The UConn Huskies (7) and Villanova Wildcats (2) are somewhat familiar foes, as the former Big East rivals meet in the NCAA Tournament round of 32.
Villanova will be a far greater test for UConn than St. Joseph's was, who the Huskies needed overtime to beat. Still, Villanova will want to avoid two slow starts in a row to open the tournament.
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"UConn, they know," Villanova coah Jay Wright told reporters Friday, according to the Associated Press. "These guys have been recruited by UConn. They've watched UConn. So I think our guys are very dialed in because they have great respect for the tradition, but also the current team."
Even with a team like Creighton, the Big East has not been the same since Syracuse left for the ACC and UConn and Louisville headed for the AAC. The Big East was once heralded as the best basketball conference in the nation.
"You want to play against the best," Villanova senior James Bell said, according to the AP. "We have great teams in our league now. But Syracuse, Connecticut, they brought an extra edge to our league that you kind of miss. It's just great playing them again."
The Huskies have won 18 of their last 26 meetings with Villanova and four of the last five. However, the Wildcats beat the Huskies in their latest meeting last season. They did not face off at all this year.
"You feel familiarized with them," UConn coach Kevin Ollie told reporters, according to the AP. "But at the end of the day, it's a basketball game. I don't care what league we're playing against. We've got to go out there and play."
Like former great Jim Calhoun mentored Ollie, Shabazz Napier, one member of the 2011 National Championship team learned from the Huskies point guard and team leader Kemba Walker.
The road does not get any easier as the winner of this game goes on to face either UNC or Iowa State.
