The two-year wait is finally over

UConn will finally play its first NCAA tournament game tonight since 2012.

“We’re back where we belong,” coach Kevin Ollie said.

First up: A dangerous Saint Joseph’s University.

Here’s a pre-game preview

Tip-off time: 6:55 p.m. (TBS)

Location: First Niagara Center, Buffalo

Records: Seventh-seeded UConn 26-8, No. 10 Saint Joseph’s 24-9

Probable starters: UConn, 6-1 sr. guard Shabazz Napier (17.4 pts, 5.9 rebs, 4.9 assists), 6-0 jr. guard Ryan Boatright (11.8 pts, 3.5 assists), 6-9 jr. forward DeAndre Daniels (12.5 pts, 5.8 rebs), 6-7 sr. forward Niels Giffey (8.5 pts, 3.4 rebs), 7-0 fr. center Amida Brimah (4.3 pts, 3.1 rebs 2.5 blks)

Saint Joseph’s, 6-3 jr. guard Chris Wilson (9.0 pts), 6-2 sr. guard Langston Galloway (17.5 pts, 4.3 rebs), 6-6 fr. forward DeAndre Bembry (12.0 pts, 4.5 rebs), 6-8 sr. forward Ronald Roberts (14.4 pts, 7.4 rebs), 6-8 sr. forward Halil Kanacevic (10.7 pts, 8.8 rebs, 4.4 assists)

Noteworthy:

-- Here’s coach Ollie’s scouting report: "We’re going to have our work cut out for us. Galloway is an exceptional shooter. … They’ve got other players. Bembry is a great freshman that’s kind of their energizer. He can get it off the rebound and push it.

“And what makes them tough, four guys can get a rebound and push it and start their fast break. … Then they’ve got a great motion offense that coach (Phil) Martelli has been using for years. We’re going to have to stay packed in our principles and play great basketball.”

 -- Series: UConn leads 4-2, winning 67-61 in the only NCAA match-up in 1965. It is the first regular season meeting since 1989.

 -- The Hawks are 20-5 since losing to Villanova on Dec. 7. They’re one of six Atlantic 10 teams to qualify for the tournament.

“We’ve got to show up and show them a lot of respect because they deserve it,” Napier said. “We’ve just got to play the best basketball we can possibly play.”

 -- Player to watch: Kanacevic, most outstanding player of A-10 championship tourney. He leads the team in assists, rebounds and blocks.

 -- All five St. Joe’s starters average at least 31.8 minutes, so the bench is not deep. The top reserve is 6-7 forward Isaiah Miles (3.2 pts, 1.8 rebs).

 -- The Huskies will need to prevent the Hawks from heating up from 3-point land. Saint Joseph’s averages 7.4 per game while Galloway is the school’s all-time leader in 3-pointers. He made a school-record 10 this season against Fordham.

 -- Hot: Daniels is averaging 15.2 points and 8.0 rebounds in last four games. Cold: UConn is shooting 40.5 percent in last 10 games.

 -- The Huskies own a 7-5 record vs. the NCAA field and the Hawks are 6-5.

 -- UConn is 52-29 in 31 NCAA appearances, including 29-5 in the first two rounds. St. Joe’s is 18-23 in 19 trips.

 -- No one on the Saint Joseph’s roster has ever played in an NCAA game. The Hawks are making their first appearance since 2008.

 -- The Hawks are determined to pull off an upset and win their first NCAA game since 2004.

“We definitely want to go out there and shock some people,” Galloway said.

 -- Both teams enjoyed success in previous NCAA trips to Buffalo in 2004.

UConn beat Vermontand DePaul and went on to win a national championship. Saint Joseph’s defeated Libertyand Texas Tech and reached the Elite Eight.

-- Up next: Winner plays either No.  2 Villanova or No. 15Milwaukee on Saturday. Those two teams play the late game tonight.

-- Check back later for a post-game breakdown and video.

-- For regular updates, follow me on Twitter @GavinKeefe