NCAA Tournament Predictions: 7. UConn vs. 10. St. Joseph’s

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We Predict the Field

Connecticut Huskies (26-8, 12-6 American)- The enigmatic Huskies have at times been terrific, awful and everything between this season. UConn is one of two teams this season to beat Florida, and they did it in dramatic fashion on a game-winning shot from senior guard Shabazz Napier. But the Huskies also lost to SMU twice and fell to Stanford at home.

Napier is one of the best point guards in the country, averaging 17.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game, all team highs. He does everything for the Huskies except sell popcorn and make the questionable Sloppy Joe’s the school sells at the commissary at Gampel. If this game comes down to a final shot, you can bet that Napier will be the one to take it–even if he’s launching it from 35 feet out with 15 on the shot clock.

Whether or not UConn makes a run in this tournament will likely depend on how much help Napier gets from role players like Neils Giffey (8.5 ppg) and Amida Brimah (4.3 ppg), who is a shot-blocking presence and has the potential to be a breakout star in the future. If Giffey catches fire from 3, the Huskies can make a run to the Sweet 16. If not, this team will probably bow out early in the NCAAs.

KEY STATS:

8th Opponents Field Goal Percentage (38.7%)

15th Points Allowed per Possession (0.92)

32nd Points Allowed per Game (63.10

144th Points per Game (71.9)

 

 
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Saint Joseph’s Hawks (24-9, 11-5, Atlantic 10)- The Hawks rolled to an Atlantic 10 tournament title and removed all doubt that they’d be included in the field of 68. Senior forward Halil Kanacevic was phenomenal in the A-10 semis, scoring 26 points in a rout of St. Bonaventure. He is a unique player who can shoot the 3 and has the capability to go off at any time.

The Hawks have a number of productive bigs, including 6-8 senior Ronald Roberts, who averages 14.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Guard Langston Gallaway leads the team in scoring at 17.4 points per game. 6-3 guard Chris Wilson is another key player, averaging 9.1 points per.

This St. Joseph’s team rebounded from a shaky 4-4 start to finish 20-5, with two wins each over VCU and Dayton. They’re probably not good enough to get to the second weekend, but the Hawks could win a game in the NCAAs for sure.

 

KEY STATS:

53rd Field Goal Percentage (.468)

76th Assists per Game (14.1)

158th Points per Game (71.5)

PREDICTION: UConn