Preview: Providence at Connecticut

Providence and Connecticut wrap up the regular season Saturday as the Huskies host the Friars. For Connecticut, the game will be its last of any kind as the Huskies will miss out on the postseason due to poor Academic Progress Rate scores. Providence has emerged as a trendy bubble crasher as the Friars have won three in a row and seven of eight. But they'll have to prove themselves on the road, where they're 4-6 this season.If Providence can salvage a split of the season series with the Huskies and knock off one or two of the big dogs in the Big East tournament, an at-large bid isn't out of the question. Connecticut will surely embrace the role of spoiler, wanting to finish out its campaign on a high note.

TV: 12 p.m. Eastern, ESPNU.

ABOUT PROVIDENCE (17-12, 9-8 Big East): If Providence is to continue its run toward an at-large bid, it'll be because of the stellar defense the Friars have played of late. In Providence's last seven wins, it has held opponents to 59.9 points per game. In that same span, opponents are shooting 38.5 percent from the field and 25.5 percent from deep. Meanwhile, Providence has been heating up from long range thanks to junior guard Bryce Cotton, who was named to the conference's honor roll last week after making five treys against St. John's. Cotton, the Big East's leading scorer, has scored at least 20 in eight of his last 15 games.

ABOUT CONNECTICUT (19-9, 9-7): The Huskies rank near the bottom of the conference in rebounds per game (32.9). But sophomore forward DeAndre Daniels leads the team in that category with 5.4. Daniels, who is the Big East's seventh-leading shot blocker with 41, is Connecticut's third-leading scorer behind junior guard Shabazz Napier. Napier scores 17.1 per game, and sophomore guard Ryan Boatright chips in 15.1 per game. Napier also boasts an impressive assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.0.

TIP-INS

1. Providence is 5-0 in noon games this season.

2. With a win, the Friars would complete the best second-half turnaround in Big East history with eight more wins in the second half of the season than in the first.

3. Providence assistant coach Brian Blaney is the son of Connecticut assistant coach George Blaney.

PREDICTION: Connecticut 70, Providence 64