Some pre-game news from the XL Center in Hartford:

-- UConn freshman Omar Calhoun has been dealing with a sore right wrist since jamming it against Villanova Saturday. He participated in the team shoot-around earlier today and had it taped for warm-ups.

Calhoun is expected to play tonight against Cincinnati.

-- The Huskies need to take care of the basketball tonight. They've averaged 17.7 turnovers in their last three games.

-- Rebounding, as always, will be critical for the Huskies. UConn has given up 20 offensive rebounds in each of the last two games, leading to a combined 36 second chance points.

-- Five pro scouts representing the Cavs, Mavs, Jazz, Spurs, Nets and Thunder will be in attendance.

Here's a pre-game preview:

Records: Cincinnati 19-7, 7-6, UConn 17-7, 7-5

Last game: Cincinnati lost to No. 15 Georgetown, 62-55, Friday; UConn lost to Villanova, 70-61, Saturday.

Probable starters:

UConn, 6-1 jr. guard Shabazz Napier (16.3 pts. 4.2 rebs, 4.7 assists), 6-0 so. guard Ryan Boatright (15.4 pts, 4.2 assists), 6-5 fr. guard Omar Calhoun (11.5 pts, 3.6 rebs), 6-8 so. forward DeAndre Daniels (10.7 pts, 4.9 rebs), 6-9 jr. forward Tyler Olander (4.5 pts, 3.8 rebs)

Cincinnati, 6-0 sr. guard Cashmere Wright (13.3 pts, 3.4 assists), 6-4 jr. guard Sean Kilpatrick (18.0 pts, 5.4 rebs), 6-3 sr. guard JaQuon Parker (10.9 pts, 4.8 rebs), 6-8 jr. forward Justin Jackson (4.2 pts, 5.4 rebs), 6-10 sr. center Cheikh Mbodj (5.2 pts, 4.7 rebs, 2.5 blks)

Noteworthy:

-- First of two meetings between teams. Rematch is March 2 in Cincy.

-- The Bearcats have lost three of their four games.

-- Series: UConn leads 7-3, losing last meeting 70-67 last season at Gampel Pavilion on Kilpatrick's 3-pointer with 2.7 seconds left.

-- Wright recently became Cincy's all-time steals leader.

-- Top reserve: forward Titus Rubles (6.2 pts, 5.8 rebs).

-- Hot: Kilpatrick averaging 19.6 points and 5.1 rebounds in last seven games.

-- Cold: Olander has only two double figure scoring games this season. He had three last season.

-- In Big East games, Bearcats ranked 3rd in rebound margin (+4) and scoring defense (59.6), and 2

^nd

in blocks (5.69).

-- UConn rated 2nd in 3-pt field goal percentage (36.6), scoring (70.5) and FT percentage (75.3).

-- Final home game at XL Center this season. Huskies own 6-2 record here.

-- Up next: UConn visits DePaul Saturday.