No. 4 Huskies to provide major challenge for Firars

February 22, 1999

By BRIAN MAHONEY
AP MegaSports Writer

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - It's time for Connecticut to rebound - literally.

With their lead atop the Big East Conference down to one game, the No. 4 Huskies (23-2, 14-2) face an important game Monday when they visit Providence (15-11, 8-8).

UConn is coming off Saturday's 73-71 loss to Miami, allowing the Hurricanes and St. John's to pull within a game of the Huskies. The Huskies lost the game on the boards as they were outrebounded 49-34. In fact, the game-winning free throws by Miami's Tim James were set up by an offensive rebound.

"They killed us on the offensive glass," UConn coach Jim Calhoun said.

Rebounding will be even more important for the Huskies if star forward Richard Hamilton continues his shooting slump. Since returning from a thigh bruise that caused him to miss the two games, Hamilton is 20-for-69 from the field and 4-for-29 from 3-point range in four games.

Nevertheless, UConn is still in the driver's seat as it chases its fifth Big East outright title in six years. A victory would clinch a tie for the title and assure the Huskies no worse than the No. 2 seed in the Big East tournament.

UConn plays its final two games on the road and can equal a Big East record by winning them both. The Huskies have won nine straight Big East games on the road, dating to last season. The conference record is 11 straight road wins, set by Georgetown from 1983-85.

Providence played with desperation Saturday and it paid off. The Friars erased a six-point deficit with nine minutes left to defeat Villanova, 90-84 in overtime. Jamel Thomas poured in a career-high 38 points as the Friars ended a three-game losing streak.

The Friars are hoping for an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament but need to find a way to get by UConn. The Huskies won all three meetings last season and have won their last two games in Providence. The Friars have not beaten the Huskies at home since Feb. 27, 1995.

Thomas and Hamilton are battling for the Big East scoring title. Thomas averages 22.7 points to Hamilton's 20.9, though Hamilton is the top scorer in conference games at 21.7 ppg. Thomas averages 20.9 in league games.

UConn leads the all-time series, 32-20.v