AP Polls: WBB Moves Up, MBB Lingers After Tough Week
Both editions of the Connecticut Huskies’ basketball program continue to be represented in the respective Associated Press polls. The women’s side, fresh off a one-sided win over then-No. 7 Tennessee, moved up to the eighth slot, up two spots from the prior week’s edition. Meanwhile, the men’s group lingers in its own poll after a tough week, though they dropped seven spots to No. 24.
The UConn women (15-4, 9-0 Big East) earned their highest posting in the AP poll since they were tied for seventh in the version released on Dec. 13. Last week produced further obstacles but further victories in what’s been a trying season for the Huskies: Wednesday’s 76-56 win at Creighton was earned without Geno Auriemma on the sidelines, with associate head coach Chris Dailey overseeing the erasure of a nine-point deficit after the first quarter.
Sunday saw the Huskies reignite their non-conference rivalry with the Volunteers in Hartford, one staged without the services of freshman sensation Caroline Ducharme, who was scratched with a head injury. Young players nonetheless took center stage, as freshman Azzi Fudd put up an infantile career-best 25 points alongside a complete effort from Aaliyah Edwards (14 points, 7 rebounds) to pace a 75-56 victory. It was the Huskies’ third straight win in the rivalry (improving to 15-9 in the all-time series) and the most one-sided margin of victory between the two since UConn won by 23 in the 2002 Final Four matchup.
For her efforts, Fudd, partaking in just her eighth career collegiate contest after dealing with a foot injury earlier this season, was named the Big East’s Freshman of the Week. Redshirt senior Evina Westbrook was also included on the conference’s weekly honor roll, reaching double figures in scoring in both wins.
In addition to their triumphs over the Bluejays and Vols, the Huskies saw another contest, Friday’s rematch with conference foe Butler in Storrs, postponed due to threats of severe weather. That game has yet to be rescheduled.
The women’s side has three games in the next poll cycle, the most prominent being Friday night’s home showdown with DePaul in Storrs (7 p.m. ET, SNY). A banked Ducharme winner was the difference in the teams’ first meeting in Chicago on Jan. 26, won by UConn in an 80-78 margin. The Blue Demons (19-6, 11-3 Big East) received two votes in this week’s poll after splitting last week’s pair of home meetings with Creighton and Providence. DePaul’s visit is sandwiched by Villanova’s visit to Hartford on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET, SNY) and a nationally televised trip to Marquette on Sunday afternoon (2:30 p.m. ET, Fox).
On the men’s side, the No. 24 Huskies (15-6, 6-4 Big East), previously ranked 17th, saw a five-game winning streak come to an end when they dropped a 59-55 decision to Creighton on
Tuesday night at home before then-No. 12 Villanova administered an 85-74 defeat on Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia. Isaiah Whaley and R.J. Cole served as silver linings: the former put up a season-best 20 in the loss to the Bluejays while Cole had a team-best 25 against the Wildcats.
A chance for instant redemption arrives in Hartford on Tuesday, as the Huskies will welcome in the 18th-ranked Marquette Golden Eagles (6:30 p.m. ET, FS1). Another ranked opponent looms in Cincinnati, as UConn will close out a three-game trek against AP poll brethren on Friday night against No. 25 Xavier (7 p.m. ET, FS1). The Golden Eagles (16-7, 8-4 Big East) moved up six spots in the latest rankings thanks to the completion of a season sweep of Villanova, who fell three spots to 15th. They’ll come to XL Center with revenge on their mind, as UConn took home a 78-70 decision at Fiserv Forum on Dec. 21.
The stint concludes with a Sunday matinee at Madison Square Garden, where UConn will look to finish off a sweep of their own against St. John’s (12 p.m. ET, Fox), having previously quelled the Red Storm by an 86-78 overtime final on Jan. 12.
With Villanova’s drop, No. 11 Providence becomes the Big East’s highest-ranked men’s program. UConn remained the only team in the nation to get the best of reigning No. 1 Auburn, who took 48 of 61 first-place votes. The remaining 13 went to Gonzaga, which rounds out the top five ahead of Purdue, Arizona, and Kentucky. South Carolina was the unanimous top team in the women’s section, ahead of Stanford, Louisville, Michigan, and North Carolina State.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
