Jimmy V Males’s Traditional Preview: UConn vs. Florida and BYU vs. Clemson Insights

4 of the nation’s high school basketball groups will take over Madison Sq. Backyard on Tuesday evening for the 2025 version of the Jimmy V Males’s Traditional.

No. 10 BYU will open the doubleheader towards a 7-2 Clemson group, with No. 5 UConn and No. 18 Florida closing out the evening in a battle of latest nationwide champions.

ESPN’s Jeff Borzello breaks down the keys to every sport under.

6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Can BYU lengthen its win streak to 5 video games towards a Clemson group that almost knocked off Alabama in Tuscaloosa? The Cougars have turned a nook since narrowly shedding to UConn on Nov. 15, blowing out Wisconsin then beating Miami and Dayton regardless of coping with a shortened rotation.

Already down Nate Pickens because the begin of the season, sixth man Dawson Baker tore an ACL throughout Feast Week. Which means Kevin Younger must rely much more on his starters; fortuitously for Younger, his beginning 5 occurs to be among the finest within the sport. AJ Dybantsa, Richie Saunders and Robert Wright III type an elite trio, whereas Keba Keita is an anchor defensively and Kennard Davis Jr. presents 3-and-D capability.

Clemson is off to a 7-2 begin, with losses coming at Georgetown (79-74) and Alabama (90-84). The Tigers are additional together with their offense, which is uncommon for a Brad Brownell-coached group, so we must always anticipate the tide to show defensively quickly. Boomerang switch RJ Godfrey — he performed at Clemson for 2 seasons and Georgia final season earlier than returning to the Tigers — is the group’s high scorer and rebounder.

9 p.m. ET, ESPN

A matchup of the previous three nationwide champions — entering into reverse instructions to date this season.

We have not often seen UConn at full power but, with Braylon Mullins lacking the primary six video games of the season with an ankle harm and Tarris Reed Jr. restricted to simply 4 video games, additionally with an ankle harm. A wholesome Huskies group is as full as anybody in school basketball; they’ve already knocked off BYU, Illinois and Kansas whereas banged up.

Florida misplaced 4 video games all of final season. One other loss Tuesday could be its fourth this season. Todd Golden’s new-look backcourt has had some rising pains, to place it mildly. The Gators have struggled to maintain the ball, coughing it up no less than 15 instances on 4 events whereas rating 340th nationally in 3-point share. Princeton switch Xaivian Lee hasn’t adjusted but to a constantly greater degree of basketball.

The important thing to this sport will seemingly be Reed’s well being. Arizona had its method within the paint and on the backboards towards UConn when Reed was out, and Florida can do the identical on the inside. It is a totally different story if Reed performs. And the Huskies have a large edge in relation to shot-makers on the offensive finish.