Both No. 2 UConn and No. 14 North Carolina are entering Friday’s matchup undefeated. Neither team has truly been tested yet, with the Huskies sitting at 2-0 and the Tar Heels breezing through their first three games. Now they’ll be playing in a ranked matchup (6 p.m. ET, ESPN2), and someone will earn their first loss of the season.
Here is the path to victory for both teams:
How UConn can win
As the second-highest ranked team in the nation, the Huskies will be favored, even on the road.
With UConn only having played teams well below their talent level, it’s hard to use what’s happened as an example of how they’ll play against top teams. Still, early on, it’s been all about Paige Bueckers. The senior guard is averaging 17.5 points and four assists and is the catalyst for everything UConn wants to do.
Guard Ashlynn Shade also has been impressive. She’s having a nice start to her sophomore season, averaging 12.5 points and four steals per game. The Huskies also might receive an extra boost from Azzi Fudd, as the senior guard could make her season debut on Friday. If the backcourt can stay productive and redshirt freshman center Jana El Alfy and freshman forward Sarah Strong can hold down the frontcourt, UConn’s victory on Friday could be smooth.
That victory also would be the 1,216th of head coach Geno Auriemma’s career, tying him with former Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer for the most wins in NCAA Division I women’s basketball history.
How North Carolina can win
It will be an uphill battle for the Tar Heels against the Huskies. Their frontcourt isn’t at the same level as UConn’s, so outplaying them will be challenging. Graduate guard Lexi Donarski will have to step up and have a big game. She’s averaging 15 points a game and will likely need to have a career night to keep North Carolina in contention for the win.
The Tar Heels are so guard-heavy that there really isn’t a big they can go to in order to try to dominate inside or win the points in the paint battle. Outside a dominant game from Donarski, perhaps Alyssa Ustby can give North Carolina enough offense and rebounding to stay in this contest. The senior wing is flirting with a double-double right now, averaging 10.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.
Game information
No. 14 North Carolina Tar Heels (3-0) vs. No. 2 UConn Huskies (2-0)
When: Friday, Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. ET
Where: Greensboro Complex in Greensboro, NC
How to watch: ESPN 2
