This one, especially considering it’s essentially at home, is truly UConn’s to lose.
Here’s everything you need to know heading into the Big East women’s basketball tournament this week.
UConn is again a heavy favorite
After yet another dominant season, it’s easy to see why Geno Auriemma and the Huskies are the favorite to claim the Big East tournament this March.
UConn went a perfect 31-0 this season, which improved their win streak dating back to last year’s national championship run to a wild 47 games. The Huskies have only had one game within single digits, too, a three-point win over then-No. 6 Michigan back in November. Since then, it’s been blowout after blowout after blowout. They’ve averaged a win margin of 37.8 points per game this season, which is the third-best output in NCAA women’s basketball history. Only two previous UConn teams were better.
They finished the regular season undefeated for the 11th time in program history. In seven of the last perfect seasons, the Huskies ended up winning the national championship.
Villanova earned the No. 2 seed in the Big East tournament after going 16-4 in league play. But in the Wildcats’ two games against UConn, they fell by a combined 63 points.
It’d be easy to just look ahead to the NCAA tournament here, and many fans probably will. In order for someone other than Auriemma and UConn to walk out with a Big East title in hand this week, it’s going to take something truly remarkable.
Big East women’s basketball tournament basics
When: March 6-9
Where: Mohegan Sun Arena | Uncasville, Connecticut
TV: Peacock, NBCSN
Big East women’s basketball schedule, results
All times ET
March 6 – First Round
Game 1 | No. 8 Georgetown vs. No. 9 Butler | 11 a.m. | Peacock/NBCSN
Game 2 | No. 7 Providence vs. No. 10 DePaul, 1:30 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN
Game 3 | No. 6 St. John’s vs. No. 11 Xavier, 4 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN
March 7 – Quarterfinals
Game 4 | G1 winner vs. No. 1 UConn | 12 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN
Game 5 | No. 4 Marquette vs. No. 5 Creighton | 2:30 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN
Game 6 | G2 winner vs. No. 2 Villanova | 7 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN
Game 7 | G3 winner vs. No. 3 Seton Hall | 9:30 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN
March 8 – Semifinals
Game 8 | G4 winner vs. G5 winner | 2:30 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN
Game 9 | G6 winner vs. G7 winner | 5 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN
March 9 – Championship
Game 10 | G8 winner vs. G9 winner | 7 p.m. | Peacock
