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Connecticut
Big East Tournament Final prediction: Marquette vs. UConn odds, picks
Somehow, someway, Marquette reached its second straight Big East Tournament Championship game without superstar point guard Tyler Kolek.
But the Golden Eagles will have to fight the mighty UConn Huskies without him, and I don’t think they have the horses to compete.
Marquette vs. UConn Prediction
(6:30 p.m. ET, FOX)
The final regular-season meeting between these two was played without Kolek.
And Marquette showed why it relies so heavily on its superstar point guard.
Shaka Smart’s ball-screen offense is as innovative and as explosive as college basketball offenses get. Between Kolek’s vision, Oso Ighodaro’s versatility, and Kam Jones’ spot-up ability, the Eagles can unpack even the best defenses.
But without him, Marquette’s offense faltered against UConn.
In that final regular-season meeting, the Eagles generated 21 points on 28 ball-screen sets, suitable for a pedestrian .75 PPP.
That’s highly uncharacteristic of Smart’s offense, further exemplified by Marquette’s eight-to-nine assist-to-turnover ratio.
But, to be fair, UConn’s ball-screen coverage defense is elite.
The Huskies lead the Big East in pick-and-roll PPP allowed by a mile (.68), and they showed that in the first meeting.
Even with Kolek, Marquette managed 22 points on 29 pick-and-roll sets against the Huskies, which is suitable for slightly better than pedestrian .76 PPP.
The Eagles can’t score against UConn either way.
On the other end of the court, Connecticut’s elaborate, variable pattern motion offense is too tough to stop for any defense.
While Marquette grades out alright regarding off-ball screen, handoff, and cutting PPP allowed, the Eagles are also an aggressive perimeter offense that will get beat by crisp passing and sharpshooting.
And that’s what Connecticut did in both meetings, shooting 24-for-56 (43%) from 3.
It hurts that the Huskies are an uber-steady ball-handling team, unsusceptible to Smart’s pressure.
Additionally, UConn is a dominant offensive rebounding squad, which plays nicely against Marquette.
The Eagles’ aggressive perimeter defense leaves the glass wide open, so the Huskies scored 40 second-chance points across the two regular-season meetings.
Donovan Clingan should eat on the boards this Saturday at Madison Square Garden.
Ultimately, I don’t see Marquette executing its ball-screen-heavy offense against an elite ball-screen coverage defense without its point guard.
Betting on College Basketball?
Meanwhile, the Huskies will find ways to score.
They couldn’t generate secondary actions against St. John’s, so they destroyed the Red Storm in ball-screen sets.
And if they can’t generate offense against Marquette, they’ll crash the boards and generate put-back buckets or second-chance kick-out 3s.
UConn has won three National Championships over the past 15 years, but the Huskies haven’t won a Big East Tournament title since 2011.
With Kolek sidelined, they seem poised to take advantage and earn that elusive title in a monster victory.
I expect another dominant, double-digit win for the Huskies in the Big East final. Wager accordingly.
Marquette vs. UConn Pick
UConn -8.5 | Play to -9.5
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Luxury Homes
Kathie Lee Gifford and her late husband, football legend Frank Gifford, purchased the house in 1994.
Former “Today” show host Kathie Lee Gifford is selling her sprawling 13,163-square-foot Connecticut home. The asking price? $100,000,000.
Dubbed “Cedar Cliff,” the Greenwich estate at 108 Cedar Cliff in the Riverside section of town, was once owned by railroad tycoon Henry F. Shoemaker. Kathie Lee Gifford and her late husband, football legend Frank Gifford, purchased the house in 1994 for $7.8 million . The 13,163-square-foot, 29-room estate has eight bedrooms and 14 bathrooms (nine full, five half).
“They added a substantial addition to the house to make it work for their lifestyle,” listing agent Leslie McElwreath of Sotheby’s International Realty said. That addition is the east wing of the house, constructed in the early 2000s, which includes a private theater and wine cellar.
The eight bedrooms are similarly sized and have views of Greenwich Cove. The primary bedroom and two guest bedrooms have a balcony as well. The estate has a greenhouse, a screened porch, a sun room, a tennis court, and a billiards room currently containing Frank Gifford memorabilia. There are 10 fireplaces throughout the house.
