Updated March 11, 2026
The Big East Tournament continues Thursday with a quarterfinal game between Xavier and UConn at Madison Square Garden. UConn enters the game as one of the conference’s elite teams after finishing near the top of the standings with a 17-3 league record and a deep roster that has produced consistent scoring and defense all season. Xavier arrives after a turbulent campaign but still carries dangerous offensive talent capable of creating problems in a tournament setting. The Musketeers showed that potential recently with an 89-87 win over Marquette to advance in the tournament and set up this Xavier vs UConn contest.
Pick: UConn -15.5 ATS PRO
Confidence: 3 out of 5
UConn enters the tournament with one of the most balanced rosters in the conference. The Huskies finished the regular season with multiple All-Big East selections and have been especially strong defensively, allowing roughly 65 points per game. Their ability to control the glass and generate efficient looks on offense has been a defining trait all season.
Xavier, on the other hand, has relied heavily on offensive production from its top scoring options. The Musketeers average close to 78 points per game but surrender slightly more than that defensively, creating high-scoring games. Their ability to keep pace offensively will be key if they hope to stay competitive against a UConn squad that dominated the earlier meeting between these teams.
UConn
Xavier
Stat | Xavier | UConn |
|---|---|---|
Points per game | 78.4 | 78.2 |
Points allowed per game | 80.3 | 65.3 |
Team Field Goal % | 44% | 48% |
Rebounds Per Game | 34.5 | 38.5 |
Assists Per Game | 17.7 | 18.5 |
Score Projection: Xavier 69 – UConn 88 ATS PRO
Win Probability: Xavier 19%, UConn 81% ATS PRO
UConn has crushed Xavier on two occasions already this year. I think we are in for a similar result in this game, as the Musketeers have had a hard time competing with UConn on either end of the floor during the 2025-26 campaign. I'll lay the points with UConn here, as they should advance to the semifinals of this year's Big East Tournament.
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