Hello, loyal readers! After taking a few days off to spend the holidays with family/friends, I have returned my game observations/recap on last week’s 78-70 win against Marquette. I admit I took my time to publish it when I saw that the team’s game against Xavier was cancelled due to COVID-19 (will likely be scheduled to be made up soon). While the Huskies (10-3, 1-1) played far from perfect, especially on the defensive end, it was reassuring to see them defeat a squad at home that has earned multiple impressive wins this season. Bolstered by the duo of R.J. Cole and Tyrese Martin, who scored 45 points between them, and the return of Adama Sanogo, UConn responded to adversity and the crowd when the Golden Eagles (8-5, 0-2) rallied and solidified the win. Martin and Cole each reached career milestones in the win, with Martin surpassing the 1.000-point mark and Cole the 2,000-point mark.
The Huskies played their best offensive half in nearly a month (since aghast Auburn) in the first half, scoring 43 points to take a six-point advantage into halftime. Led by Martin (15 points) and Andre Jackson (eight), UConn shot 54.5% from the field. With both teams keeping one another off the offensive glass, the Huskies pushed the tempo more than it had in a long time and attacked the basket frequently, especially as the half wore on. After falling behind 16-11 6:26 in, UConn slowly crept back to take the lead and then went on a 10-2 run to take a 5-point lead, and later an 11-4 run with just over six minutes left in the half to take a 7-point lead.
In just his second game back from injury, Martin was able to get wherever he wanted in the paint and from midrange and showed some surprising athleticism. Meanwhile, Jackson drained a three, did a strong job of finishing at the rim and facilitating for others and played solid defense. After a rusty start, Sanogo made a couple of nice jumpers in the half and finished with six points (also his final total on the day).
Despite its great offensive performance, UConn was only able to take a 43-37 lead into the break because of poor defense themselves. The Huskies allowed a Marquette offense not exactly known for its prowess to shoot over 70% early and over 50% in the half. While the Golden Eagles did a strong job of sharing the ball and attacking the basket, the defense did a poor job of communicating on high screens and pressuring defenders, leading to open shots on the perimeter and easy buckets inside. Super freshman Justin Lewis had nine points at the half.
UConn got off to a solid start in the second half and kicked off a 10-2 run with a Cole 3-pointer at the 15:17 mark, taking a 58-47 lead two minutes later on a 3-point play by Cole that featured a tough layup. Unfortunately, the Huskies quickly pulled their Jekyll-and-Hyde routine, allowing Marquette to go on an 11-2 run over the next four-plus minutes to cut the deficit to two. The Golden Eagles run featured five free throws as well as an easy layup right at the rim, as the defense had multiple breakdowns and was bullied at the rim. On offense, UConn’s ball movement became stilted when Jalen Gaffney briefly took over for Cole at point guard, and it began committing unforced turnovers and missing from the perimeter.
While the Huskies bent, they finally did not break, with RJ and Tyrese making sure to secure the win. After Marquette’s run made the score 62-60, the teams traded baskets and free throws the next few minutes, and Lewis’s layup made it 66-65 with 4:15 remaining. After Martin made one of two at the line, Kur Kauth blew a dunk, and the rest was history. Martin went on a 6-0 run by himself to give the Huskies a 72-65 lead and they would secure the win. He and Cole combined to score the last 14 points of the game, driving into the teeth of the defense again and again and earning acrobatic layups and free throws. UConn did a good job of handling the ball in the final minutes and finally made the choice to good scoring opportunities.
Martin led the team with 25 points on 9-16 shooting, going 6-8 at the line, and added six rebounds. Cole bounced back from a few tough shooting games to score 20 on 7-12 shooting and dropped seven assists. Jackson stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists and steals. Akok Akok made two threes and drabbed six boards. Lewis led the Golden Eagles with 20 points and Oliver Maxence-Prosper added 13 on 6-9 shooting.
After blowing a chance at a huge road win at West Virginia and then the ugly loss to Providence, it was awesome to see UConn earn a strong road win and lead for a large majority of the game. While the loss to the Friars looms large, it seems like the team is heading in the right direction and will be able to get off to a strong start in the Big East against a tough schedule as Sanogo returns to full strength. Below, I look at all the positive observations the Huskies can take from this win as well as where the game showed they need to improve.
Cole and Martin Demonstrate How Dangerous of a Duo They Can be
While Cole and Martin have gotten plenty of attention in their year-plus at UConn, the seniors had been overshadowed by Sanago earlier in the season when the trio played together. They shouldn’t be. Cole and Martin are the best all-around players on the team, and the emotional leaders of the team along with Isiah Whaley. They both have a lot of experience and poise, and are capable of generating offense and carrying the scoring load, even when they are not necessarily shooting their best. The pair’s games match up perfectly. Cole, who is averaging 16.3 points and 4.7 assists and has scored in double figures in nine consecutive games, is the natural scorer who can make tough shots at any time and stretch the floor. Martin, who is averaging 14.4 points and 7.2 rebounds, can beat defenders for easy shots in the paint as well as step out and hit jumpers, all while owning the boards.
