The Furman Paladins will take on the Connecticut Huskies in the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament. This first-round game in the East Region will be held at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, PA. The game is scheduled for Friday, March 20, 2026, at 10:00 PM ET and will be broadcast on TBS.
Furman enters the tournament as the 15th seed with a regular season record of 22-12. They finished 13-8 in the Southern Conference. Recently, Furman secured wins against East Tennessee State, UNCG, and Samford. In their last postseason appearance, they lost to North Texas.
Connecticut, ranked 7th in the AP poll, is the 2nd seed from the Big East Conference. They ended the regular season with a 29-5 record and a 19-4 conference record. The Huskies recently defeated Georgetown and Xavier but lost to St. John’s. Last year, they advanced to the second round before losing to Florida.
Connecticut Preview
The Connecticut Huskies are ranked #7 in the AP poll. They play in the Big East Conference. In the 2025 postseason, they won against Oklahoma in the first round but lost to Florida in the second round.
During the 2026 regular season, the Huskies had a strong record of 29-5. Their conference record was 19-4. They scored an average of 77.5 points per game, ranking 159th overall.
In recent games, the Huskies had mixed results. They lost to St. John’s by 20 points but won against Georgetown and Xavier. Against Xavier, they scored 93 points with a field goal percentage of 57.4%.
Key players include Tarris Reed Jr., who averages 13.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Alex Karaban contributes with 12.6 points per game. The team is known for their assists, averaging 18.4 per game, which ranks 11th.
Furman Preview
The Furman Paladins play in the Southern Conference. In the 2025 postseason, they played against North Texas. Furman lost that game with a score of 64-75.
During the 2026 regular season, the Paladins had an overall record of 22-12. In conference play, they finished with a record of 13-8. Their recent games showed strong performances, including a win against East Tennessee State with a score of 76-61.
In the game against East Tennessee State, Cooper Bowser stood out with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Tom House also contributed with 13 points and 3 assists. The team had a field goal percentage of 50.9% in that game.
For the season, Furman averaged 76.5 points per game. They ranked 49th in field goal percentage at 47.6%. On defense, they averaged 4.8 steals per game. Their betting trends showed a strong performance with a 73.5% win rate in all games.
Statistical Breakdown for Connecticut vs Furman
The game between the Connecticut Huskies and Furman Paladins will be shaped by key stats. The Huskies have a strong assist game, ranking 11th with 18.4 assists per game. Furman has a high field goal percentage, ranking 49th at 47.6%. Both teams have similar scoring averages, with Connecticut at 77.5 points per game and Furman at 76.5 points per game. Rebounding and shooting efficiency will be crucial for both teams.
- Connecticut Points Per Game: 77.5 (159th)
- Furman Points Per Game: 76.5 (184th)
- Connecticut Assists Per Game: 18.4 (11th)
- Furman Field Goal Percentage: 47.6% (49th)
- Connecticut Field Goal Percentage: 48.2% (37th)
- Connecticut Rebounds Per Game: 36.6 (145th)
- Furman Rebounds Per Game: 38.0 (81st)
Betting Insights
The upcoming game between the Furman Paladins and the Connecticut Huskies offers intriguing betting angles. Both teams have shown strong performances in recent games. Furman has been solid against the spread, especially as an underdog. Meanwhile, Connecticut has struggled with the over/under in their recent games. Here are the top betting trends to consider:
- Furman is 8-3-1 ATS as an underdog (66.7%).
- Furman has hit the over in their last 3 games (100.0%).
- Connecticut is 0-5 on the over/under in their last 5 games (0.0%).
- Furman is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games (80.0%).
- Connecticut is 4-1 SU in their last 5 games (80.0%).
Free Betting Prediction for Connecticut vs Furman
The game between the Connecticut Huskies and the Furman Paladins looks to be a challenging one for Furman. Connecticut has a strong record and is ranked #7 in the AP poll. Their recent performance against Xavier, where they scored 93 points, shows their offensive capability. With key players like Tarris Reed Jr. and Alex Karaban, the Huskies have a solid lineup.
Furman, on the other hand, has shown they can compete with a win against East Tennessee State. They have a good field goal percentage and can score well. However, their defense might struggle against Connecticut’s high-scoring offense. The Huskies’ ability to assist and score efficiently gives them an edge.
Considering the odds and recent performances, Connecticut is likely to win this game. Furman may find it hard to cover the spread given the Huskies’ strong form. The betting trends also suggest that Connecticut will maintain their winning streak.
- Our Free Prediction: Connecticut -20.5
