Read below for a full UConn vs Butler prediction and preview.
UConn basketball will look to continue to roll as they face their first road test of their conference slate against a sliding Butler team. This has been a one sided rivalry as UConn leads the series all time 9-0 with an average margin of victory of 15.6 points.
Game Information:
Teams: No. 11 UConn (9-3) and Butler (7-5)
Tip Time: 12:00 PM EST
Watch: Peacock
Hinkle Fieldhouse on a Saturday Afternoon. ☀️
Dawgs vs #11 Huskies tomorrow at Noon.
🎟️: https://t.co/vZ6t1cGH94#DawgsOnly pic.twitter.com/zR7uxKPDmX
— Butler Basketball (@ButlerMBB) December 20, 2024
What to know about Butler:
Butler appeared to be on track for their first NCAA Tournament appearance since the 2017-2018 season, jumping out to a 7-1 record with huge wins over SMU, Northwestern, and a Mississippi State team that was ranked no. 25 at the time they played.
Their tournament hopes became much more cloudy following four straight losses, three of which were to ranked opponents. Those three ranked losses wouldn’t crush Butler’s chances at making the big dance, but the one they suffered to North Dakota State may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Butler came into that game 13.5 point favorites playing at home to a North Dakota State team that currently sits at 124th in KenPom. That loss, coupled with an early season loss to Austin Peay may be too much to overcome unless Butler goes on an insane run in the Big East.
We’re not ready to bury these Butler Bulldogs however, as they have proven they are capable of beating quality teams. Last season, UConn basketball won both matchups, but the margin of victory between the two teams is narrowing. Of note, UConn struggled at Hinkle where Pierre Brooks and Jahmyl Telfort combined for 35 points for Butler in a close 7 point loss.
Butler is going to play desperate as this is a game that they absolutely have to win and they will be playing at home at one of college basketball’s best venues. This has all the makings to be a “college basketball makes no sense” games and that is why we predict this will be the one surprising loss UConn suffers during conference play which they seem to have every season.
Expect Butler to jump out early with some crazy shot-making from Brooks, while Telfort will be a steady scoring presence throughout the game, leading Butler to a double-digit win.
Latest on UConn basketball:
UConn basketball is firing on all cylinders at the moment, taking a five game winning streak into Hinkle Fieldhouse. They are coming off a narrow victory over a tough Xavier team in overtime at the XL Center.
UConn’s starting center Samson Johnson will be a game time decision according to coach Dan Hurley as Johnson has resumed practicing after missing last game due to a concussion. If Johnson is unable to play, Butler will have a better scouting report on how the Huskies will look with their adjusted rotations and this will lead to UConn looking more out of sync then they have in their previous games.
UConn will be fine regardless of the outcome of this game so theres no need to hit the panic button if they do lose. Conference road games are always tough and this matchup should be no different.