PROVIDENCE at No. 20 UCONN
When: Saturday, 5 p.m.
Where: XL Center, Hartford
Records: Providence 10-1, UConn 9-2
TV: FOX
Radio: UConn Sports Network, 97.9 FM-ESPN Hartford, Sirius-137, XM-206, SXM App-965, WAVZ-New Haven (1300 AM), WGCH- Greenwich (1490 AM), WATR-Waterbury (1320 AM), WILI-Willimantic (WILI 1400 AM)
KEEP AN EYE ON
Martin, Sanogo a go? Tyrese Martin has missed UConn’s last four games, Adama Sanogo the Huskies’ last three. Both could be available on Saturday, though it looks like Martin is far more likely.
“He’s got a great chance, as long as he doesn’t have a setback (Friday),” coach Dan Hurley said of the senior wing. “Not sure if there’ll be a minutes restriction on him, relative to conditioning, (but) everything looks really good for him.”
Martin suffered a sprain and avulsion fracture to his left wrist three weeks ago in the Bahamas. He played three games with the injury but has been out ever since. He’s the Huskies’ leading rebounder (7.7) and second-leading scorer (12.9).
Sanogo, who suffered an abdominal injury in a Nov. 30 win over MarylandEastern Shore, was slated to ramp things up in practice on Friday and could be available on Saturday, per Hurley.
“Could he give us spot minutes? We’ll see,” the coach said.
If not, Sanogo (15.6 ppg) could be ready to go as soon as Tuesday night at Marquette.
Watson-Sanogo dream deferred? If Sanogo can’t go, it puts off an anticipated matchup between two of the best big men in the country — Watson and PC grad Nate Watson.
Watson leads the Friars in scoring (15.3) and is a true low-post threat. He dumped 17 points on the Huskies in a Friar win last season in Providence, but was held to a mere six in a rematch less than a week later at Gampel.
Hurley noted that playing strong, precatch defense — not letting Watson catch the ball deep in the paint — is a big key in stopping him. That role will likely at least start on Saturday with Isaiah Whaley, the reigning Big East co-Defensive Player of the Year.
“I always like taking up the challenge for that,” Whaley said on Friday. “I’ll be sticking to him. We’ll send different looks at him, but I’m starting out on him.”
Hurley actually coached against Watson while still at Rhode Island five years ago.
“That’s kind of mind-boggling,” he noted.
The coach added that Akok Akok, Samson Johnson, even little-used redshirt freshman Richie Springs could all take turns muscling up Watson and bruising senior forward Ed Croswell on Saturday.
And possibly Sanogo, too, though that appears more likely on Jan. 15 in Providence.
“It would make for a heck of a matchup,” Hurley noted. “You’re talking about two of the best big guys in the country. If Adama doesn’t go, it’s a shame, because that would have been a heck of a matchup.”
Durham a bull: Al Durham, a grad transfer from Indiana, has been a huge get for the Friars. He’s averaging 13.5 points per game, second only to Watson.
“He’s a veteran, played four years in the Big 10 at a big-time program,” Hurley noted. “He’s got the New York roots, high-level recruit, high-IQ, real good feel, he defends. A really good, winning player.”