Butler – HUSKY NATION

After a pair of games to open the conference that can be described as Jekyll and Hide for UConn, the wins against DePaul and at Butler this last week were a little more relaxing. There was still plenty to learn from them, however. The wins showed again the core players UConn can rely open and that they are continuing to develop a fuller bench, served as a coming out party for both Stephen Castle and the Huskies version of “small ball”, and that the team can earn a comeback win on the round against a solid Bulldogs team. They also again reinforced that UConn’s defense has a lot of work to do to be efficient in the Big East, and that players must learn how to do their jobs without relying on Donovan Clinigan to bail them out. All in all, it was a more satisfying week with more positives than negatives.

Four players (Castle, Cam Spencer, Alex Karaban, Hassan Diarra) averaged in double figures over the two games, with Newton scoring 17 against Butler. Karaban led the way with 16.5 points. The offense was in mostly fine form across the board against DePaul and Butler, scoring 86 points in Tuesday’s blowout and then 88 to take down the Bulldogs by seven. UConn shot over 58 percent from the field against DePaul and 54.5 percent from the field against Butler. It shot exactly 69 percent inside the arc in both wins and made roughly 42 percent of its 3-pointers after a significant stretch where the team had struggled from deep. In addition, the team continued to do an excellent job of rebounding and shared the ball well, especially in the first win. Besides the aforementioned players, Samson Johnson, Solomon Ball, and freshman forward Jaylin Stewart all had moments to write home about in at least one of the wins. The only offense negative was the Huskies surprising number of turnovers, which I discuss further down in the piece.

The takeaway on the defense against both teams, especially Butler, was much less favorable. With Clinigan missing, Bulldog players were regularly able to beat Husky defenders off the bounce for scoring opportunities and kickouts to open perimeter shooters and had fun taking advantage of the small lineup with Karaban at center. I discuss it more below, but UConn players inability to consistently rotate well and help teammates was a bigger factor in their defensive struggles than any physical disadvantages. While DePaul averaged 0.84 points per possession and shot 35.7%, Butler shot over 47 percent and averaged 1.19 PPP.

Before Wednesday night’s big road matchup against Xavier, I go into detail below about the standout week of UConn’s new Big Three, how exciting Castle’s emergence is, the significance of the Butler win, the bench, and the defensive questions the team must answer with Clinigan injured. As always, this is proving to be another crazy Big East campaign with storylines galore.

There’s a New Trio Driving the Bus for the Huskies

While there may be occasional exceptions, as Tristen Newton, Alex Karaban and Cam Spencer go the remainder of the month, so do the Huskies. The trio can all score points in bunches while facilitating for others, are solid rebounders, compete hard on both ends, and are fundamentally sound leaders for the team on and off the floor. The team feeds off these guys’ energy and demeanor during games and especially in the tensest moments, as seen at Butler. While they certainly make their share of mistakes, most fans and Dan Hurley trust Newton, Karaban, and Spencer explicitly. They rewarded that trust against the Blue Demons and Bulldogs.

Karaban and Stewart each had excellent offensive games against both DePaul and Butler. Karaban averaged 17.5 points and 7 rebounds and shot 73.6% overall and 7-10 on 3-pointers, while recording a combined 3 assists and blocks. Karaban did a much better job of attacking the basket and finishing layups through contact in the two wins, and finally made some open treys after being off from beyond the line for a while. Stewart and his old man game were as successful as ever, as he as he averaged 17 points, 5. rebounds and 3 assists while shooting over 59% and 7-14 beyond the arc. Stewart continued to do an excellent job of finishing shots and faking out defenders around the rim and on midrange shots, and anytime he gets an open look from three I think it’s going in, no matter how well defended Stewart is. The pair are both clutch players, as discussed more below, and Stewart made the most clutch play of the night late against Butler to preserve the lead.

Newton is a different case than his two teammates, as he has been in a funk lately since right before Big East play started. Newton went scoreless against DePaul, taking just three shots, and shot 3-12 from the field against Butler. He was reckless with the ball at times last week as well, committing a combined seven turnovers. However, he still averaged 6 assists and 3.5 rebounds and had 2 steals against the Bulldogs. Even when Newton wasn’t hitting shots Friday night, he willed himself to the free throw line in the second half and made 10 of his 13 attempts to secure the win. More than anyone else on the team, Newton remains the guy you want to go to inside to get a layup or force their way to the line.

