Never mind the 30-5 record. Connecticut does not cover point spreads. The Huskies are 13-22 ATS (37%) this season, including 6-15 ATS in their last 21 games. UConn not only didn't cover the spread this past Thursday against Furman in its first-round NCAA tournament game, but were severely challenged by the 21-point underdog Paladins. Tarris Reed had to have a career game with 31 points on 12-of-15 shooting and 27 rebounds to carry the second-seeded Huskies to an 82-71 victory. UConn played without first team All-Big East selection Silas Demary Jr. after he suffered an ankle injury in the Big East tournament, and Jaylin Stewart, who sat out with a knee injury that has sidelined him since late February. Both are questionable. UCLA has compiled the second-most efficient offense in the country during the past four weeks heading into the tournament. Star guard Donovan Dent played through a calf injury suffered in the Big Ten Conference Tournament, but shot just 4-for-17 from the floor in the Bruins' first round tourney win against UCF on Thursday. UCLA won, 75-71, despite Dent's off-shooting game and missing leading scorer Tyler Biloudeau because of a sprained knee. Biloudeau was close to playing. He is likely to play against Connecticut. UCLA is 7-2 SU and ATS in its last nine games. During this span, the Bruins have defeated fellow NCAA tournament teams Michigan State, Illinois and Nebraska. Take UCLA.
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