The number one team in the nation will be playing at Gampel Pavillion on Saturday, but for the first time that team won’t be UConn. The Texas Longhorns(17-1) travel to Storrs to take on the Huskies, making them the first team to be ranked number one to play as a visitor at Gampel.
The Longhorns may be the number one team in the nation, but that will end next week…no matter what the outcome is on Saturday. Kansas State and former UConn player Curtis Kelly beat the Longhorns on Tuesday, giving Texas their first loss of the season.
The Huskies(12-6) hope to pull off a similar upset, but they are a man down, with head coach Jim Calhoun still out on a medical leave of absence. In their first game since Calhoun leaving, UConn defeated St. Johns 75-59 at the XL Center on Wednesday. Associate Head Coach George Blaney coached the team in Calhoun’s absence, which is something he’s done a few times over his nine years at the university.
Blaney is optimistic with UConn’s chances against the top ranked Longhorns. “We practiced with some great energy and some enthusiasm,” Blaney said. “They realize who is coming to town tomorrow and they’re anxious to play the game. Anytime you pick yourself up from two losses or three losses, as we’ve had, and you get a win, it makes you feel better about what you’re doing. You probably can get their attention a little better when that happens. But I think Texas gets their attention. It’s something that every kid dreams about that comes to Connecticut, to play these kind of games and to be in this kind of national spotlight.”
UConn will need great play out of Seniors Jerome Dyson, Stanley Robinson, and Gavin Edwards, if they hope to compete. Besides Edwards, UConn needs another big man to step up and play well. UConn does not get a lot of scoring out of Alex Oriakhi, Ater Majok, or Charles Okwandu, but one or more of these guys will need to step up and put some points on the board if the Huskies hope to get a win. 
UConn needs to be focused on Texas, and need to play within themselves. Coach Blaney knows the Huskies have a chance to win, but its all about playing the game, and not getting caught up in the hype.
“We’ve played the best schedule in the country, so we know what playing teams like this is like. They know what it’s like and they’ll be ready to play. The outcome of the game will depend on who plays better. That’s what we keep talking about with this group. It’s today. How are you going to play today.”
Overtime: UConn Football and Basketball with Marcus Lynam 