GAME NOTES: The Connecticut Huskies will not get a chance to defend their national championship, as they take part in the 2015 NIT, playing host to the Arizona State Sun Devils in first-round action on Wednesday at Gampel Pavilion.

The winner of this game will move into the second round and take on either St. Francis (NY) or Richmond.

Kevin Ollie's Huskies are just one year removed from a national title and were within one game of returning to the Big Dance, but dropped a 62-54 decision to SMU in the American Athletic Conference Tournament's title game. UConn enters this event at 20-14 overall. It is the 13th appearance in the NIT for Connecticut and first since 2010. The Huskies are 15-11 in this event all- time, capturing a tournament title in 1988.

Herb Sendek's Sun Devils went 17-15 on the year and finished Pac-12 play at an even 9-9. Arizona State bowed out of the Pac-12 Conference Tournament early on, falling to USC, 67-64. ASU is also participating in its 13th NIT, first since 2013. The Sun Devils are sporting a 6-12 record in the NIT all-time.

These two teams have met three previous times, with UConn holding a 2-1 series edge. The Huskies prevailed in the last meeting, an 82-61 decision in the 1997 Preseason NIT at Madison Square Garden.

The Sun Devils have one marquee win on the season and that came against rival Arizona in early February. In that game, Arizona State won a shootout, putting up 81 points. That kind of production has not been the norm in Tempe this season, with ASU averaging a modest 69.4 ppg this year, on .444 shooting. The problem is that the Sun Devils are yielding similar numbers, with foes netting 66.4 ppg on .450 shooting.

Senior forward Shaquielle McKissic has had a strong season, leading the Sun Devils in both scoring (12.0 ppg) and steals (51). Sophomore forward Savon Goodman, who missed a good portion of the early season, has come on down the stretch and really been a tremendous frontcourt presence, shooting an impressive .584 from the field and averaging 11.0 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Junior guard Gerry Blakes rounds out the top scoring threats for ASU, at 10.9 ppg.

The Huskies will counter with strong defensive play. That has been the formula for success this season, with UConn limiting foes to just 59.8 ppg (26th nationally), on .392 shooting (29th nationally).

Just because UConn is a defensive-minded team, that doesn't mean the Huskies are void of offensive talent. On the contrary, the team boasts of the AAC's top scorer this season in senior guard Ryan Boatright, who finished the regular season at 17.8 ppg. He enters this tournament at a slightly less 17.4 ppg, with the ability to do it all, also leading the team in assists (3.8 apg) and steals (1.4 spg). Sophomore guard Rodney Purvis (11.4 ppg) is a nice complement in the backcourt, while freshman swingman Daniel Hamilton (10.7 ppg, 7.6 rpg) has made an immediate impact at both ends of the floor.

UConn is a ridiculous 160-28 at Gampel Pavilion since it opened in 1990, including a 78-6 mark against non-league foes. They may not be as talented as last year's squad which won the national title, but expect the Huskies to advance here nonetheless.