Defense provides the theme for a tripleheader Sunday at Mohegan Sun Arena, site of the 2018 Air Force Reserve Hall of Fame Holiday Showcase. 

The Showcase’s first two games feature three teams ranked in the KenPom.com top 100 for adjusted defensive efficiency. Setting the tone in the opener, West Virginia (No. 23 in adjusted defense) takes on Rhode Island (No. 45) in a matchup of two teams focused on turnover-creation. 

Mountaineers coach Bob Huggins has long been synonymous with aggressive, trapping defense. In Morgantown, his style of play has garnered the nickname “Press Virginia.” 

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“That's kind of what we've recruited to do,” Huggins said of West Virginia’s full-court pressure at Big 12 Conference media day. “We have the best shot blocker in the country, in the back of it, which helps considerably.”

That shot-blocker, Sagaba Konate, is averaging 2.75 blocks per game heading into Sunday’s matchup. His ability to deny shot attempts in the paint can translate into fast changes of possession, not unlike a turnover. To that end, West Virginia’s perimeter defense can funnel ball-handlers toward the basket and take gambles on steals. 

Rhode Island excels at creating turnovers in its own way, getting into passing lanes while pushing the offense away from the paint. First-year head coach David Cox, former assistant to Dan Hurley at Rhode Island, has maintained a similar defensive philosophy, and it has the Rams generating takeaways on 22 percent of opponent possessions. 

While the Holiday Showcase’s first game includes two programs with established reputations for their defensive prowess, the finale on FloHoops.com features squads shaping their own identities. 

Drexel and Quinnipiac both arrive in Connecticut with .500 records. Quinnipiac has a modest streak going after downing Lafayette on Dec. 8, 88-77. The win came on the strength of creating 15 turnovers, three via Cameron Young steals. 

The prolific-scoring Young will aim to extend that multi-dimensional look to his game. He’s already shown off a nice offensive touch, putting up 18.6 points per game through the season’s first month. 

“We're a work in progress in every way, especially on the defensive end,” Bobcats coach Baker Dunleavy said following the Lafayette win, per QuinnipiacBobcats.com. “I'm proud of our progress, and we look to improve moving forward.”

Drexel heads into the Hall of Fame Holiday Showcase seeking its own progress on defense. The Dragons, under third-year coach Zach Spiker, have surrendered at least 81 points on five occasions this season. Most recently, they yielded 91 in a 15-point loss to 2018 NCAA Tournament Cinderella story, UMBC. 

Drexel ranks No. 337 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency. While sorting out their strategy on that end, the Dragons have had to lean on the scoring efforts of Troy Harper, Trevor John and Alihan Demir. The trio averages more than half of Drexel’s 81.2 points per game. 

The Quinnipiac-Drexel and West Virginia-Rhode Island games book-end an intriguing second contest of the tripleheader. Perennial Atlantic 10 contender Dayton, the third of the Showcase’s three top-100 defenses, takes on a Tulsa team building on a signature win. 

The Golden Hurricane stunned No. 16-ranked Kansas State, stifling the Wildcats with a stellar defensive effort in the 47-46 upset on Dec. 8. After Martins Igbanu hit a go-ahead bucket, Tulsa held Kansas State without a point for the final 1:53. 

Coach Frank Haith’s squad needs a similar effort against a Dayton Flyers bunch that’s faced a tough, early-season schedule. Dayton has losses to Auburn, Mississippi State, Oklahoma and Virginia -- all power-conference teams likely destined for the NCAA Tournament -- and the Flyers have finished within 11 points in each contest. 

The Flyers rank 18th nationally in 2-point field-goal percentage, promising Tulsa a challenge. Obi Toppin, Josh Cunningham and Jalen Crutcher are all effective scoring options for Dayton.

Kyle Kensing is a freelance sports journalist in southern California. Follow him on Twitter @kensing45.