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New York Times
21-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
How to watch UConn vs. Oklahoma: Odds, storylines for men's NCAA Tournament matchup
Can the defending champion UConn Huskies do it again? The odds are against them, as they currently sit way down on the title board at +2500 to win it all. This matchup will be fun to watch as it features three electric players in Jeremiah Fears, Solo Ball and Liam McNeeley. And, of course, the ever-temperamental Huskies coach Dan Hurley. Fears, a projected lottery pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, can take over any game when he steps on the court. Can he lead the Sooners to an upset? We've got a breakdown of the strengths and weaknesses on both sides of the matchup, plus odds and viewing info. Our game previews are a collaborative effort between The Athletic staff, The Field of 68 and Brad Evans' The Gaming Juice. Dive into March Madness with The Athletic Projecting the bracket | Best picks to win the title Strengths: When UConn's offense is humming, few teams are more dangerous. Sophomore Solo Ball has made the leap as one of college basketball's most dangerous shooters, while Liam McNeeley has shown the ability to completely dominate a game. The Huskies are top-five nationally in assist rate, and before McNeeley and veteran point guard Hassan Diarra went down with injuries, they were KenPom's best offensive unit this side of Auburn. And with Alex Karaban's midseason slump a thing of the past, they're one of the most difficult teams in the tournament to defend. They are one of the few squads in the field with the ability to beat anyone on a night when they get hot. Advertisement Weaknesses: As good as UConn is offensively, that's how bad it can be defensively. There are two real issues on that end of the floor. For starters, the Huskies cannot stop fouling. They rank in the bottom 10th percentile in defensive fouls per possession — opponents live at the free-throw line — which is a problem exacerbated by the fact that their best offensive weapons struggle to prevent dribble penetration. The odd part is that they are arguably the best rim-protecting team in the country, but too often the combination of over-helping on an opponent's paint touch and weakside defenders getting lost leads to open shooters. The simplest way to explain it: A team full of players who rate somewhere between average and poor defensively probably isn't going to be great defensively, regardless of the scheme. Outlook: UConn has to be great offensively if it is going to have a chance to get to the second weekend, and the Huskies finally look like themselves on that end of the floor after a rough start to the new year. They ranked closer to top 50 than top five in offensive efficiency in 2025, according to BartTorvik, and a big reason was just a simple lack of toughness. They run as intricate of an offense as anyone in college basketball, but teams that can get physical with them defensively, blow up their timing, and force them to run offense from 'behind the line of scrimmage,' so to speak. And if they are not firing on all cylinders offensively, they are an average team. UConn is good enough to win a game it is supposed to win, but I do not expect the Huskies to be able to upset one of the top seeds in the tournament. The dream of a three-peat won't last past the first weekend. —Rob Dauster Strengths: Jeremiah Fears is one of college basketball's most electric players as a freshman and is a projected NBA lottery pick. When the 6-foot-4 guard is on, Oklahoma is tough to beat. The Sooners are 8-2 when Fears scores 20 or more points with wins against Arizona, Michigan, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, Missouri and Georgia. He's a major reason why the Sooners are top-25 in offensive efficiency. Senior forward Jalon Moore, the team's second-leading scorer (16.0 points per game) behind Fears (17.0), gives OU a great one-two scoring combo that can fill it up with any duo in the country. Advertisement Weaknesses: The Sooners are undersized, and it shows in the rebounding numbers. They rank in the 280s in rebounding margin and grab only 26.9 percent of their misses, the second-lowest mark in the SEC. Factor that in with a bit of a turnover bug, and this team does not have much margin for error. Oklahoma ranks lower than 150 in turnover percentage offense and doesn't force opponents to cough up the ball much. Fears is the heart and soul of this squad, but riding a freshman in the NCAA Tournament can be challenging, especially when he's averaging 3.5 turnovers per game. Outlook: Having potentially the best player on the court at any given moment from the guard spot could give OU some juice. But with the way the Sooners have struggled to piece together wins in the SEC, they could be an early flameout. Well, unless Fears goes nuclear. —Sam Lance (Photo of Liam McNeeley: Sarah Stier / Getty Images)
NBC Sports
20-03-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Oklahoma vs UConn Prediction: Odds, Expert Picks, Betting Trends and Stats for 2025 March Madness First Round
