 16 KenPom over-all, top 25 in both of those offense and defense), but place guard R.J. Cole remains in concussion protocol and will will need to be cleared in purchase to play. Thankfully, UConn has till Saturday to get their floor typical back, and Cole participated in whole-call exercise on Thursday, so issues are seeking up.
Maryland sits at No. 31 in KenPom and concluded the standard year eighth in the loaded Significant 10 just before bowing out to Michigan in the convention event quarterfinals. The Terps managed to enjoy 29 games this time, which is a uncommon feat provided the COVID-19 pauses plaguing plans in 2020-21. They boast wins more than Illinois, Purdue, and Michigan Point out, but have also dropped duds versus Northwestern and Penn Condition (twice). They’re a tricky, deliberate defensive team (No. 27 in defensive efficiency for each KenPom) that depends on backcourt generation to grind out wins.
If UConn wins, the Huskies will play the winner of 2-seed Alabama and 15-seed Iona in the next round. The Alabama-Iona match will be broadcast at 4 p.m. ET Saturday on TBS.
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