It's still the regular season, but excuse the Connecticut Huskies for feeling that they are playing tournament games every time they take the court.
A loss doesn't mean elimination or the end of the season. Not yet. But any loss is another opportunity slipping through their fingers. And in late February that can be devastating to a team trying to overcome a rough start back in November.
With No. 17 SMU (24-4, 14-1 American) coming into the XL Center Saturday (noon), there is an opportunity for a signature win. It just doesn't seem as promising as it might have been if UConn (14-13, 9-6) had held on for a victory over Houston on Wednesday.