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Connecticut faces San Diego in return to NCAAs

Mar 21, 2008 - 11:17 AM No. 13 San Diego (21-13) vs. No. 4 Connecticut (24-8) 3:00 pm EDT

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) - Fourth-seeded Connecticut returns to the NCAA Tournament after a one-year hiatus, meeting 13th-seeded San Diego in the first round out of the West Regional on Friday.

The Huskies (24-8) missed the postseason last year for the first time in 21 campaigns, but enjoyed a 10-game winning streak during the middle of the season to help Jim Calhoun's team make it back to the "Big Dance."

Connecticut has a balanced attack with five players scoring in double figures, led by A.J. Price's 14.9 points per game. Jeff Adrien is scoring 14.7 and leads the team in rebounding at 9.0 per game.

Center Hasheem Thabeet is a huge defensive presence for the Huskies. The 7-3 sophomore broke the single-season Big East record with 96 blocks in conference play while fouling out just once in 32 games.

The Toreros (21-13) won the West Coast Conference title on their home floor by defeating Saint Mary's and Gonzaga in consecutive days.

San Diego is led by junior guard Brandon Johnson, who is averaging 16.9 points per game. Johnson scored 28 in the semifinal win against Saint Mary's.

The winner will move on to face either Drake or Western Kentucky in the second round on Sunday.