Everyone was buying stock in UConn to come out as the top dog in the American Athletic Conference. Rightfully so, too, given the talent it brought back. Yet early-season injuries to Alterique Gilbert and Terry Larrier, two members of the Huskies’ core, became a major speed bump that drastically slowed progress.
For the conference, SMU has taken over the top spot. The Mustangs are 14-1 in league play, tied with Cincinnati, and are riding a 10-game winning streak dating to mid-January. Now it faces UConn on the road Saturday as Kevin Ollie has suddenly righted the ship with wins in seven of the past nine games.
Here’s how you can catch the game on TV or streaming online, along with a scouting report on both teams and a pick against the spread.
Viewing information
When: Saturday, 12 p.m. ET
Where: XL Center, Hartford, Connecticut
TV: CBS
Live stream (desktop): Desktop link
Live stream (mobile): CBS Sports App
Scouting report
A direct result of UConn’s early injuries has been the expanded opportunities for young players. Freshman Jalen Adams has emerged as the team’s leading scorer at 15 points per game to go along with 6.6 assists in a balanced offensive attack. Senior Rodney Purvis and freshman Christian Vital fill out a talented back court that takes on a bulk of the scoring load -- with the trio combining for 43 points per game over the past five games.
Similar to UConn, SMU has an incredible core of underclassmen leading the charge. The team’s heart and soul, Semi Ojeleye, leads in scoring and rebounding and is second in 3-point percentage. He’s a 6-foot-7 versatile big who is physical and can play inside and outside the paint. Look for sophomore star Shake Milton, an Owasso, Oklahoma, native, to feed him the rock. Milton is averaging 4.4 assists and 13.1 points, and the two have an undeniable court connection that makes SMU difficult to stop.
Matchups to watch
The matchup in the back court between young point guards Adams and Milton will be the tipping point here. I think Milton has the upper hand with his defensive prowess, along with the talent surrounding him. Adams has the ability to explode on offense, recording five games of 20-plus points, including a 34-point effort earlier this season against Oklahoma State.
Can Milton slow Adams’ roll in his recent hot streak during the Huskies’ run? Or will it be Adams, the freshman, who is on the defensive against Milton and SMU, who will no doubt be looking to keep its chance for an American regular-season crown alive? I like Milton with the upper hand here, but playing in Hartford makes it far from a guarantee.
Odds and pick
SportsLine odds: SMU -5.5
SportsLine projection: SMU 62, UConn 56
Pick: SMU -5.5
Ultimately, it comes down to talent. SMU, which hasn’t faced near the amount of adversity that UConn has as far as injuries, has the clear edge in this one. Give me the Mustangs to cover the -6 on the road.