No. 15 UConn Huskies DePaul Blue Demons
23-5 (15-0) 14-16 (4-11)
Sunday, February 25th 2024
Time: 6:00 PM
Chicago, Illinois
TV: CBS Sports
Prior Meetings
DEPAUL | UCONN LEADS 24-1
H:10-0 | A: 10-0 | N: 4-1
12/28/83 DePaul 70, UConn 64 Coral Gables, Fla.
01/28/06 #5 UConn 84, #12 DePaul 75 Chicago, Ill.
03/06/06 #8 UConn 69, #15 DePaul 57 Hartford, Conn.
01/24/07 #7 UConn 88, DePaul 76 Storrs, Conn.
03/01/08 #1 UConn 77, DePaul 76 Chicago, Ill.
03/09/08 #1 UConn 86, DePaul 67 Hartford, Conn.
01/13/09 #1 UConn 77, DePaul 62 Storrs, Conn.
02/10/10 #1 UConn 95, DePaul 62 Chicago, Ill.
02/05/11 #2 UConn 89, #9 DePaul 66 Storrs, Conn.
01/21/12 #3 UConn 88, #21 DePaul 44 Chicago, Ill.
02/10/13 #3 UConn 91, DePaul 44 Storrs, Conn.
03/10/13 #3 UConn 94, DePaul 61 Hartford, Conn.
12/19/14 #2 UConn 98, #29 DePaul 64 Bridgeport, Conn.
12/02/15 #1 UConn 86, #18 DePaul 70 Chicago, Ill.
12/01/16 #2 UConn 91, #15 DePaul 46 Storrs, Conn.
12/08/17 #1 UConn 103, DePaul 69 Chicago, Ill.
11/28/18 #2 UConn 99, #16 DePaul 63 Hartford, Conn.
12/16/19 #2 UConn 84, #16 DePaul 74 Chicago, Ill.
12/29/20 #4 UConn 75, #18 DePaul 52 Storrs, Conn.
01/31/21 #3 UConn 100, #17 DePaul 62 Chicago, Ill.
01/26/22 #10 UConn 80, DePaul 78 Chicago, Ill.
02/11/22 #8 UConn 84, DePaul 60 Storrs, Conn.
01/23/23 #5 UConn 94, DePaul 51 Storrs, Conn.
02/25/23 #4 UConn 72, DePaul 69 Chicago, Ill.
01/20/24 #9 UConn 88 DePaul 55 Storrs, Conn.
UCONN
The player and coaches names for both teams
are clickable to see their Bios
are clickable to see their Bios
UConn Starters
UConn Injuries
OUT FOR THE SEASON
Head and neck issues
ACL
Achilles Injury
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DEPAUL
DePaul Starters
DePaul Bench
I used to write the same analysis every time for this match up. "DePaul does what they usually do in scoring a lot of points averaging almost 90 points per game, shooting amd making a lot of three point shots......."
Like last season, this year it is just not the same DePaul team. Scoring only 71.9 PPG and shooting only 40.4% from the field and 29.8% on threes, this team struggles to score.
I'm sure Coach Bruno realizes his teams only chance to make a game of it is to make a lot of threes. DePaul takes a lot of threes, averaging 24.4 takes per game. And as I said this season they are hitting at a weak 29.8%.
Usually DePaul is one of the best passing teams in the country. They always average 20+ assists per game. But this season is different only averaging 16.5 APG. Coach Bruno is an excellent offensive coach and his players usually do a great job valuing the ball. This season they have turned the ball over 14.6 times per game. The Assist/Turnover ratio is weaker than usual.
The question for DePaul is twofold. Can they hit their three point shots at a high percentage against UConn? Can they find a way to play enough defense to keep UConn under 80? It's the same question I asked the last four years and DePaul failed in both aspects except for the second game last seson (72-69 UConn win).
This team really misses Aneesah Morrow. However, Notre Dame transfer Anaya Peoples is having an outstanding year. The 5'9" guard leads the team in scoring 18.0 PPG, rebounding at 8 per game and 3.4 APG. Geno loves when he has to focus on one player to stop. Nika and KK to made her miserable in the first match up holding her to 8 points on 2-10 shooting.
5'10" sopohomore guard Maeve McErlane was the offense for DePaul in the first match up going 5-9 on threes for her team leading 15 points.
It almost goes with saying but UConn's defense will have to work hard in preventing open threes even if they aren't shooting as well as years past. DePaul seems to find that open player with the extra pass. UConn is the best at closing in on the open shooter with their amazing switching defense and their advantage with their length. However, it's certain that DePaul will get some open looks. If they hit them at a high rate, DePaul can certainly make it tough on the Huskies but I don't see how they can slow down the UConn offense. UConn held them to 10-35 on threes in the first match up.
UConn usually likes a fast pace, so it will be interesting to see if they still want to do that with a team that scores so quickly like DePaul and with UConn only going 7 deep. However, DePaul will probably only play 6-7 players in the rotation. They played 7 for the majority of the first match up.
The Huskies have a size advantage as DePaul starts players going 5'9", 5'9", 5'10", 5'10" amd 6'. They will run off DePaul misses and I expect there to be enough of those to allow UConn so score plenty of points. Edwards will score plenty inside.
The Huskies are just too quick and talented for this version of DePaul. And proved it with the 88-51 win in the first match up.
Final Prediction
After a loss in their first meeting ever in 1983, UConn has won the last 24 games in a rivalry that started in 2006. In their first 4 meeting since 2006 UConn won by an average of 8 PPG with one really close game won in the last second by the Huskies. Since then UConn has won the last 16 games by an average of 30 PPG. They got hammered by 43 in the first matchup in Storrs but DePaul scared the heck out of UConn and their fans only losing 72-69 in Chicago.
UConn has too much firepower for DePaul to handle. Only Geno's friendship with Doug might keep the score reasonable. But somehow the players won't let that happen.
As I have mentioned UConn won the first matchup this season by 37 points. I predicted a 35 point win in the first game. I'll go with that again.
UConn by 35+
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