The UConn Huskies (23-10), the two-time reigning national champions, are set to face the Oklahoma Sooners (20-13) Friday in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. As the No. 8 seed in the West Region, UConn enters the tournament with an eye on defending their back-to-back national titles. The Huskies are led by senior Alex Karaban and sophomore Solo Ball. The No. 9 seed Sooners are making their first tournament appearance under coach Porter Moser. They are led by freshman standout Jeremiah Fears, who has been averaging 22.6 points over the last eight games, and forward Jalon Moore. The winner of this game earns the right to take on the winner of the Norfolk St. vs. Florida game. Lets dive into the matchup and offer some information and possibly a sweat or two. We've got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch the opening tip, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts. Game details & how to watch Oklahoma vs. UConn Date: Friday, March 21, 2025 Time: 9:25PM EST Site: PNC Arena City: Raleigh, NC Network/Streaming: TNT Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest scores and player news. Check out our day-by-day NCAA Basketball Schedule Page that includes live game updates. Game odds for Oklahoma vs. UConn The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of BetMGM: Odds: Oklahoma Sooners (+190), UConn Huskies (-235) Spread: Huskies -5.5 Total: 147.5 points Expert picks & predictions for Oklahoma vs. UConn Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NCAA calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, injuries, and the schedule. Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager. Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday's Sooners & Huskies game: Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline. Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Oklahoma Sooners +5.5. Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Game Total UNDER 147.5. Oklahoma vs. UConn: Top betting trends and recent stats Oklahoma is a perfect 7-0 against the spread in their last 7 games (16-15 ATS for the season) Oklahoma last 7 Game Totals are 5-1-1 to the OVER UConn last 5 Game Totals have cashed to the UNDER UConn is 5-1 on the Moneyline in their last 6 games UConn is 4-2 against the spread in their last 6 games (14-17 for the season) If you're looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NCAA Basketball Top Trends Tool on Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700. Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff: · Jay Croucher (@croucherJD) · Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) · Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) · Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UConn Men set to play Oklahoma in NCAA Tournament
STORRS, Conn. (WTNH) — The University of Connecticut Men's Basketball Team is heading to the NCAA tournament for the fifth straight season. The tournament officially starts on Tuesday. UConn is the 8th seed in the west region and the Huskies will face 9-seed Oklahoma this Friday in Raleigh, North Carolina. Tip-off is at 9:25 p.m. The team has a tough road ahead to the Final Four. Most ESPN experts label the western region as the 'region of death.' If they defeat Oklahoma, they'll likely face number 1 seed Florida in the next round. Here's more from some players about how they're feeling about being selected for the NCAA Tournament. 'It's always exciting, just hearing the March Madness song and it's just a new season for everybody, so it's just super exciting and we just can't wait to prepare,' UConn forward Alex Karaban said. 'Good feeling, just happy for the opportunity and getting to Raleigh and getting things going,' UConn guard Solo Ball said. The UConn Women's Basketball Team is also heading to the tournament after winning the Big East Tournament. The UConn Women's Basketball Team including star player Paige Bueckers basking in that blue and white confetti over the weekend after taking the victory in the Big East Conference. The win landed the team a 2 seed in their regional. The Huskies kick off the first round of March Madness against 15th-seed Arkansas State this Saturday in Storrs. Tip-off time this Saturday is 1 pm. If the Huskies defeat the Red Wolves, they could face number-one seed USC, who they bumped off last year to get to the Final Four. 'I think the biggest thing is just taking one game at a time,' UConn guard Ashlynn Shade said. 'We are focused on potential matches in the future we have to win our first game to advance and that's our priority.' Coach Geno Auriemma is the winningest head coach in postseason play. 'I'm here to help you and our staff is here to help guide you so that when a moment comes it's time to win it, you're ready to win it,' Auriemma said. Meanwhile, Dan Hurley has now taken seven teams to the NCAA tournament in his 15 seasons as head coach. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
16-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 March Madness teams that could surprise: Is UConn a dark horse?
