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UConn steps out of Big East to face Michigan

Feb 7, 2009 - 12:59 PM Michigan (15-8) at No. 1 Connecticut (21-1) 6:00 p.m. EST

STORRS, Connecticut (Ticker) -- Top-ranked Connecticut will look to do something Saturday the three previous No. 1 teams were unable to do, keep its hold on the top spot.

The Huskies will look to follow up an impressive win with their 11th straight victory when they host Michigan in a non-conference matchup.

On the same day it ascended to No. 1 for the first time since March of 2006, Connecticut (21-1) handed No. 7 Louisville its first conference loss Monday with a convincing road win, 68-51.

Hasheem Thabeet followed his triple-double performance in a bashing of Providence last Saturday with his ninth double-double of the season, collecting 14 points and 11 rebounds against the Cardinals.

Jeff Adrien had 18 and seven and Jerome Dyson added 14 for the Huskies, who are tied atop the Big East standings in the loss column with Louisville and Marquette after the Golden Eagles' surprising loss to South Florida on Friday.

Prior to UConn grabbing the top spot, Pittsburgh, Wake Forest and Duke all fell from their perch in consecutive weeks.

While struggling to a 5-6 mark in Big Ten play, Michigan (15-8) has shown it is capable of competing with the country's elite.

The Wolverines have lost five of seven overall, but have non-conference wins over Duke and UCLA on the resume. They bested the Bruins, 55-52, November 20 at the 2K Sports Classic and topped the Blue Devils, 81-73, on December 6. Both teams were ranked fourth at the time of the Wolverine victories.

A huge second half lifted Michigan to a win over Penn State in its last game on Thursday. Manny Harris, who leads the Wolverines and ranks second in the Big Ten at 17.7 points per game, scored 19 of his 28 points as his team outscored the Nittany Lions by 22 after halftime en route to a 71-51 win.