No. 2 Baylor's Kalani Brown set career-high records with 25 points, 19 rebounds and six assists in the Lady Bears' 84-70 win over No. 9 UCLA. (0:47)

Two weeks ago, after UConn's first exhibition game, coach Geno Auriemma made an observation that seems particularly relevant now.

"I looked out there one time," he said then, "and thought, 'We're really small relative to where we've been and some of the teams we're going to be playing.' "

The Huskies won their season opener Monday at Florida State, but it went down to the wire, 78-76. And the Seminoles really didn't throw that much size at the Huskies. The only player over 6 feet, 1 inch who got significant playing time was 6-3 center Chatrice White, who had six points and one rebound in 19 minutes.

It will be a different story Thursday as No. 2 Baylor visits No. 3 Connecticut (ESPN3, 7:30 p.m. ET) at Gampel Pavilion. The Lady Bears have two sophomores, 6-7 Kalani Brown and 6-4 Beatrice Mompremier, who might pose quite a challenge for the Huskies.

Especially considering what UConn doesn't have anymore: three of the best, most reliable defenders you could ask for in post players Breanna Stewart and Morgan Tuck and guard Moriah Jefferson. All were exceptional in UConn's system and in making big plays individually.

But these are the kinds of tests that Auriemma anticipated would be important learning experiences for the Huskies. For that matter, it's the same for Baylor, which has a lot of talent at varying experience levels.

Senior Nina Davis, at 5-11, has been Baylor's rock for her career, but her role was altered last season a bit by the team's increased size. That could be the case even more this season, in particular as Brown and Mompremier continue to evolve as offensive threats. Brown averaged 9.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game off the bench last season, while Mompremier was at 7.2 PPG and 6.1 RPG.

It's early, but Brown has been sensational in her first two games this season, with 24 points and nine rebounds against Houston Baptist, followed by 25 and 19 against No. 9 UCLA. If the first performance was tempered a bit coming against a thoroughly overmatched opponent, that couldn't be said for the second.

The Huskies have a history, of course, of providing wake-up calls to players riding high and looking unstoppable. No doubt, Baylor coach Kim Mulkey will prepare her team for that. However, it's unrealistic to think UConn can be quite the crushing force defensively right now that it has been the past few years.

That doesn't mean the Huskies aren't going to be very good on that end of the court, improving as the season goes along. Because you know they will. But with their 76-game winning streak on the line against a team that has threats at every spot on the floor -- we need to mention Baylor starting guards Alexis Jones, Alexis Prince and Kristy Wallace, too -- the Huskies will have a lot to contend with defensively.

Kalani Brown, a 6-foot-7 sophomore post, scored 49 points and grabbed 28 rebounds over her first two games this season, including a win over No. 9 UCLA. Ray Carlin/USA TODAY Sports

Conversely, can they make it difficult for Baylor's defense? Yes, especially considering we might be seeing 6-1 sophomore forward Napheesa Collier blossoming before our eyes as the new go-to scorer and leader. Again, not trying to put too much on one game, but the way she played against Florida State -- 28 points, eight rebounds, three assists and four blocks in 39 minutes -- was quite a statement.

UConn has a 3-2 series advantage over Baylor, with all five games having been played from 2010 to 2014. The last time they faced off, Jan. 13, 2014, the Huskies ended the Lady Bears' 69-game home winning streak.

This is the first time Baylor has played in Storrs, Connecticut, with the Lady Bears' previous road games against the Huskies coming in Hartford. Will another streak, this one UConn's, end on Thursday? Or will the Huskies show they're evolving even faster than expected without their superstar trio of Stewart-Tuck-Jefferson?

It's a great game to have so early in the season for both teams and for women's basketball fans in general.