Tag: UConn Huskies

2022 NFL draft: Travis Jones scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about UConn defensive lineman Travis Jones

A fast-rising prospect since the Senior Bowl, UConn nose tackle Travis Jones will look to capitalize on his performance in Mobile as he enters the 2022 NFL draft.

Here is everything you need to know about the Huskies’ massive interior defender:

South Carolina-UConn got a primetime spot and delivered primetime ratings

Women’s National Championship Game delivers huge ratings.

Women’s sports are continuing to thrive on the national stage and are rapidly debunking each and every one of the sad narratives that still exist.

Sunday’s NCAA National Championship Game between the South Carolina Gamecocks and UConn Huskies is the latest example.

The matchup was broadcast on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET, which is a primetime slot that is usually reserved for the MLB’s Sunday Night Baseball. However, with the start of the 2022 professional baseball season pushed back due to the recent lockout, the women were able to take the stage.

And they delivered, as they always do.

It is easy to imagine last season’s championship Game would have done similar numbers if given the opportunity, but it had to settle for the 6 p.m. ET tip as the Los Angeles Angels vs. Chicago White Sox game took the primetime slot at the conclusion of the women’s championship game.

This is just another reminder that the more coverage women’s sports get, the more people watch and the more these leagues succeed.

Just ask the WNBA.

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Destanni Henderson was the X factor in South Carolina’s national championship win

It was Destanni.

It was Aliyah Boston’s South Carolina against Paige Bueckers’ UConn. That’s how the women’s national title game was billed – and for good reason.

Boston is the 2022 Naismith player of the year who led South Carolina to a wire-to-wire season as the country’s top-ranked team. Bueckers is the 2021 player of the year whose return from injury is likely the reason UConn reached the title game. 

But when the game tipped off, the team that prevailed did so because it was more than its biggest star. Boston and Bueckers played well, but South Carolina prevailed because of the others. And none of the others were better than senior guard Destanni Henderson.

Henderson finished the game with a career-high 26 points on 3-of-6 shooting from deep, with four assists and three steals. She did it all for SC, from pushing the ball in transition, hitting shots from the outside, getting to the free throw line and everything in between.

Henderson’s outbreak performance is far from outside of her abilities — she was an All-SEC first teamer along with Boston. But she saved her best performance for the biggest stage in college hoops, and that was the X factor in this game.

Bueckers scored 14 for UConn, but no other player for the Huskies cracked double-digit points. As a team, they shot just 41 percent from the field and 25 percent from three. They were out-rebounded 49-24.

South Carolina played impeccable team defense, holding UConn to 49 points, including a season-low quarter total of eight points in the first quarter. But while Boston was doing her usual work on the boards with 16 rebounds to go with 11 points, someone needed to pick up the scoring slack and Henderson did that. 

She was the difference in the game.

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The legend of Dawn Staley continues to grow as South Carolina wins second NCAA title since 2017

Dawn Staley adds to an impressive eight-month run as South Carolina wins the national championship.

The South Carolina Gamecocks are national champions for the second time in five years and it just adds to the wildly successful last eight months of Dawn Staley’s coaching career.

Let’s rewind.

Look no further to just a few days ago (Wednesday), when Staley was named the 2022 Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year for coaching the Gamecocks to a Final Four appearance after remaining the nation’s No. 1 ranked team throughout the entirety of the season. Staley won the same award back in 2020 when South Carolina’s 32-1 season and pursuit of a national championship was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Take it back a few months earlier to October when Staley earned a historic seven-year $22.4 million contract extension from the university.

And of course, Staley coached the USA Women’s Basketball National Team, which included Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird, to a gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics. Although, Bird and Taurasi probably had mixed emotions watching Staley win the natty for the Gamecocks while their beloved Huskies came up short.

Nevertheless, Dawn Staley keeps on winning and doing things that most coaches could only dream of. What an epic run this has been.

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Women’s Final Four: Best bets, odds and picks for March Madness 2022

Breaking down the NCAAW Final Four.

The women’s NCAA Tournament has seen madness from the opening tip, and it’s served as the perfect formula to debunk the whole “women’s tournament is predictable” thing.

Some of the lower seeds pulled off unexpected upsets that sent some of the sport’s more recognizable names home prematurely. Additionally, a few of the projected lottery picks of the upcoming draft also failed to make it past the first weekend.

Yet, as wildly chaotic as a lot of the tournament was, the dust is settled and the four best teams in the nation are left standing.

Let’s talk about the Final Four!

All odds via Tipico Sportsbook

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Paige Bueckers went off for UConn in the second half and the internet loved it

Bueckers was unstoppable in the second half and overtime.

