Maui Invitational Preview: No. 2 UConn men’s basketball vs. Dayton | Midnight ET, ESPN2

The Huskies are looking to escape Maui with a win after losing their first two.

No. 2 UConn men’s basketball has dropped back-to-back games for the first time since January 2023. The Huskies are looking to get back on track and avoid last place in the Maui Invitational in their third game, against Dayton.

Like UConn, the Flyers (5-2) enter this matchup with two-straight losses in Maui, blowing a 21-point lead against North Carolina in the opening round Monday before falling to Iowa State 89-84 Tuesday night. The Huskies (4-2) will be looking to right the ship with one last game in Hawaii before a short break for Thanksgiving.

TV: ESPN2

Radio: UConn Sports Network

Odds: UConn -7, over/under 149.5

Location: Lahaina Civic Center – Maui, Hawaii

KenPom Predicted Score: UConn 76, Dayton 72 (64 percent win probability)

Series History

The Huskies and Flyers have played three times in the past, with UConn holding a 2-1 series lead. The two schools last faced off in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off in 2014, and coincidentally met in Maui in 2000 — an 80-66 win for Dayton.

What to Watch For

The foul trouble has to stop

UConn has out-fouled its opponents 51-35 in its two games in Maui. Following Monday’s overtime loss to Memphis, Dan Hurley blamed the refs and blew up on social media. On Tuesday, Hurley got to the real root of the issue — an undisciplined and “dreadful” defensive effort that led to six players ending with two or more fouls, including both big men fouling out.

Officiating aside, this UConn team needs to be better along the perimeter to prevent opposing offenses from getting into the lane so easily. Teams have also torched the Huskies from deep lately, shooting 55 percent from three over the past two games.

To try and prevent another hot shooting night, UConn will need to keep an eye on Enoch Cheeks and Nate Santos, who are both shooting over 37 percent from deep this season. Freshman 7-footer Amael L’Etang plays only about 10 minutes per game but isn’t afraid to stretch the floor, shooting 3-8 from deep in Maui and presenting a tough assignment for bigs Samson Johnson and Tarris Reed Jr.

Tomorrow’s matchup against the Flyers (34.2 percent from three on the season, 38.9 percent last against ISU) will give the team a better clue whether that’s just a rash of bad luck for UConn or a trend to monitor as the season progresses.

Another dynamic backcourt

After struggling with Memphis’ guards in Monday’s loss to the Tigers, UConn will have to contend with another tough backcourt Wednesday night. The trio of Malachi Smith, Javon Bennett, and Posh Alexander power this Flyers offense, led by Smith, who is one of the top distributors in the country. Smith scored 22 in the loss to the Cyclones and added nine assists to just three turnovers in 31 minutes. Containing the lightning-quick Smith will be key for the Huskies to keep the Flyers’ offense in check, but it presents a major test for the UConn backcourt, who has struggled to contain guards early on this season.

Fortunately for the Huskies, no one in the Dayton backcourt stands taller than 6 feet. This could be a good opportunity for Aidan Mahaney, who has struggled on both ends early on this season and did not play in the second half against CU, to work back into the rotation with a solid defensive effort. Alexander, now playing against UConn with a third different school, is not much of a scorer but can get downhill and is a hard-nosed defender on the other end.

Ending on a high note

For a program that has done nothing but win for nearly two straight years, two unexpected, frustrating losses have certainly humbled the coaching staff and players. Hurley said as much before heading back to the hotel following the loss to the Buffaloes.

To add injury to insult, the Huskies may be without star freshman Liam McNeeley, who suffered a left hip injury in the Colorado game. McNeeley did end up returning to court after a brief trip to the locker room, but will now be playing his third game in as many days. It’s unclear what his status is for the game against the Flyers, but if he is unable to play or is limited, the offense will certainly take a hit. He’s averaging 15 points per game and shooting 60 percent from three in his time in Maui.

It’s much too early for must-win games, but a victory on Wednesday would at least allow UConn to end this so-far disastrous week in Maui. The matchup against Dayton won’t be easy, but the team’s resilience will be tested. How will the Huskies respond?