This is gonna be fun. There's a buzz in the air you haven't seen in a while in the building. Let's get ready.
Who: #1 Connecticut (28-1, 17-0 AAC) vs. USF (24-5, 15-2 ACC)
What: The best two teams in the AAC in what should be a raucous atmosphere.
Where: A "filling up in the 2nd deck corners already" USF Sun Dome
When: 7 p.m.
Why: Because no matter the result this will be fun.
TV: ESPN2
The first matchup between these two on January 18th showed the Bulls inexperience more than their lack of talent. In a 92-50 squash match, USF shot just 19-73 from the floor. Courtney Williams wasn't terribly efficient (8-25 from the field), but when you're the only one that can get your shot up that tends to happen. Some of USF's underclassmen seemed a bit overwhelmed by the moment, and it wasn't USF's best performance on either end of the floor.
But there were still positives. The Bulls had just 11 turnovers, and picked up 21 offensive rebounds. Extra possessions will be crucial if USF is to hang around for any extended period of time tonight.
For the Huskies, it's pick your poison as usual. Junior forward Breanna Stewart is the consensus reigning National Player of the Year, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis shoots 51.7% from 3, Moriah Jeferson is probably the best point guard in America... you get the idea. The Bulls will look to contest a bit further out in the half-court than usual, as well as help from weird angles on post players.
But they won't be afraid to run in transition. Getting up and down is in Jose Fernandez's DNA, and that's going to happen no matter who's on the other bench.
Follow along in the comments.