In potentially the college basketball game of the month, the UConn women’s team earned a spot in their 14th straight Final Four with a dramatic double overtime win over 1-seed NC State. The Huskies — which had essentially a home game in Bridgeport, CT — pulled away in the second extra period for the four-point victory, but it was a back-and-forth affair throughout.

Although several UConn players stood out in the win, it was sophomore guard Paige Bueckers that made the difference. Twenty-three of Buecker’s 27 points came in the second half as she shot a nearly-perfect 8-for-9 from the field after halftime.

The internet was overwhelmed with praise for the Minnesota native’s performance as she led her team to the Final Four in Minneapolis next weekend.

Best bets in the West Region of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Tournament

Who besides the Zags should you put your money on?

The West Region is largely thought to be top-seed Gonzaga’s to lose. The Bulldogs have been the best team in the country for most of the season, and after coming up short of a title so many times in the past, this year’s team led by Drew Timme and Chet Holmgren feels like the one that can get them over the hump.

Helping Gonzaga’s case is having maybe the least-regarded two-seed in the tournament in its bracket. Duke’s seeding shocked plenty who thought Tennessee should have gotten the nod, however the Blue Devils are still loaded with enough talent to give anyone trouble.

The real sneaky team to be aware of in this region is the Big 12 tourney runner-up Texas Tech. The Red Raiders are elite defensively and have a number of players they can go to for offense, led by Bryson Williams and Terrence Shannon.

Here’s a look at the best bets in the West Region, with odds via Tipico Sportsbook.

New Mexico State vs UConn NCAA Tournament First Round odds, tips and betting trends

The No. 5 seed in the West Regional Region bracket, the UConn Huskies (23-9), and the No. 12 seed New Mexico State Aggies (27-6) square off in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday at KeyBank Center, beginning at 6:50 PM. UConn is a …

The No. 5 seed in the West Regional Region bracket, the UConn Huskies (23-9), and the No. 12 seed New Mexico State Aggies (27-6) square off in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday at KeyBank Center, beginning at 6:50 PM. UConn is a 6.5-point favorite in the matchup.

Rankings courtesy of the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.

UConn’s record against the spread so far this season is 11-18-1, while New Mexico State’s is 17-13-0. A total of 17 out of the Huskies’ 31 games this season have hit the over, and 15 of the Aggies’ 30 games have gone over. The two teams average 146.4 points per game, 14.9 more points than this matchup’s total. UConn has a 1-7-1 record against the spread while going 6-4 overall over the past 10 contests. New Mexico State has gone 5-5-0 against the spread and 8-2 overall in its last 10 games.

Before watching this matchup, here’s what you need to know about Thursday’s college hoops action.

New Mexico State at UConn odds, spread and lines

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list.

  • Spread: UConn -6.5
  • Total: 131.5
  • Moneyline: UConn -298, New Mexico State +237

Let’s Make This Interesting – Place your legal sports bets online in New Jersey and Colorado with Tipico Sportsbook, a trusted, global sports-betting leader. Iowa, get ready, Tipico is coming to your state soon! New customer offer: Deposit $10 or more, get $100 in instant bet credits! 21+, see Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. Bet now!

New Mexico State at UConn odds, spread, & more

Prediction

UConn 71, New Mexico State 65

Moneyline

  • The Huskies have won 84% of the games this season when they were the moneyline favorite (21-4).
  • When it has played as a moneyline favorite with odds of -298 or shorter, UConn has a 14-2 record (winning 87.5% of its games).
  • Based on this game’s moneyline, the Huskies’ implied win probability is 74.9%.
  • The Aggies have been the underdog in four games this season but picked up the win in all of them.
  • New Mexico State has entered two games this season as the underdog by +237 or more and won each of those games.
  • The oddsmakers’ moneyline implies a 29.7% chance of a victory for the Aggies.

Against the spread

  • The Huskies score 75.2 points per game, 12.1 more points than the 63.1 the Aggies give up.
  • UConn has an 11-10-1 record against the spread and a 20-3 record overall when putting up more than 63.1 points.
  • New Mexico State has a 14-11 record against the spread and a 24-4 record overall when giving up fewer than 75.2 points.
  • The Aggies average six more points per game (71.2) than the Huskies give up to opponents (65.2).
  • New Mexico State is 10-10 against the spread and 20-3 overall when it scores more than 65.2 points.
  • UConn’s record is 7-13-1 against the spread and 17-5 overall when it allows fewer than 71.2 points.
  • The Huskies have put up a total of 321 more points than their opponents this year (an average of 10 per game), and the Aggies have out-scored opponents by 267 points on the season (8.1 more per game).

