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Posted at 12:30 PM EST

Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, CT

UConn -1 over USC

Streaming: ESPN 

7:00 PM EST. USC is 3-0 and the market trusts that USC should be favored here not only because of their flawless record but because they just frog-stomped BYU by 26 points, 79-53. That victory stands out big time. Meanwhile UConn is also 2-0 but its wins came against Central Connecticut and Hartford. Its win over Hartford was by a mere 12 points. UConn was a 23½-point choice and did not come close to covering. Furthermore, the Huskies haven’t made it to the Dance since 2016, which is an eternity in today’s market. The community is putting far too much emphasis on USC's blowout win over BYU and that provides us with this outstanding opportunity. Incidentally, USC beat the Cal Baptist Lancers and needed OT to do so.

Before discussing the Huskies, put us on record of suggesting that the departure of Alterique Gilbert is a blessing in disguise. While clearly a talented player, Gilbert was inefficient and had the tendency to shoot his team out of ball games. UConn closed out 2019-20 on an 8-2 run and won its last five contests in AAC play. The Huskies were ravaged by injuries last year but they were also very young. A more mature version of last year’s squad with budding superstar James Bouknight leading the way had the Huskies on our radar before teh season started and we were just waiting for the right spot. This is it.

As for Bouknight, it’s hard to emphasize just how good he is. The 6’4” sophomore was a 3rd Team All-AAC and All-Freshman member last season and will be on the shortlist for Big East Player of the Year. Bouknight can handle the ball and score from anywhere – he’s a skinny athlete who just oozes potential. The entire country should know his name by the end of the season, especially now that the Huskies are back in a Power 6 conference. This is a well-coached outfit with plenty more pieces than just Bouknight. The Huskies have an outstanding roster and will be right back in the mix (where they belong) for an at-large bid and a 3rd place finish in the Big East. The time to buy on them is now. 

There seems to be a hardening ceiling for Andy Enfield’s Trojan teams. Since 2016, USC has finished 49th, 53rd, 51st, 82nd and then 55th last year in Kenpom.com’s overall rankings. If anyone out there wants to go to war for USC as a top-40 team, knock yourself out– but we’ll be in the background rolling our eyes.  The Mobley-led frontline will be dominant, but they need a reliable table setter to feed them and precise shooters to keep defenses from collapsing around them. Is Anderson the answer at point? He’s got the talent and tools to be a Pac-12 caliber point guard, but he’s far from that destination at this juncture, and the aforementioned transfer tribe won’t move the needle. Unless a reliable perimeter option emerges, USC will remain stuck on the PAC-12’s treadmill of mediocrity and that makes us sellers. UConn is spotting deflated points and we’re all over it.

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