The entire trio had signature moments in the Butler win during the second half. In the 15-4 run which gave UConn a 54-50 lead with 12:07 remaining, Karaban hit two 3-pointers that were assisted by Newton. Karaban later scored five straight points after Butler cut the deficit to one to take a 79-74 lead with 2:39 remaining. With less than 90 seconds to go, Spencer grabbed a tough offensive rebound, called timeout before falling out of bounds, and quickly hit a 3-pointer to basically secure the win. And even though his shot continued to be off, Newton hit 8 free throws in the second half.

Stephon Castle, Welcome to the Big Time

Entering the season, we heard a ton about how Castle’s physicality and athleticism, knowledge of the game and athleticism. While we saw a few flashes of this at the beginning of the season and after he returned from injury, fans also saw a player who was hesitant to shoot and prone to playing out of control and making mistakes when he did take charge. Castle, whose defense had been ahead of his offense after returning, seemed to finally start figuring things out late against St. John’s. Last week, he looked right at home. Against DePaul and Butler, Castle scored 14 points in both games on nearly 70 percent shooting, averaged 6.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists, and added 3 steals. He also played his already customary intense defense against both guards and forwards and with all-out intensity in general.

Castle was excellent against the Blue Demons, looking for his shot early and often and shutting down multiple players. As the game went along, he began to focus more on facilitating for teammates and rebounding, and shared point-guard duties alongside Newton. Castle made all 6 of his 2-point attempts, earned 7 assists and had both a block and steal. Tuesday’s win was just a prelude to his game against the Bulldogs, in which he was the best player on the floor. Castle was solid offensively in the first half while the team struggled, even demonstrating his shooting range by hitting a 3-pointer. It was when the game sped up and UConn got in a roll that the freshman showed everything he could do, however. Castle was outstanding helping to run the offense and facilitating, especially on fast breaks. He finished layups and earned free throws, found teammates for open shots both in the paint and on the perimeter, and grabbed 9 rebounds, a majority of which were in traffic. Castle was most essential on defense, as he limited point guard Posh Alexander to 3 points and helped cause his 5 turnovers, and ultimately assisted in guarding all the Bulldogs guards and forwards. Castle was stronger and more athletic than arguably anyone Butler had on the floor, and they and his teammates knew it.

Castle’s last two games weren’t against top-tier conference foes, but it was high-opening seeing Castle live up to the height. He is a great defender who can be the “head of the snake” and help carry the Huskies on that end with Clinigan out. Castle is a very skilled finisher at the rim, especially for a freshman, and already looks like he will be able to help run the offense as the season goes on because of his passing and unselfishness. Most importantly, he plays with an energy and unselfishness that is special for a freshman. Castle’s versatility and ability to contribute in all facets of the game using his strength and athleticism is very reminiscent of Andre Jackson at his best. As Castle takes on a larger role as a scorer and gets more comfortable working together with Newton, he can be the program’s best freshman in years and UConn can reach its full potential.

The Supporting Cast is Developing ,

If the magic trio and Castle will be the main ones driving the team while Clinigan’s out, then it’s imperative that their supporting cast show it can contribute in multiple ways and play different styles as the Huskies go with smaller lineups. It mostly succeeded against DePaul and Butler. Samson Johnson has been generally effective as the starting center, and scored 8 points in both wins on 8-10 shooting, averaged 3 blocks, and grabbed 6 rebounds against the Bulldogs. While Johnson is continuing to show good touch in the paint and is generally an effective defender, he needs to stop picking up needless fouls. The junior had four in both games and combined to play just 43 minutes as a result. Every minute Johnson is out, it is going to make it easier for opponents to score and rebound at the rim.

After an off week, Hassan Diarra had another great pair of games, scoring a combined 23 points (14 against DePaul) while going 4-6 from deep, averaged 3 rebounds and had five assists against the Blue Demons, all while playing bulldog defense. Diarra was always valuable because of his defense and energy, but his improved ball handling, shooting and veteran leadership has made him indispensable to the Huskies and put Diarra neck-and-neck with Solomon Ball for the role of first guard off the bench.

Speaking of freshman, he had another solid game against DePaul, hitting two 3-pointers and finishing with 8 points while adding solid defense. It’s nice to see Ball improving his deep shot and continuing to bring energy on both ends. Now his next step is to be more active as a scorer and become more fundamentally sound as a ball-handler and defender. Finally, freshman forward Jaylin Stewart got some run as many fans had hoped for in the small-ball lineup, and generally made the most of it. He looked like he belonged out there on both ends and made the most of it in his 10 minutes against Butler, scoring and ab5 points and grabbing 3 boards. If Stewart can learn the system better in practice and get comfortable with his teammates in game settings, UConn could be eight deep again when Clinigan returns.