Within the 2.91-acre gated peninsula is a spa, pool, and pool house.
McElwreath said “empty nester” Gifford is selling the property because “her children are grown and are married with their own children. Kathie Lee spends most of her time in Tennessee and is no longer using the house full-time.”
The house has a recently installed Ludowici terra cotta roof, sun decks that have been rebuilt, and there is access to a full-property generator as well as a private beach.
McElwreath said there are additional aspects that make this property worth the monstrous price tag.
“The setting is extraordinary. Elevated high above the water with over 1,250 feet of frontage, the property offers the rare combination of commanding panoramic views and direct waterfront access via a private pier and deep water dock,” she said.
McElwreath said the kind of buyer looking at this property is attracted to Greenwich for its high quality of life and proximity to Midtown Manhattan.
”High net-worth buyers do not compromise. They seek exceptional properties in prime locations. Cedar Cliff is a one-of-a-kind opportunity and will attract buyers looking for privacy and resort-like amenities,” McElwreath said.
The task of selling the estate was entrusted to McElwreath by Gifford after McElwreath represented the seller of Copper Beech Farm in Greenwich, which sold for just under $139,000,000 in 2023.
“[Copper Beach] is still the highest sale ever in Greenwich and the state of Connecticut. I plan to use the full resources of Sotheby’s International Realty to find the buyer for Cedar Cliff,” McElwreath said. “I also represented the seller of 100 Field Point Circle, the second highest sale in Greenwich at $50 million. My proven track record, combined with the marketing expertise of Sotheby’s, will prove to be a winning combination.”
Connecticut
Hailey Van Lith waived by Connecticut Sun after just nine games, marking second cut in under a month
Hailey Van Lith’s rocky WNBA start took another unexpected turn Thursday.
The Connecticut Sun waived Van Lith after just nine games with the team, including three starts.
CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 25: Hailey Van Lith #2 of the Chicago Sky high five during the game against the Las Vegas Aces on August 25, 2025 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images) ((Photo by Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images))
TCU’s Hailey Van Lith poses before the WNBA basketball draft in New York on April 14, 2025. (Pamela Smith/AP)
Van Lith was once one of college basketball’s brightest stars at Louisville, but her path has become increasingly turbulent in recent years. After a disappointing stint at LSU stalled her momentum, Van Lith revived her draft stock with a standout final season at TCU.
CHICAGO SKY WAIVE HAILEY VAN LITH ONE YEAR AFTER SELECTING HER WITH THE 11TH OVERALL PICK
The former NIL standout was selected 11th overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2024 WNBA Draft. She struggled to establish herself as a rookie, averaging 3.5 points and 1.6 assists in 12.4 minutes per game across 29 appearances before Chicago waived her on May 4.
Hailey Van Lith’s brief stint with the Connecticut Sun ended Thursday after the franchise waived the former first-round pick. (Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images) ((Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images))
Hailey van Lith drives past opponents during the women’s 3×3 basketball bronze medal game between the United States and Canada at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
TCU’s Hailey Van Lith jogs onto the court during introductions before the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament game against Louisville in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 23, 2025. (Tony Gutierrez/AP)
Van Lith also helped Team USA win a bronze medal in 3×3 basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Connecticut quickly gave Van Lith a second chance, but the reunion lasted just over two weeks.
“The Connecticut Sun has activated Leïla Lacan,” the team announced on X. “In a corresponding move, Hailey Van Lith has been waived.”
EX-WNBA STAR CRITICAL OF SKY ROOKIE HAILEY VAN LITH, BELIEVES POPULARITY PLAYED ROLE IN DRAFT SELECTION
The move comes as Lacan — the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 draft — returns after averaging 10.4 points and 3.7 assists with Connecticut last season.
Van Lith appeared in Wednesday’s 71-61 loss to Portland, finishing with seven points, no assists and two turnovers in 13 minutes.
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Van Lith averaged 8.1 points and 2.2 assists in nine appearances with Connecticut before Thursday’s move, marking her second waiver in less than a month.
The Connecticut Sun waived Hailey Van Lith on Thursday, ending the former college star’s nine-game stint with the franchise. ((Photo by Mollie Handkins/NBAE via Getty Images))
Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
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