Uconn Huskies vs Villanova Wildcats Picks and Predictions March 13th 2025

UConn Opens Big East Tournament Defense Against Villanova

As March Madness approaches, UConn looks to continue its strong late-season surge when it begins its Big East Tournament title defense against Villanova in Thursday night’s quarterfinal matchup. With momentum on their side, the third-seeded Huskies will try to extend their four-game winning streak and solidify their place as a top contender in the conference.

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UConn Hitting Its Stride at the Right Time

The Huskies (22-9) have found their rhythm at the perfect moment. After an up-and-down stretch in the middle of the season, UConn has rediscovered its championship form in recent weeks, entering the Big East Tournament on a four-game winning streak. This marks the third consecutive season that UConn has entered the tournament on a winning run, a trend that has served them well in the past.

Head coach Danny Hurley expressed confidence in his team following their dominant 81-50 victory over Seton Hall in the regular-season finale.

“It’s probably the best we’ve felt all year,” Hurley said. “And it’s March, and UConn’s got a great history in March. That’s part of our confidence.”

A key factor in UConn’s resurgence has been the return to form of Alex Karaban. After enduring a lengthy shooting slump earlier in the season, Karaban has caught fire over the last two weeks, hitting 12 of his last 26 three-point attempts in the final five games. In his previous nine games, he had gone just 6-for-47 from beyond the arc. His resurgence provides the Huskies with another scoring threat as they look to make another deep postseason run.

Villanova Looking to Keep Momentum After Opening Round Win

Sixth-seeded Villanova (19-13) enters Thursday’s contest fresh off a convincing 67-55 victory over Seton Hall in the opening round of the tournament. The Wildcats controlled the game from start to finish, never trailing as they secured a much-needed win.

Leading the charge for Villanova was Eric Dixon, the nation’s top scorer at 23.6 points per game. He delivered all 19 of his points in the second half, including 11 during a crucial stretch when Seton Hall threatened to make a comeback. Dixon has been a force all season, and if Villanova hopes to upset UConn, he will need another strong performance.

Villanova has already proven they can go toe-to-toe with the Huskies, splitting their two regular-season meetings. The Wildcats secured a dramatic 68-66 victory on January 8, a game in which they nearly let a double-digit lead slip away but ultimately survived thanks to some late missed free throws by Karaban.

In their second meeting on February 18, Villanova once again held a sizable lead—up by 14 points with 12 minutes to go—only to see UConn storm back with a 27-6 run to close the game. That loss still lingers, and the Wildcats know they must play a full 40 minutes if they want to advance.

“We know UConn is a disciplined team,” Villanova guard Jordan Longino said. “We’ve had two close matches with them during the season. So we know we got to come out and defend for 40 minutes and execute our game plan.”

Matchup to Watch: Karaban vs. Dixon

This quarterfinal matchup will likely hinge on the performance of two standout players—Alex Karaban for UConn and Eric Dixon for Villanova.

Karaban’s resurgence has added a new dimension to UConn’s offense, and if he can continue his hot shooting, the Huskies will be tough to beat. Meanwhile, Dixon has been Villanova’s go-to scorer all season, and his ability to take over games in the second half makes him a constant threat.

Beyond the star power, this game will also come down to execution. UConn has shown resilience in comeback situations, but they would prefer to control the tempo from the start. Villanova, on the other hand, must avoid the late-game collapses that have plagued them in past matchups.

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A High-Stakes Showdown in New York

With a spot in the Big East semifinals on the line, both teams have plenty to play for. UConn is looking to build on its late-season surge and defend its conference title, while Villanova is fighting to keep its postseason hopes alive.

Given the history between these two programs and the stakes at hand, expect a hard-fought battle at Madison Square Garden. Will UConn continue its march toward another title, or will Villanova pull off the upset? Either way, Thursday night’s clash promises to be a thrilling chapter in the Big East Tournament.