UConn is accustomed to keeping up its level of play during conference season regardless of how little the Huskies might be challenged. This has been true in the old Big East, the American Athletic Conference and the new Big East. UConn focuses on competing and executing to a certain standard, even in lopsided games.
But in February, the Huskies — who remain No. 6 in ESPN’s women’s college basketball Power Rankings — make their foray into the SEC, which provides them a chance to help their NCAA tournament résumé. On Thursday, they will face Tennessee (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), and on Feb. 16, they will meet South Carolina (1 p.m. ET, ABC). Both games are on the road and should give UConn a taste of what to expect in NCAA tournament play.
Nothing against the Big East, but the Huskies are in cruise control so far this season. They are 12-0 in league play and have won those conference games by an average of 33.7 points. The closest any Big East team has come to challenging UConn is Creighton, which fell by 11 points at home on…