The key to picking teams in the NCAA men's basketball tournament is to look for underdogs or dark horses that can exploit the draw and avoid upsets. The top teams in the country primarily come from two conferences, but many more teams have the talent to make a run at the championship. Last year, North Carolina State went 17–14 and was a No. 10 seed in the ACC tournament but ran the table before earning a No. 11 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Wolfpack then blitzed through the South Region to reach the Final Four. Clemson was the only other team seeded above the No. 5 line to make it to at least the Regional Final. Who could be the surprise team this year? Here are four teams that could make a run at the championship: Can your picks survive March Madness? Join our Survivor Pool to find out Connecticut It's odd that the two-time defending national champions can be considered an underdog or dark horse, but this is the hand they have been dealt. The Huskies have championship mettle. You need to win six games and they know how to do it, but with their draw in the West Region it might be tough sledding making it to the second weekend. Head coach Dan Hurley is not going to change his demeanor and will continue to berate the officials and become an overall nuisance who may cost his team in the long run. Guard play is essential to tournament success, and with leading scorer Solo Ball and two bigs in Liam McNeeley and Alex Karaban who can finish, it's not all that crazy to envision UConn making a run at a three-peat. UC San Diego UC San Diego is only in its fifth season at the Division I level, but it punched its ticket by winning the Big West Conference. Led by coach Eric Olen, the Tritons do things that don't get them beat; they don't turn the ball over, a testament to point guard Hayden Gray's skillful handling of the ball. They force turnovers and are efficient at shooting from long distance, making nearly 11 3-pointers a game. Winners of 15 games in a row, UC San Diego beat teams by an average of 18.1 points per game, second only to Duke (20.8). It faces a tough first opponent in Big Ten tournament champion Michigan. Utah State The Aggies have two outstanding guards, Mason Falslev and Ian Martinez, and the teams that defend those two must keep their scoring to a minimum. If there is one word to describe this team, especially on the offensive end, it is efficient, ranking 10th in the NCAA in that category. The defensive end is where the Aggies might run into trouble, but make no mistake about it: Utah State can go on a run and make some noise. Utah State takes on UCLA in the first round. Texas A&M The Aggies have hit a bit of a skid lately, culminating in their second-round exit in double overtime to Texas in the SEC tournament. The question for the NCAA Tournament is: Which A&M team will show up? The one that beat Auburn earlier this month? Or the one that lost four in a row before upsetting the Tigers, eliminating any talk of a possible No. 2 or No. 3 seed? First-time All-SEC performers Wade Taylor IV and Zhuric Phelps lead A&M, but if those two can't get going it can rely on an outstanding bench, which scores more than a third of its points each game.
NBC Sports
01-03-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
UConn at Providence Prediction: Odds, Expert Picks, Betting Trends and Stats
The Huskies of UConn (19-9, 11-6) are in Providence Saturday to take on the Friars (12-16, 6-11). UConn defended their home court Wednesday against the shorthanded but combative Georgetown Hoyas, 93-79, behind 20 points from Solo Ball and Tarris Reed Jr. The Huskies need the win to maintain their hold on fourth place in the Big East and the double bye in the conference tournament. Providence has endured an injury-plagued season. The Friars have lost two straight and six of their last seven. Tuesday they got smacked in Milwaukee by Marquette, 82-52. Jayden Pierre scored 13. He was the only Friar to score more than eight points in the game. Lets dive into the matchup and offer some information and possibly a sweat or two. We've got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch the opening tip, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts. Game details & how to watch UConn at Providence Date: Saturday, March 1, 2025 Time: 12:00PM EST Site: The AMP City: Providence, RI Network/Streaming: CBS Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest scores and player news. Check out our day-by-day NCAA Basketball Schedule Page that includes live game updates. Game odds for Huskies at Friars The latest odds as of Saturday courtesy of BetMGM: Odds: Huskies (-300), Friars (+240) Spread: Huskies -6.5 Total: 145.5 points Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick's insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Expert picks & predictions for UConn at Providence Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NCAA calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, injuries, and the schedule. Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager. Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today's Huskies & Friars game: Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on UConn on the Moneyline. Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Huskies -6.5. Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the OVER on the Game Total of 145.5. UConn at Providence: Top betting trends and recent stats UConn is 11-17 ATS for the season UConn has lost 4 straight and 5 of the last 6 ATS Providence has lost 3 of its last 4 ATS Providence has cashed the OVER on the Game Total in 11 of their last 14 games If you're looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NCAA Basketball Top Trends Tool on Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700. Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff: · Jay Croucher (@croucherJD) · Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) · Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) · Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