All Hail Dan Hurley

For a couple of years now, it’s been a running joke that Hurley can’t win close games in conference play, especially on the road. And for whatever reason, it has mostly been true. After the head coach won two close games against St. John’s and at Butler, both second-half comebacks, he can shut those critics up for now. Hurley did a great job rallying his players at halftime against Butler, emphasizing that they had to pick up their overall intensity and defensive effort and designing different defensive sets. He stayed on them as UConn rallied midway through the second half to take the lead, and wasn’t afraid to mix and match with players depending on foul trouble and putting the ball in Castle’s hands more. The offensive sets were much crisper in the final 20 minutes, and the players did a better job of pressuring the ball and helping on defense. Hurley seems to be consistently improving his in-game coaching and ability to make adjustments, and as a result I think this team will be more capable of bouncing back from deficits in conference play than last year’s.

This Defense is Not up to UConn Standards

I knew that the Huskies were heavily reliant on Clinigan to fortify their defense, but I don’t think I realized just how reliant they were on the big man to bail them out. Against Seton Hall and then in two of the three games since, UConn has regularly allowed penetration with ease and given up easy layups or earned unnecessary fouls. This roster is less athletic than the typical Huskies squad, and its guards are vulnerable to being attacked and bullied. To make up for that, the defense is going to need to execute as well as possible and be creative. Instead, the rotations and help defense has been lousy, UConn has not been forcing turnovers, and they exacerbate this problem by being way too handsy when guarding when they know Big East officials are unreliable. Castle has been a godsend on defense, but the Huskies are going to have to be creative and play forms of zone or similar defenses when the competition amps up without Clinigan. Hurley’s teams have consistently improved on defense over a season, and I reluctantly believe that will be the case again.

@@Observations on Huskies Pair of Wins Against Butler: Struggling Players Get Going, Sanago Stays Dominant and UConn Shows Versatility

With UConn having back-to-back games against Butler last Tuesday and Thursday (the result of the December game against the Bulldogs being cancelled and then rescheduled due to the Huskies Covid-19 issues), it had a great opportunity to get two comfortable wins against a weaker opponent. UConn had been unable to do so before last week against mid or high-major conference teams, with most of its wins instead being nail-biters. While the wins were very different, the Huskies succeeded in their task and extended their winning streak to three games. The games also showed UConn’s versatility and their ability to win in multiple ways.

UConn defeated Butler 76-59 Tuesday night before winning 75-56 at Hinkle Fieldhouse two days later. It improved to 13-4 overall and 4-2 in the Big East with the wins, while the Bulldogs fell to 9-9 and 2-4 in conference play. Both wins were the team’s biggest since a rout of Grambling State in early December. As of Sunday night, the Huskies were ranked 18^th on KenPom, and moved up to No. 20 in the AP Poll on Monday. Tuesday’s win was also the first time they have held a team under 60 points since December 4^th.

In Tuesday’s win at the XL Center, UConn quickly demonstrated the talent disparity between it and Butler, leading nearly the entire game and never allowing the Bulldogs to go on a second-half run to get within striking distance. While the Huskies started slow offensively their defense was excellent from the get go, and they eventually caught fire in the final five minutes of the first half, establishing momentum that would last for a long time.

After the Bulldogs hit two free throws to cut the deficit to 25-16 with six minutes remaining in the first, UConn would flip the script with three consecutive 3-pointers (two by Andre Jackson and one by Tyler Polley), giving it a 17-point lead. Ultimately, the Huskies ended the half on a 14-8 run to take a 39-25 lead into the break, allowing just a single field goal in the process. This stretch was fueled by outstanding interior defense and ball movement, with the Huskies pushing the pace and consistently getting open shots. Jackson and Polley were the primary beneficiaries of these looks and took advantage.

After a poor first half, Adama Sanago came out of the locker room firing and made two baskets to open the second half and give UConn a 19-point lead. Butler made a spirited 13-4 run when the Huskies got cold from the outside, and a tough layup by Simas Lukosius cut their lead to 47-36 with 14:39 to play. This was the last sustained run the Bulldogs would go on until garbage time however, as R.J. Cole and company began to attack the paint for baskets and find one another for quality looks inside. UConn pushed their lead to 15 and eventually 20 at 65-45 on a 3-point play by Jackson with 4:49 to go before going on to win by 17. Its defense in the paint continued to be suffocating for much of the second half, ultimately finishing with 10 blocks, and Butler does not shoot well enough from outside or the midrange to make up the difference. In the final minutes the Huskies were finally able to get their young benchwarmers into the game, with freshman Samson Johnson and redshirt sophomore Richie Springs making baskets.

