West Virginia vs UConn | Preview, Predictions, Odds

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2010 – FREE COLLEGE PICK

#8 West Virginia Mountaineers (21-5) vs. UConn Huskies (16-11)

The University of Connecticut Huskies will host the No.8 West Virginia Mountaineers in a Big East showdown at the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut on Monday night.

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The last time these two teams met was on Jan 6, 2009, with then-No. 5 UConn coming away with a 61-55 win. The Huskies lead the all-time series 14-4 and has won all seven of its home games between the teams, including two at the XL Center in Hartford.

Before the season started many predicted that Uconn would be in the running for a Big East regular-season title, but at 6-8 in conference play with just four games remaining, not only are they out of a title race, but could be in danger of missing the NCAA tournament after reaching the Final Four last season. But if there was ever a time to make a comeback, it’s now. After upsetting Villanova on Monday, the Huskies followed with a 76-58 romp at Rutgers on Saturday. Jerome Dyson, who leads Connecticut with 18.7 points per game, scored 20 points and dished out six assists while Kemba Walker had 16 in the win. UConn shot 48.2 percent, went 16-of-22 at the foul line, 6-of-13 from downtown and held a 43-35 advantage on the boards. Could they save themselves from tournament elimination with a win over WVU?

It’s not going to be easy as the Mountaineers are playing good ball, winning eight of their last ten. After dropping games to Villanova and Pitt they have rebounded stringing together two consecutive wins, including Saturday’s 75-63 home win over Seton Hall. Kevin Jones, who along with Devin Ebanks led West Virginia with 16 points, while Da’Sean Butler contributed 14 points and six rebounds in the win. Ebanks has made 55.6 percent of his attempts over the past five games while averaging 15.8 points—nearly four above his season average. Butler currently tops the roster in scoring at 17.5 ppg, and drags down 6.2 rpg. The Mountaineers went 27-of-38 at the foul line and forced 16 turnovers to help compensate for a miserable 37.9 percent shooting effort from the floor against the Pirates, while winning the battle on the boards, 41-36.

The odd makers have the Mountaineers as –2 ½ -point favorites in this one.

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The Mountaineers will need to contain Dyson and Walker who were among four players in double figures in January’s win over the Mountaineers. Likewise Uconn’s success relies on their ability to stop WVU’s Ebanks, who they held to four points while shooting 2 of 8 in their last meeting. West Virginia had its worst night from the floor in that defeat shooting just 30.3 percent.

I expect the Mountaineers to take this one by 4-points on the road.

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