I am not sure if the average UConn fan appreciates how valuable Cole and Martin are to the program. Both were already accomplished college players who have taken big steps forward this season and helped take on the scoring load vacated by James Bouknight. They have each shown that they can succeed as transfer players coming from mid-major/lower conferences, particularly Cole. While fans were frustrated about the lack of transfers added to this year’s squad, imagine the state the Huskies program could be in right now without the pair agreeing to come to Storrs. I look forward to seeing how much Cole and Martin can continue to grow and the further milestones they will reach going forward.
Andre Jackson and Akok Akok Continue to Show Their Bonafides
Over the last few games, Jackson has begun to consistently show the versatility and playmaking that has gotten fans so excited and writers to product that he can be an NBA draft pick. Jackson constantly pushed the pace in the game and created transition layups and great scoring opportunities for teammates. He continues to improve at handling the ball, a skill UConn desperately needs, as well as work effectively off it. It’s really exciting to see Jackson cut down as his turnovers and (somehow)become an effective 3-point shooter, and he is emerging as essential cog for the Huskies, especially on offense and the boards. I can’t wait to see the player he will become by the end of the season.
While Akok isn’t quite the all-around player right now that Johnson is, he is slowly demonstrating strides as the season advances. Akok’s two early threes kick-started the UConn offense and he had six rebounds while also playing strong defense and recording a block. Akok’s rebounding and defensive skills and ability to score both at the rim and behind the arc allows him to make a valuable impact against almost any opponent, even if the matchups aren’t quite favorable. With Akok improving, I hope Hurley gives him consistent minutes against every opponent and uses him in the right spots. Akok has earned his faith.
Welcome Back, Adama Sanago
The sophomore was far from his vintage self in his return from an abdanomal injury, but Adama played solid in his 12 minutes, making a couple of tough jumpers and recording two rebounds and a block. Sanago wasn’t as effective defensively as offensively, but this was understandable considering he had less stamina and game legs in general. My only big knock on Sanago is his three turnovers, which were caused multiple times by his reluctance to pass out of the post and instead force shots. As Sanago gets back into game shape and becomes a focal point of the offense, Hurley needs to emphasize the importance of Sanago sharing the ball better.
Defense MIA in Action at Times
It’s been rare that UConn’s offense has been better than the defense, especially against the best opponents, but it was definitely the case against Marquette. The Golden Eagles did a good job of creating shots and being aggressive at the rim, but that’s no excuse for all the miscommunication on screens or the Huskies being bullied at times inside, even Whaley (I never would have thought Whaley would have struggled that much with Lewis, as good as he is for a freshman). Some of the defensive inconsistency can be chalked up to lineup changes Hurley made and the ineffectiveness of Sanago, as well as his stubborn refusal to cut back on using the hard hedge or double-teaming. But the players need to realize that they cannot play defense like that against upper-echelon Big East teams and win.
Still Not Enough from the Bench
While Akok seems to be making a consistent impact in certain areas, the rest of his bench compatriots continue to underperform. The trio of Tyler Polley, Jordan Hawkins and Jalen Gaffney combined for just seven points on 2-8 shooting, with none playing over 11 minutes. Hawkins continues to struggle with his shooting and seemingly his confidence and Polley was again unspectacular from beyond the arc (1-3) and didn’t contribute in any other meaningful way. Gaffney played seven minutes, missing a 3-pointer and committing two turnovers, and the offense was inefficient with him manning the point. As usual, Samson Johnson and Rasool Diggins didn’t play at all.
Ultimately, Gaffney has played poorly this season against high-level competition, and you have to believe that Hurley was sending a message to him by demoting minutes. What I hope is that Hurley challenging Gaffney will light a fire under his ass, and that he can be motivated to address his game and become more disciplined and dynamic. Otherwise, Gaffney is going to lose minutes and duties preeminently to Johnson and Hawkins. UConn was able to get away with a quiet night from its bench due to the brilliance of Martin and Cole. This needs to change however, especially if Sanogo is slower to return to form than expected and other guys wear down. Guys like Gaffney and Polley need to demonstrate their strengths so that the Huskies depth is utilized best.
UConn Finally Shakes Off the Pressure
All season, opponents have been using full-court pressure to terrorize the UConn offense, which did a poor job executing against it and experienced extensive turnover trouble. Against Marquette, the Huskies finally looked patient and collected against the Golden Eagles 2-1-1 three quarters press. They were able to break it quickly and get the ball to open players, and Cole, Martin and Jackson all seemed to understand what to do to escape trouble against the press. Credit goes to Hurley for getting the players ready for dealing with the defense and Marquette’s strategy. Hopefully, that shows UConn will be able to respond to all defenses opponents throw at them going forward.
As discussed before, we don’t know when UConn will play next, with the game against Butler on Friday up in the air as scheduled right now depending on how players and coach’s test. Hopefully the Huskies won’t be rusty when they next play, but defeating Marquette is a huge win to build on.
HUSKY NATION 