Cole was the standout offensive performer in the win, scoring 17 and shooting the most efficiently he had in a while (4-7 from the field and 8-9 at the line) while adding six rebounds and three assists. Four other players scored in double figures and Sanago had his third consecutive double-double with 13 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks). Jackson was everywhere with 12 points, 10 rebounds and three assists, Jordan Hawkins had his best game in a long time with 14 points on 5-9 shooting, and Polley scored 10 to round out the double-digit scorers. On defense, the Huskies bottled up Butler to the tune of 31% shooting and shut down their top scorers Bryce Golden and Bryce Niz, allowing the pair just 10 combined points on 3-16 shooting in 56 minutes. In addition to the four blocks by Sanago, Akok Akok had three and Isiah Whaley two. UConn outrebounded Butler 49-39.

After UConn had dictated tempo two nights prior, Butler did so in their home gym during the first half Thursday. It played a methodical and physical style, and it worked as the Huskies couldn’t score anywhere besides right at the basket and struggled with ball security, committing seven turnovers while shooting 28.6%. They went scoreless multiple times for long stretches, and the trio of Cole, Jackson and Tyrese Martin were defended very well and had poor shot selection, going on to shoot 2-15 in the first 20 minutes. It was Sanago and Whaley who carried the offense to their 24 first-half points, combining for 16 on 7-11 shooting to get UConn to get 24 points. Sanogo’s footwork around the basket was excellent and Whaley crashed the boards to earn multiple putbacks. Despite the lack of offensive firepower, the Huskies managed to trail just 28-24 at halftime due to their aggressive defense and poor shooting by Butler, who made 39.9% of their looks and committed seven turnovers.

As the second half started, UConn regained the lead roughly three minutes in and claimed it for good when Martin hit a jumper with 11:55 left to make it 40-38. The Huskies continued their outstanding defense in the first eight minutes and Martin, who had struggled offensively for a few games and during the first half, suddenly woke up and anchored an 11-0 run. Martin scored eight points in this run, including two 3-pointers, and was just warming up.

After going up by two, Martin and UConn began attacking the paint, sharing the ball efficiently and pushing the tempo, when possible, to establish a commanding lead. However, Butler refused to go quietly despite continuing to shoot poorly, instead doing their best to live at the free throw line. Jalen Gaffney and Martin scored consecutive baskets off Bulldogs turnovers to go up 10 with 6:16 to go, but they quickly answered with a three and free throws to cut the deficit to 57-52. The Huskies stayed calm and Cole, who did a strong job running the offense despite offensive struggles, found a wide-open Martin for a three with 3:;59 to go, and Polley solidified the win with a three on the next possession, again set up by Cole. In the final 4:18, UConn outscored an exhausted Butler 18-4, with eight curtesy of Martin.

Martin, who scored just two points in the first half, put up 25 in the second to finish with 27 on 7-11 in 15 and 11 points. Whaley grabbed 10 rebounds for a double-double, while Sanago just missed out on a double-double with nine and added three blocks. Jackson struggled mightily with his shot but still earned seven rebounds and five assists. Cole had a season-low four points on 2-8 shooting but ran the offensive effectively and committed just one turnover. The Huskies improved their perimeter defense on Thursday and held Butler to 4-19 from three and 38% from the field, and outrebounded the Bulldogs 39-25 after struggling on the boards early.

As discussed more, the two wins last week were very encouraging, no matter the level of competition. They continued to show how formidable UConn’s defense can be at its best, its depth, and that certain players can take over when necessary, among other signs. Beating Butler by nearly 20 points twice gives me the confidence that the Huskies will play well against low level Big East teams in Georgetown and DePaul this week, and be in good position to play well during the team’s tough early February schedule. Below, I look at the most encouraging observations from last week’s performances as well as important developments fans possibly saw in players and the performance of Dan Hurley.

