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By Matthew Couden
Contributing Writer
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The UConn Huskies are heading into another challenging battle, taking on the Villanova Wildcats in a classic Big East showdown.
The No. 5 team in the nation is coming off a frustrating 91-84 home loss to the Creighton Blue Jays, despite a standout performance from freshman Braylon Mullins. He finished with a team-leading 25 points in the losing effort.
Meanwhile, the team's two-time national champion and veteran leader, Alex Karaban, seemed ineffective throughout most of the game. During the team's postgame press conference, UConn head coach Dan Hurley said Karaban was dealing with something physical, but didn't provide further details.
Read More on NCAA
Read more: UConn Coach Dan Hurley Shares Concerning Alex Karaban Update After Loss
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In addition, reporters asked why Mullins wore a brace on his knee or some tape during the Creighton game, suggesting a potential injury. Hurley didn't have a clear answer about the kind of injuries his star freshman or veteran player, Karaban, had.
"We gotta figure out what's going on with him physically, because he was moving around out there like a cargo ship," Hurley said about Karaban, also calling the four-year player a "shell" of himself on the court.
That, combined with Hurley's statement that they needed to see what was going on with Mullins, was likely concerning for UConn fans as their next matchup approached. However, good news arrived for the team on Saturday afternoon, hours before their game against the Wildcats.
According to Pete Thamel on ESPN's "College GameDay," both Karaban and Mullins are expected to play in Saturday's game. Thamel also joked that Hurley gave a new injury designation, saying Karaban is moving "better than a cargo ship."
That's significant news for a Huskies team that slipped from a No. 1 seed in ESPN's projected bracket to a No. 2 seed. While they're not in danger of missing the bracket with their past season's major wins, they'll want to build momentum ahead of the Big East Tournament and NCAA Tournament.
As it stands, UConn is a 2.5-point favorite at Villanova, and having two of their starters available, with projected lottery pick Mullins and two-time champ Karaban, gives them a good shot at getting back to their winning ways.
The two teams previously met on Jan. 24, with UConn hosting and winning 75-67 in overtime despite trailing for stretches of the game.
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