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Over/Under

  • The Huskies have an average implied point total of 75.5 this season, which is 6.5 points higher than their implied total in Thursday’s game (69).
  • This season, UConn has scored more than 69 points in 21 games.
  • The 73.4-point average implied total on the season for the Aggies is equal to the team’s implied total in this matchup.
  • So far this season, New Mexico State has totaled more than 63 points in a game 25 times.

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NC State got the No. 1 seed in women’s Bridgeport Region, then got stuck with UConn

Sheesh, this is a tough draw for the Wolfpack.

For the second straight season, the N.C. State women’s basketball team earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. The ACC tournament champion is the top team in the Bridgeport Region, but they’ll have a major challenge in front of them as there’s a potential matchup with perennial powerhouse UConn looming on the horizon.

Bridgeport, Connecticut is about an hour and change away from UConn’s campus in Storrs, making it essentially a home game for the Huskies. Geno Auriemma’s squad went 25-5 this season, and dealt with the absence of superstar Paige Bueckers as she dealt with a knee injury.

While NC State fans weren’t very happy with the draw, it would make for a great matchup for neutral observers at home.

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UConn vs Villanova Big East Tournament odds, tips and betting trends

The No. 2 seed Villanova Wildcats (24-7, 16-4 Big East) are favored by 2.5 points in their Big East Tournament matchup against the No. 3 seed UConn Huskies (23-8, 13-6 Big East) on Friday at Madison Square Garden, starting at 9:00 PM. The winner …

The No. 2 seed Villanova Wildcats (24-7, 16-4 Big East) are favored by 2.5 points in their Big East Tournament matchup against the No. 3 seed UConn Huskies (23-8, 13-6 Big East) on Friday at Madison Square Garden, starting at 9:00 PM. The winner will move one step closer to earning an automatic spot in the NCAA Tournament bracket.

Rankings courtesy of the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.

Villanova has compiled a 14-14-2 record against the spread this season, while UConn is 11-17-1. In terms of going over the point total, games involving the Wildcats are 16-14-0 and the Huskies are 17-12-0. The teams score 149.2 points per game, 17.7 more points than this matchup’s total. In the past 10 contests, Villanova is 3-5-2 against the spread and 9-1 overall while UConn has gone 2-7-1 against the spread and 7-3 overall.

Here’s everything you need to get ready for Friday’s college hoops action in Big East play.

UConn at Villanova odds, spread and lines

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list.

  • Spread: Villanova -2.5
  • Total: 131.5
  • Moneyline: Villanova -141, UConn +118

Let’s Make This Interesting – Place your legal sports bets online in New Jersey and Colorado with Tipico Sportsbook, a trusted, global sports-betting leader. Iowa, get ready, Tipico is coming to your state soon! New customer offer: Deposit $10 or more, get $100 in instant bet credits! 21+, see Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. Bet now!

UConn at Villanova odds, spread, & more

Prediction

Villanova 71, UConn 68

Moneyline

  • The Wildcats have been the moneyline favorite 25 total times this season. They’ve gone 22-3 in those games.
  • Villanova has a 21-3 record (winning 87.5% of its games) when it has played as a moneyline favorite of -141 or shorter.
  • The Wildcats have an implied moneyline win probability of 58.5% in this contest.
  • This season, the Huskies have been listed as the underdog in four games and failed to win any of those contests.
  • UConn has been at least a +118 moneyline underdog three times this season, and lost all of those games.
  • The sportsbooks’ moneyline implies a 45.9% chance of a victory for the Huskies.

Against the spread

  • The Wildcats score 73.5 points per game, 8.3 more points than the 65.2 the Huskies give up.
  • Villanova has a 13-10-2 record against the spread and a 22-4 record overall when putting up more than 65.2 points.
  • UConn is 9-13-1 against the spread and 19-5 overall when allowing fewer than 73.5 points.
  • The Huskies score an average of 75.7 points per game, 12 more points than the 63.7 the Wildcats give up to opponents.
  • UConn is 11-10-1 against the spread and 20-3 overall when it scores more than 63.7 points.
  • Villanova is 13-8-2 against the spread and 21-3 overall when it gives up fewer than 75.7 points.
  • The Wildcats have totaled 306 more points than their opponents this season (9.8 per game on average), and the Huskies have scored 324 more points than their opponents (10.5 per game).

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Over/Under

  • The Wildcats have an average implied point total equal to their implied total in Friday’s game (67).
  • So far this season, Villanova has outscored its implied point total for this matchup (67) 25 times.
  • The average implied point total on the season for the Huskies (75.8) is 10.8 more points than the team’s implied total in this matchup (65).
  • So far this season, UConn has outscored its implied point total for this matchup (65) 22 times.

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If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).