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Matchup: UConn (16-11, 9-6) vs. SMU (23-5, 14-2)
On Sunday, SMU will travel all the way to Hartford to take on Kevin Ollie’s Huskies. The 2014 national champions will most likely need to win the American Conference tournament in order to play in the NCAA tournament. Regardless of how SMU finishes, they should be a lock for the big dance.
What to Watch:
Connecticut is led by senior guard Ryan Boatright who averages 17.5 points per game. SMU is led by 5-foot-9 junior Nic Moore. The Mustangs pass the ball extremely well and take good shots. Connecticut will need to defend and force SMU to take tough, contested shots.
Freshman Daniel Hamilton has played extremely well lately for UConn. Hamilton leads UConn in rebounding and has pulled down 88 over the last eight outings. At times, UConn struggles to make shots. If Hamilton can get on the glass, he could put up points without having to work off the dribble, something the freshman has struggled with on occasion.
Prediction:
If SMU can shut down Boatright, the Mustangs will walk out of the XL Center with a win. SMU has four guys averaging double-figures — Larry Brown’s team has options should one player have an off night.
Overall, though, SMU will be too strong for a struggling UConn team.
Final Score: SMU 72, UConn 64.
James Szuba is a college basketball writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JamesSzuba.
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