Two teams with minimal head-to-head experience meet Tuesday night when the UConn Huskies (7-3, 4-3) host the Butler Bulldogs (5-7, 4-5) in Big East action. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 26 at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Conn. and will be televised on FSI. The home Huskies are -5.5 with a total of 125.5 points.
These programs have only met twice in their history, including a UConn 72-60 win at Butler earlier this month. The other matchup was in the 2011 National Championship Game, won by the Huskies 53-41 in Houston. UConn was -1 in the first meeting and covered by 11 points while the over hit by four points.
Butler Turning Things Around
After a 2-5 start in conference action, the Bulldogs have won two straight with wins over DePaul and formerly-ranked Creighton. They have won three out of the last five after a 1-5 stretch that followed their December COVID pause. On the season, they are 5-7 ATS, and the under is 7-5 in their 12 games.
The Butler offense is in the bottom 50 in the country in scoring (63.9 ppg), free throw percentage (60.8%), and rebounding (30.2 rpg). The defense allows just 30.1 rpg and 67.4 ppg but allows opponents to shoot 35.5% from beyond the arc.
Butler has spread the scoring around this season with guard Jair Bolden, guard Aaron Thompson, guard Myles Tate, forward Jakobe Coles, and forward Bryce Nze, all leading the team in points for at least one game. Bolden leads the team at 13.5 ppg while Thompson (13.1 ppg) and guard Chuck Harris (10.9 ppg) are also in double digits.
Nze had 18 points against UConn on January 9, while Thompson had 14. Butler got only five points off the bench in that game and shot just 33.3% from beyond the arc and 62% at the free-throw line.
Huskies Surviving Without Bouknight
The Huskies defense ranks in the top 60 in the nation in scoring (64.2 ppg), rebounds (28.1 rpg), and three-point percentage (30.3%). The offense averages 72.1 ppg and 35.6 rpg while shooting 35.1% from deep and 71% from the line. UConn is 8-2 ATS, and the over is 5-5 in their ten games.
The Huskies have been without leading scorer guard James Bouknight (20.3 ppg) since January 5 due to a left elbow injury that required surgery. The Huskies are 2-2 in his absence with a home loss to St. John’s and a road loss to Creighton. Guard Tyrese Martin is scoring 11.0 ppg and 7.3 rpg, while guard R.J. Cole is at 10.9 ppg.
In the win at Butler, the Huskies made 10-of-21 (47.6%) from three-point range and 12-of-15 (80%) from the line. Forward Tyler Polley led the way with 19 off the bench, while Martin scored 16 points in the first game without Bouknight.
Betting Line and Pick
The Huskies are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games as they have held five of those opponents to 60 points or less. Butler started the season 0-5 away from Hinkle Fieldhouse before winning at DePaul last time out, scoring 60 points or less in four of those five losses. Until the Bulldogs can prove, they can score and win consistently on the road, take the Huskies, and lay the points.
FREE PICK: UConn -5.5 (-110)
Be sure to check out our other basketball picks as both the NCAA and NBA season ramp-up.