Stanford (9-2) can score, largely behind the three-man combo of Chasson Randle (18.2 ppg), Anthony Brown (16.3), and Dwight Powell (15.1) and 50 percent shooting from the field (13th in the country). They can also shoot the three, on the basis of a 42 percent rate, including 21 of 35 from the 6-foot-6 Brown. Potentially, the last two rates are unsustainable, though they'll be facing a Huskies team (tonight at 9 p.m. EST on ESPN2) that currently leads the nation in three point percentage at 46.5 percent, padded by a 14-25 night in their most recent win over Maine. As good as Brown's been, 6-foot-7 forward Niels Giffrey of UConn has been better (18-27, 66 percent).
#10 Connecticut (9-0) doesn't stand out in any other category (except maybe opponents' points allowed, 34th overall at 64.4), but they are undefeated, with impressive wins against #16 Florida and Indiana (8-3).
The Huskies also have the best individual player on the court in Shabazz Napier, who's in the midst of a Kemba Walker-like, upper classmen rise, most recently with his game winning shot(s) to beat Florida on Dec. 2. Napier is probably shooting a little over his head, with rates of 50 percent from the field and 57 percent from three (compared to last season's career highs of 44 percent and 40 percent), but he's clearly a different player. He's gone from semi-bust to all-star to Wooden Award candidate over his four years. The 6-foot-1 guard is also averaging 7.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists, .4 blocks, and 2.1 steals - all career highs.
"It's just a remarkable feat by him," UConn coach Kevin Ollie told ESPN of his star player and his decision to remain at the university (on nbadraft.net preview, he's projected as a late first rounder). "That's what you get when you stay here for a long time. You have the opportunity to win and to be around great players. You get the opportunity to share the basketball and also make plays, too."
Ollie, the former Philadelphia 76er, will have to beat another former NBA player turned college head coach in Stanford's Johnny Dawkins if hopes to protect UConn's 54 game home win streak against non-conference opponents.