Once Again, We Were Reminded That UConn Can Win in Multiple Ways When Needed

There were plenty of lessons for myself and other fans to learn and see from both wins over Butler. In the first win, I saw that UConn could be in control from start to finish against major conference opponents, which it had not done all season beforehand. At the same time, the Huskies demonstrated that their depth, though sometimes overstated, can come from less obvious sources at times. In addition to the strong games from Cole and Sanago, Jackson’s first career double-double, 3-4 shooting from long distance, three assists against one turnover and strong distance showed how dangerous he can be on both sides of the ball at times. As raw as Jackson is, the fact that he can already put together games like this shows how indispensable the sophomore is to UConn’s success. Combine all this with the 14-point game from Hawkins (more about him below) and 10 by Polley, and it was just too much for Butler to deal with. UConn’s ability to establish a comfortable lead quickly also allowed Hurley to distribute minutes more evenly and get his least experienced players into the game, both of which the team needed desperately.

There were even more lessons to take from the second win. First, it reminded fans that UConn can recover from lousy offensive performances in the first half if the defense can play at high-caliber level and just one or two players are able to keep the team in the game offensively. This is exactly what happened with Sanago and Whaley. In the second half, the Huskies reminded Butler that it has more players than just Sanago or Cole who can go off and take over a game. Martin’s performance was the best half any Husky has played offensively this season. I talk about him more below, but the shot-making ability and strength Martin showed against the Bulldog defenders is a reminder that he is a great compliment to Sanago and Cole.

This was the best job UConn has done in closing out a game this season by far considering it was only up by five with four minutes to go. It avoided the turnovers, defensive mistakes and poor offensive execution seen in the team’s close losses or overtime wins. The Huskies put their foot on the necks of an opponent and made it impossible to stop them. Hopefully, they will be able to build on that momentum in the next week. Finally, it was wonderful and surprising for me to see how decisively UConn was able to win with Cole making no impact as a scorer (although he still ran the offense well when not dealing with foul trouble). This was the first time Cole did not reach double figures in two months, and yet Martin stepped right into his role of offensive leader and Gaffney at point guard (more on him below) while the bigs still produced. I don’t know if the Huskies could survive Cole scoring so few points against a formidable opponent, but it was a great learning experience.

At the same time, the Butler wins was also evidence of things observers already know. UConn has a consistently strong defense that can be elite. The Huskies are one of the best rebounding teams in the country, especially on the offensive end. And of course, they do not give up on a game even after a tough stop or if they are not executing one on side of the ball. UConn consistently demonstrated all these skills in both games, and with their athleticism and strength Butler could not keep up for 40 minutes.

Martin and Whaley Have the Bounce-Back Games They Desperately Needed

When Martin returned from his wrist injury by scoring a combined 40 points against Providence and Marquette on 15-30 shooting, I was certain that he was close to being fully recovered and could reliably continue to be part of a dangerous trio with Sanago and Cole. But after UConn returned from their 17-day delay on the 8^th at Seton Hall, Martin was largely ineffective in the next three games, averaging just a combined nine points on 10-27 shooting and five rebounds while play a ton of minutes a game. I am not sure how much the layoff and or a case of Covid-19 and a lack of full practice hurt Martin, but it was clear starting with the Seton Hall game that Martin’s wrist was still bothering him and that it was affecting his shooting, especially close to the rim. At the same time, Martin didn’t seem to be showing the same energy and toughness on both sides of the ball against Seton Hall, St. John’s and the first game against Butler. Combine all this with Martin not rebounding at the same rate and occasionally struggling with turnovers (five against Seton Hall), and he had seemingly temporarily lost his status as the team’s third banana to Jackson.

I am not sure what adjustments Martin exactly made or what was said in the locker room to him before coming out in the second half, but he was aggressive from the opening tip and never let up. Martin used his agility and strength to bully the weaker Bulldogs inside and found ways to get open on the perimeter for threes, which were all right on the money. He used every opportunity to push the action and attacked unprepared defenders and found open teammates for good opportunities when appropriate. Martin seemed to realize that the UConn offense was stuck in the mud at halftime and needed him to take over the shot creator role Cole usually occupies with pleasure. Martin is so versatile that he can contribute well even when shooting poorly, but having a third player alongside Cole and Sanago who can carry the offense at times is a huge luxury.

For Whaley, he entered Thursday’s game determined to up his defensive play and contribute more on offense and the boards after being called out by Dan Hurley as someone who needed to step up and be more efficient and energetic. Whaley has had myriad health issues all season and was reportedly the player who took the longest to recover from Covid-19. Before Thursday, the super senior had scored just 10 points and six rebounds in three January games, albeit with eight blocks. Whaley showed fatigue on the court at times, part of why Hurley played him for just 10 minutes on Tuesday. Most worryingly, Whaley’s defense had visibly slipped, as he was getting beat one-on-one at the rim more and not providing help defense as efficiently. Add this all up, and “The Wrench” was missing.

