MBB: Back in AP Top 25 after four-week absence
Members of the Connecticut Huskies’ men’s basketball program have been working overtime lately. For their efforts, the voters of the Associated Press’ Top 25 poll were apparently willing to throw a small reward their way.
The Huskies (11-4, 2-2 Big East) are back in the Top 25 for the first time since Dec. 13’s poll, holding off Iowa, BYU, and Davidson, among others, for the final spot in the rankings. UConn picked up 73 votes, besting the Hawkeyes by 17 for 25th. They’re one of two new teams in the poll after a chaotic week on the men’s circuit, joining No. 22 Loyola Chicago. Fellow Big East competitor Seton Hall dropped out after appearing in the 20th spot, as did No. 24 Alabama.
Connecticut has had a little trouble building momentum in Big East play thanks to scheduling issues brought about by the ongoing health crisis. Last Saturday’s crucial contest against Providence is now among those games that needs to be shifted, as the Huskies were seeking redemption for their narrow 57-53 loss in each squad’s conference opener on Dec. 18. The Friars moved up two spots in the latest poll despite their issues and now sit at 21st.
Left with only one game on the docket, UConn atoned for a 90-87 overtime loss to Seton Hall on Jan. 8 with an 86-78 triumph over St. John’s on Wednesday night in Storrs. That win also required an extra five minutes, as the Huskies used an 11-0 run in the third frame to stifle the Red Storm’s upset bid. Adama Sanogo put up 26 points and 18 rebounds, setting a career-best mark in the latter category for the second straight game (putting up 16 in the loss to the Pirates).
Connecticut appeared in the first six AP polls of the 2021-22 season, peaking at No. 15 in the Dec. 6 edition. They’ll look to establish their first winning streak since a three-game stretch immediately before that poll’s release on Tuesday night when they take on Butler at XL Center in a game that was previously scheduled for Jan. 1 (7 p.m. ET, FS1).
In addition to Providence and UConn, the Big East was also represented in this week’s poll by Villanova (11th) and Xavier (20th). Gonzaga took the top spot, beating No. 2 Auburn by four points for the honor (though the Tigers bested the Bulldogs in first-place votes by a 36-25 margin. Formerly top-ranked Baylor dropped to fifth after seeing their run of perfection snapped by No. 18 Texas Tech and Oklahoma State, finishing the top five behind Arizona and Purdue.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
