NO. 2 UCONN AT PROVIDENCE
Location: Amica Mutual Pavilion
Tip time: 8 p.m. (Fox)
Records: UConn 27-3, 17-2; Providence 19-11, 10-9
Last game: UConn won at Marquette, 74-67, Wednesday; Providence won at Georgetown, 71-58 Tuesday
Series: UConn leads, 48-31, winning first meeting this season 74-65 on Jan. 31 in Storrs
Probable starters: UConn, 6-5 graduate guard Tristen Newton (15.1 pts, 7.1 rebs, 5.9 assists), 6-4 graduate guard Cam Spencer (14.9 pts, 4.6 rebs), 6-6 fr. guard Stephon Castle (11.1 pts, 4.3 rebs), 6-8 r-so. forward Alex Karaban (14.2 pts, 5.1 rebs), 7-2 so. center Donovan Clingan (12.4 pts, 6.9 rebs, 2.3 blks)
Providence, 6-2 so. guard Jayden Pierre (8.7 pts), 6-4 r-so. guard Corey Floyd, Jr. (4.7 pts), 6-3 jr. guard Devin Carter (19.2 pts, 8.4 rebs), 6-7 grad guard Ticket Gaines (8.9 pts, 4.2 rebs), 6-9 grad forward Josh Oduro (16.2 pts, 7.1 rebs)
Noteworthy: UConn won 17 of the last 18 games, PC dropped two of its last three. … In the first meeting, Castle (20), Newton (16), Spencer (15) and Karaban (12) scored in double figures.
Carter and Oduro 20 pts apiece. … Seven road wins is the most by the Huskies in Hurley’s six seasons in Storrs, tying for the program’s highest total since the 2013-14 team won seven. … Friars 14-3 at home. … PC 2-3 vs. ranked teams. … Top reserve: 6-5 fr. forward Rich Barron (4.2 pts). … Carter leads the Big East in scoring overall at 19.2 and ranks third in rebounding at 8.4. He’s scored at least 20 points in 12 games this season. … Friars are 3rd in the Big East in scoring defense (68.8).. … Hot: Spencer is shooting an impressive 50% from the field, 46% from three (3rd in the nation), 91.7% from the foul line. … Cold: Clingan shooting 56.1% from the foul line. … In the NCAA NET rankings, UConn is No. 3, Providence No. 61. … Since late January 2023, UConn is 42-5, with 31 wins by double digits. … Clingan has nine blocks in the last two games. … At 27 wins, Huskies are tied with the 1995-96 team for most regular season wins in program history. … Karaban has a team-best eight 20-point games. …. Up next: UConn opens Big East tournament play at noon on Thursday in the quarterfinals.