It was clear before the game that Whaley knew he had to play better and he answered Hurley’s challenge Thursday. Along with Sanago he carried the offense in the first half as the guards struggling, crashing the glass and earning putbacks with a ferocity he had rarely demonstrated this season and stepping out for a pair of jumpers. Whaley ultimately finished with 12 points and had 10 rebounds, six offensive, for a double-double, his first of the season. This was also the first time Whaley pulled down multiple offensive rebounds since the loss to Providence. On defense, Whaley looked very quick and strong and consistently altered Butler’s passing and shooting at the rim, even if he was credited with only one block. With the confidence boost from his showing and a few days off, Whaley can hopefully keep up his mojo, especially on defense, for the rest of January before the schedule gets tougher. Let’s just pray for no injuries.

Another Awesome Week for Adama

A new week, another two signature performances from Adama. The sophomore has been money since returning as a starter against Seton Hall, and averaged 14 points and 12 rebounds against the Bulldogs along with a combined seven blocks. Sanago was smart about picking his spots in the two wins. In Tuesday’s home contest, he focused on crashing the boards and playing tight defense in the first half while struggling on offense and then got some easy looks at the rim in the second half courtesy of his teammates. In the second game, he was unstoppable around the rim in the first half before stepping back in the second as Martin took over, while playing good defense throughout. Sanago has a ton of energy in both games and got back on track at the free throw line on Thursday, making all five opportunities. He should continue to feast on opponents against Georgetown Tuesday night, as the Hoyas are very poor defensively in the frontcourt.

Hawkins and Gaffney Remind Fans of Thir Talents

Before last Tuesday, Hawkins had been in a prolonged shooting slump and was still struggling with ball security and on defense. These factors had all combined to lower his minutes significantly and Hawkins entered the night having not played more than 12 minutes since December 11^th against St. Bonaventure. In the four games since, he had scored just nine points on 3-14 shooting and 2-9 from 3-point land and one assist against five turnovers, including three versus Seton Hall in nine minutes. Hurley was pulling Hawkins at the first signs of ball-handling or defensive issues instead of preferably sticking with the freshman and setting up good opportunities for him to score, but Hawkins was also shooting himself in the foot by missing open shots and assignments and committing turnovers at the worst time. It was a no-one situation for Hawkins, Hurley and the team, one that Hawkins could only escape from.

And that he did. Hawkins scored 14 points in just 18 minutes, going 4-5 inside the arc and 3-4 at the free throw line. While the guard continued to struggle with his deep shot, going 1-4 from three, all of Hawkins looks were of high quality. Instead of settling for threes like he has demonstrated a tendency to do at times, Hawkins used his athleticism to attack the basket and get open mid-range and layup opportunities while also forcing contact. He showed better handle than normal and the ability to get himself open for teammates instead of standing around and watching. Hawkins also showed more defensive intensity than fans have been accustomed to, a trait that will earn him a lot of points in Hurley’s book.

Hawkins reverted back to his previous struggles in seven minutes on Thursday, missing both shots he took while picking up two fouls. However, if Hawkins can have two or three games in a row where he shoots and handles the ball effectively, particularly if he is making shots from behind the arc, I can see him experiencing the late freshman year development as the last star recruit the Huskies brought in, James Bouknight. He can start by learning from his mistakes and not getting down when he commits one, as all great players are able to do.

Gaffney did not put up a highly impressive line in Thursday’s away win, scoring six points and going 4-5 at the line, grabbing three rebounds and dishing two assists in 17 minutes. What stuck out to me however, was how he did this.

Gaffney appeared disengaged on offense recently, not scoring more than four points since December 11^th, and the 3-point shot that was such a big weapon last season had almost disappeared from his arsenal. With Gaffney at the paint instead of Cole, the offense had been looking very methodical and uncreative, and the junior himself seemed to always spend way too much time dribbling around instead of setting himself or teammates up for good scoring opportunities. Alongside the inefficient offense Gaffney had been playing uninspired defense and consistently beaten off the dribble by quality guards despite his height. After a long period where Dan Hurley continued to play Gaffney heavily despite fans’ protests, he began to call out Gaffney for his performance, urging him to step up as a primary ballhandler and secondary scorer, and reduce his minutes and instead give more ballhandling duties to Jackson. Hurley made it clear that it was on Gaffney to be more dynamic and efficient on both ends of the ball to become a primary member of the Gaffney again.

