Matchup Preview: UConn hosts Butler in Hartford

The top-ranked UConn Huskies passed another test on Saturday, defeating St. John’s without Alex Karaban, six weeks after beating the Red Storm without Donovan Clingan.

Week in and week out, Dan Hurley’s squad is proving that it can win any kind of contest, successfully persevering through foul trouble, off-shooting nights, and injuries.

After weathering a tight first half on Saturday in Madison Square Garden, the Huskies pulled away thanks to Stephon Castle’s second straight game setting a career-high in scoring, Tristen Newton’s second straight double-double, and Cam Spencer’s team-high 23 points, 17 in the second half.

On Tuesday night against Butler, they’re going for their 11th straight win and ninth in a row over the Bulldogs.

UConn (20-2) vs. Butler (15-7) Preview

When: Tuesday, February 6, 8:30 p.m. ET

Where: XL Center - Hartford, CT

TV: FS1 (Jason Benetti and Bill Raftery)

Radio: UConn Sports Network - 97.9 FM

KenPom Prediction: UConn 81, Butler 68

Karaban’s status is still up in the air for Tuesday night’s matchup, head coach Dan Hurley said on Monday. It looks like he will be a game-time decision.

“He was almost a full participant in practice,” Hurley shared.

The last time these two teams met, on January 5th, Clingan was out and the Huskies were trailing by seven on the road at halftime. Karaban scored 15 points in the second half as UConn won 88-81.