< Dan Hurley and the struggling UConn Huskies face Xavier in a Big East game today in Cincinnati.

It would take Octopus arms to plug all the leaks that have sprung up during UConn's recent skid.

The Huskies' normally reliable defense has broken down late in games. They've been outrebounded two straight games for the first time this season. They've sputtered offensively.

In the good news/bad news department, their most consistent player in the last five games during which they're 1-4 has been freshman Adama Sanogo while their veterans have been up and down.

Injuries continue to hamper the Huskies (8-5, 5-5).

The latest additions to the list are starters Tyrese Martin and Isaiah Whaley, both dealing with ankle injuries but likely to play today at Xavier (11-2, 4-2). The Big East game starts at noon at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati. Whaley has been limited in practice while Martin has missed the last two days after rolling his ankle on Thursday.

Star guard James Bouknight (elbow) is practicing but not cleared for games so he'll sit out for the eighth straight time. Akok Akok, whose shin injury forced him to sit out the last four games, will be available.

The Huskies have to push aside those challenges and play like a desperate team.

"Under the current circumstances of what we've dealt with up to this point with injuries, there's another level of desperation that we've got to get to in terms of loose balls, tracking down long rebounds, sacrificing our body," head coach Dan Hurley said. "There's a path to victory for us in these games.

"We play hard but there's a level of desperation that we've got to get to (Saturday) at noon to have a chance to win."

Xavier has had its share of problems.

The Musketeers are coming off their third pause. They've played only one game — Jan. 30 vs. Butler — in just over a month. They'll be missing some players due to COVID-19 protocols.

So the hosts will be rusty but also well-rested.

"It's like we're starting a whole new season here yet again," Xavier coach Travis Steele said on Thursday. "Obviously, we've got a big challenge with UConn on Saturday. They're tough, they're physical. Coach Hurley does a tremendous job. They're one of the better defensive teams in the entire country. They're the number one ranked defense in the Big East. They're one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country as well.

"So we've got our hands full." Without Bouknight, UConn has tried to win by playing at a slow pace, crashing the offensive glass and digging in on defense. The Huskies have had mixed results, going 3-4 with their leading scorer on the sidelines.

UConn scored a season-low 59 points in Wednesday's loss to Providence a game after giving up a season high 80 points in a loss to Seton Hall.

Xavier will try to speed up the game. The Musketeers are an efficient offensive team that ranks second in the Big East in field goal percentage at 47.8. Senior guard Paul Scruggs, who leads the Big East in assists, and sophomore forward Zach Freemantle are the main scoring threats, combining to average 29.6 points per game.

"Really good team, a top four or five team in our league," Hurley said. "Scruggs is one of the better players in the league and a warrior and a two-way player and he's got a great chance to be an NBA player. They play just a physical style. They have a lot of weapons on offense. Freemantle is tough as nails.''

While Xavier already has pocketed some impressive wins, UConn is still searching for a marquee Big East win.

The Huskies have only seven scheduled games left in the regular season. A win on Saturday would boost their sagging confidence as well as their resume.

For the second straight game, Hurley is making a change to the starting lineup, giving freshman Andre Jackson his first start. Jackson has had the loudest voice in practice this week, Hurley said.

Don't expect much for Akok, who's played only 11 minutes this season since coming back from an Achilles injury.