Against Butler, Gaffney finally did not shy away from the challenge of picking up minutes when Cole was struggling with shooting the ball. When running the offense, he clearly pushed the tempo more than normal and began running plays earlier in the clock then we’ve seen before. This helped Gaffney find the UConn bigs and Martin for quality looks right at the basket. Gaffney also seemed to avoid dribbling with his back turned more than normal, a tendency that I just hate to watch and makes it take longer for him to either find teammates or avoid defensive traps. With the ball in his hands, Gaffney attacked the basket more than he has in a long time and earned the most free throw attempts he has had since December 11^th, ultimately upping his percentage to a 78.3%. Finally, Gaffney demonstrated improved footwork on defense and helped teammates out effectively, earning a block and steal in the process.

I would really like Gaffney to get his 3-point shot going again even if he is used less as a scorer this season. If he can do this and then run the offense efficiently when needed wile playing improved defense, then there is no reason Gaffney can’t become a reliable backup guard again and put himself in position to take on a bigger role next season. We’ve all seen flashes of Gaffney’s talent. Now he just needs to demonstrate it more frequently.

Observations on win against Butler: UConn shows its depth, the defense steps up, and the Huskies get a decisive win

After two tough losses to St. John’s and Creighton, UConn was in serious need of a bounce-back win against a hot Butler squad at home Tuesday night. It came out strong from the opening tip and played efficiently on both sides of the ball, winning 63-51.

In the first half, the key to the Huskies (8-3, 5-3 Big East) success on the offensive end was the 3-pointer. After they took a 12-10 lead 8:53 into the game, the team hit six consecutive 3-pointers over roughly the next eight minutes, ultimately taking a 34-20 advantage. UConn would maintain a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game. During this run, the struggling Tyler Polley and Jalen Gaffney each hit two treys. The Huskies ultimately shot 6-9 from the outside in the half on their way to a 38-24 lead.

UConn was largely successful from behind the arc in the opening 20 minutes due to quality ball movement and players moving well without the ball. They were able to find open space and get set before shooting, which was a challenge in the losses. Polley especially benefited from teammates getting him the ball when open after constantly being defended tightly against St. John’s and Creighton. The Huskies , who started the game pushing the ball more than normal, also did an effective job of passing the ball into the post and setting screens to get open baskets at the rim in the first half, with Tyrese Martin and Isiah Whaley being the main beneficieres. UConn would shoot 62.1% in the half, with Martin and Polley leading the way with 9 and 8 points and the bench outscoring the Bulldogs (5-8, 4-6)) 14-7.

The Huskies defense, which had been inconsistent in the losses, was even better than the offense in the first half. It limited Butler to 29.6% and 1-11 on layups, and recorded both five steals and blocks. UConn did an excellent job of defending at the rim and providing help when necessary as well as avoiding fouls, and rarely allowed Bulldogs players quality open looks.

In the second half, the Huskies continued to play strong defense throughout even as they cooled off offensively. They were able to maintain a comfortable lead and squash any possible runs. After a few jumpers helped the Bulldogs go on a 8-2 run and cut UConn’s lead to 49-39 with just over nine minutes left, it put its foot down and went on an 11-2 spurt to take a 19-point lead with 5:54 remaining. Martin and R.J. Cole each made multiple impressive shots during the run. The Huskies defense continued to shut down the paint, and only Bryce Golden was able to shoot well from the perimeter for Butler.

UConn’s shooting percentage was both 50% from the field and 3-point line. Meanwhile, it allowed its fewest points of the season and limited the Bulldogs to 34.5% shooting and 7-21 from three. Golden shot 5-7 from three and scored 19, but his fellow starters scored 24 combined points on 11-38 shooting. The Huskies finished with nine blocks and six steals, and jumped up to 24th in KenPom’s defensive efficiency rankings.

Martin was outstanding from the field after struggling the previous two games, shooting 7-9 on his way to 20 pooints. The junior was able to make a wide array of shots, such as floaters and layups, which he has struggled to finish. Martin also again flashed his 3-point shooting ability, making 2-3. He has scored in double figures in five straight games. Cole handled and shot the ball well, scoring 11 on 4-7 shooting to go along with five assists. Polley and Sanogo each had eight points, and Whaley smacked seven blocks. UConn distributed 14 assists.

