The Connecticut Huskies got an early season blemish in their record after losing to the West Virginia Mountaineers last Sunday in Puerto Rico, which hurt them in the rankings. However, they can move up a few notches if they can hurdle the undefeated Texas Longhorns team on Sunday. Read on for more about this big matchup between two Top 25 programs.
Meanwhile, Week 13 of the NFL goes full throttle on Sunday with 12 games scheduled. You can read our preview of one of that day’s biggest games in Denver vs. Chiefs here.
[sc:NBAArticles ]Texas Longhorns vs. Connecticut Huskies Betting Preview
Where: Gampel Pavilion, Storrs
When: Sunday, November 30, 12:00 PM ET
Line: Texas Longhorns vs. Connecticut Huskies – view all NCAA Basketball lines
Betting on the Texas Longhorns
Big 12 juggernauts Texas Longhorns are off to a hot start, winning all of their first five assignments by an average margin of 25.8 points. In the team’s last outing, Texas drubbed Saint Francis, 78-46, as five-star recruit Myles Turner had his best game of his college career thus far.
[sc:NBA240banner ]Turner, the prized freshman from Trinity High School, came off the bench and scored 25 points. He also added 10 rebounds. Turner was a projected starter by many experts prior to the season but head coach Rick Barnes has yet to insert the lanky 6-11 forward into the starting lineup.
Nevertheless, Turner has generally been a tremendous boost to Texas as part of the second unit by averaging 12.0 PPG and 7.0 RPG. Turner is going to be a matchup problem as his long range and size will pose a defensive puzzle for the Huskies, who are giving up 63.0 PPG to opposing teams.
With the continued absence of top scorer and guard Isaiah Taylor (15.0 PPG) because of a wrist injury, Turner, along with the other scorers in the team like Jonathan Holmes (13.4 PPG) and Kendal Yancy (5.8 PPG) will have to step up on offense. Holmes only had three points against Saint Francis but added five assists. Yancy, who replaced Thomas in the starting lineup over the last two games, scored a season-high 12 points and added six rebounds.
Offense aside, the Longhorns’ rebounding is the one aspect of their game that could turn the tide towards their favor against Connecticut. Texas’ frontline has been gobbling up a ton of boards each game, helping the team haul down 45.5 RPG, the 12th most in Division I. Holmes leads the team in rebounding with 7.2 RPG while Turner is right behind him with 7.0.
Texas is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 road games.
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Betting on the Connecticut Huskies
The Huskies slid from No. 17 to No. 24 in the rankings after a 78-68 defeat at the hands of the West Virginia Mountaineers on November 23 in Puerto Rico. Now that they’re back in their campus and aided by a long six-day rest, the Huskies look to return to the win column as they host the streaking Longhorns on Sunday.
The Huskies were led in the West Virginia game by Ryan Boatright, who finished with 17 points. Overall, Connecticut shot well from the field, going 28-for-62 (45.2%). However, they could have done more damage on offense if not for the 19 turnovers they committed. Forward Daniel Hamilton pumped in 15 points and added nine rebounds, but his eight turnovers weighed the team down. Connecticut will be lucky to score that many points again versus Texas if the Huskies continue to do a bad job of taking care of the leather.
The Huskies are averaging 63.0 PPG so far this season on 45.4 FG%, but Texas is a very good defensive team that limits opposing teams down to just 29.8 FG%. Furthermore, Texas allows just 18.0 field goals per game, the 13th-best mark in Division I. Connecticut will have to put extra effort in finding the open man against the ruthless Longhorns defense.
That means Boatright needs the other guards to shoulder some of the playmaking. Boatright leads the team in assists with 4.5 APG but guards Rodney Purvis, Terrence Samuel, and Sam Cassell Jr. only combine for 1.17 APG.
Connecticut is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games as the home team.
Writer’s Prediction
Texas wins, 70-64.
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