When: 4:30 p.m. PDT Thursday

Where: TD Garden, Boston

On the air: TBS; 760-AM

Records: UConn is 33-3, SDSU is 26-10

Series: UConn has won both matchups, both in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies won 74-67 in the 2014 Sweet 16 in Anaheim and 76-59 in last year's final in Houston.

Huskies update: They are the defending national champions, No. 1 overall seed and No. 1 in the Kenpom metric (but No. 2 in NET). The losses are 69-65 at Kansas on Dec. 1, 75-60 at Seton Hall (when 7-2 center Donovan Clingan got hurt) on Dec. 20 and 85-66 at Creighton on Feb. 20. Theyve won the nine games since by an average of 19.3 points per game. Last years team might have had more NBA prospects, but this years is statistically better No. 2 in offensive efficiency, No. 9 in defense and more balanced. All five starters average in double figures: Tristen Newton (15.3), Rutgers transfer Cam Spencer (14.4), Alex Karagan (13.7), Clingan (12.8) and freshman Stephon Castle (10.8). Newton, a first team all-American, has four career triple-doubles and is the only active Division I player with 1,900 career points, 700 rebounds and 700 assists. The bench isnt terribly deep, but it doesnt need to be with those starters. This is the second straight year SDSU has faced the No. 1 overall seed in the Sweet 16; the Aztecs beat Alabama in this spot last March. Its two different opponents, coach Brian Dutcher said. Alabama was a lot younger. UConn is way more experienced, having won a national championship, having had these kind of moments already. The Huskies have won eight straight NCAA Tournament games, all by 15 points or more.

Aztecs update: They have reached the Sweet 16 for the second straight year and fourth time in program history. Its the second time theyve met UConn in this game. The 2014 game was in Anaheim in front of a partisan Aztecs crowd. This one will be in front of a partisan UConn crowd, with TD Garden a 90-minute drive from campus. We get to do what they did to us, Dutcher said. Were in their backyard now, and hopefully well have an opportunity to beat them close to their home. Shooting like they did against Yale in Sundays second round would help. The Aztecs made a season-high 13 3s (in 27 attempts) after entering the game ranked 306

nationally in 3-point accuracy. Last year they shot 6 of 23 (26.1 percent) against UConn. Jaedon LeDee made two against Yale and may need to knock down a few to pull Clingan (who had eight blocks Sunday against Northwestern) away from the basket. This is the first time the Aztecs have been in the tournaments East Region. They are up to 17 in the Kenpom metric. Only Clemson (23) and North Carolina State (53) are worse among the 16 remaining teams. The lone member of the Kenpom top 14 that has been eliminated is No. 4 Auburn. Kenpom projects the Huskies as an eight-point favorite, but the Vegas line is up to 11.

Next up: The winner plays Iowa State or Illinois in the Elite Eight on Saturday.