Tuesday night’s win was just the game UConn needed. The team played arguably its most well-rounded and consistent game of the season, and showed a ton of confidence against an opponent that is playing well. The win again showed that the Huskies are capable of beating anyone even with James Bouknight out. With the games that were originally scheduled to follow postponed (Villanova and St. John’s), UConn will get a lot of time to prepare for a tough matchup against Seton Hall on Feb. 6th, with Andre Jackson and Bouknight possibly playing.

Here are my five observations on the win against Butler:

The Huskies get impressive efforts across the board

Dan Hurley and UConn fans have stressed the importance of finding one or two primary scorers with Bouknight out. While that has not necessarily happened yet, most of the Huskies stepped up on at least one end against Butler. Martin had his best shooting game of the season and scored in double figures for the fifth consecutive game. Cole continued to play well on both ends of the floor and did not force shots while moving the ball well, and scored in double figures for the third straight game and recorded five assists for the fourth consecutive game. Gaffney built on his solid performance against Creighton, recording six points and three assists in 27 minutes. Pollley showed a better touch on 3-pointers and improved his rebounding. In the paint, Whaley had a monster defensive performance with his carrer-high seven assists, showing improved energy and his ability to guard all five positions. Finally, Sanogo (who again showed off good low-post moves) and Josh Carlton combined for 10 points and 12 rebounds in 30 minutes.

Without Bouknight, UConn has a very small margin of error, even against marginal opponents like the Bulldogs. Multiple players will have to step up on both ends of the floor until he comes back, and Tuesday’s win displayed how impressive the Huskies can be when they play as a team.

Martin steps up as a team leader

While Martin still needs to be a little more consistent on offense, he is continuing to establish himself as UConn’s top offensive player right now. Martin is averaging just under 16 points and six rebounds per game in the last five contests amd shooting roughly 48% from the field. On the season, Martin is now averaging 11.9 and 7.2 rebounds on the season while shooting 47.8%.

Tuesday was the guard’s best shooting game of the season (7-9) and stands with the first DePaul game as his best offensive performance. Martin demonstrated that he is capable of finishing at the rim when concentrating, and that he can finish tough floaters over defenders and stretch the floor by hitting dribble pull-up 3-pointers. Martin’s defining play came in the final seconds of the first haf when he did a cross-over and hit a floater over defender Jair Bolden as time expired. Few players do not have the smarts and shot-making ability to make that play, and UConn is lucky Martin has that gift. He is already defining himself as one of the best transfers the Huskies have ever had.

UConn returns to playing high-quality defense

Against Creighton and especially St. John’s, the defense had disappointing efforts. The Red Storm shot 49% and the Bluejays 51% overall, and Creighton shot 18-27 on 2-pointers. Both squads also killed the Huskies in the second half, scoring over 40 points. The defense especially struggled to stop these squads at the rim and on screens, constantly allowing open layups.

UConn’s defense was much better in all aspects of the game against Butler. Both the man-to-man defense and especially the help D was excellent, with players revolving over to help teammates stop drives and constantly contest shots. Sanogo continued to show improved defense, and Whaley, who was called out by Hurley to play with more energy, met his coach’s demands. He continued to display his ability to guard all five positions on his way to the seven blocks, as well as his remarkable ability to hedge. Whalley is now averaging 2.8 blocks per game, and is a prime contendor for Big East Defensive Player of the Year. The Huskies reminded opponents that they can shot down any and all opponents and star scorers.

Cole and Gaffney played well as a tandem at point guard

While Cole has consistently improved in recent games, Gaffney was struggling mightily and losing minutes. That’s why it was so rewarding to see both play efficiently. Cole (29 minutes) and Gaffney (27) combined for 17 points on 6-18 shooting and eight assists against four turnovers. Each handled the ball well and consistently found open teammates, and avoided taking reckless shots. They each also pushed the tempo more than in recent contests, putting the Bulldogs on their heels. It was especially rewarding to see Gaffney play efficiently, and if he continue to play smart while being more agressive, he can take pressure off Brendan Adams and help UConn be a more complete team.

UConn makes sure to keep the pressure on

Over the last few years, the Huskies have made a habit of allowing teams to get back into games after taking comfortable leads, and losing some of these contests as a result. Even more than in the AAC, this is a huge handicap when facing the heavy competition the Big East offers. That was why it was so rewarding to see UConn take a double-digit lead and then maintain it throughout, while quickly responding to any run by the Bulldogs. It was a good example of maturity and confidence, and hopefully it will continue when UConn gets similar leads against toughter competition this season.