Read below for a full UConn vs East Texas A&M prediction and preview.
As the season is now slowly shifting into gear, UConn basketball is looking to start the non-conference 4-0 before heading to the Maui Invitational Tournament next week. For East Texas A&M, they are looking for a program-defining win after a slow 1-3 start to the season.
This is the first matchup between these two teams as East Texas A&M (formerly known as Texas A&M Commerce until earlier this month) has only recently elevated to the D-1 level. They are currently in the four-year probationary period as they debuted in the Southland Conference at the start of the 2022-2023 season.
Game Information:
Teams: No. 2 UConn (3-0) and East Texas A&M Commerce (1-3)
Tip Time: 7:00 PM EST
Watch: FS1
Listen: Fox Sports Radio 97.9
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What to know about East Texas A&M Lions:
East Texas A&M is on a vastly different trajectory compared to UConn basketball. East Texas A&M is looking to turn their season around after losing their first three games of the season. They are coming off a 2 point victory over Southern University and A&M College to secure their first win of the season and bring their record to 1-3.
East Texas A&M would have to pull off one of the greatest upsets in college basketball history to win this matchup as they are ranked 352 out of 364 in KenPom. Compare this to UConn who is positioned at the 5th spot in KenPom and it is obvious to see this is a true David vs. Goliath matchup.
It is a tall task but if East Texas A&M were to pull it out, their star guards Khaliq Abdul-Mateen and Scooter Williams Jr. will both have to play their A-game. Both guards come in averaging around 13 points per game but if they were to have any chance of victory, these totals will have to be closer to 20-25 for each of them.
Jaret von Rosenberg is their head coach and this will be a bit of a homecoming for the 8th-year coach of the Lions. He will be returning to Connecticut, a state he played college basketball for the Hartford Hawks from 2006-2009, to take on the two-time defending national champions.
Latest on UConn basketball:
UConn basketball is coming off a strong start to the season, with resounding victories to begin the year against low-major opponents. This shouldn’t be any different as UConn looks to continue to work out the kinks in their offense and defense before the harder part of the non-conference schedule picks up next week.
UConn will be playing old AAC foe, Memphis, in the first round of the Maui Invitational Tournament on 11/25 and will need to be consistent from the opening tip. If there is anything to nit-pick about their 3-0 start, it is that UConn has had a tendency to start out slow.
Look for the Huskies to try to jump out to a large lead early and not let a lesser opponent hang around for too long in the first half.
UConn vs East Texas A&M Prediction: UConn by 48