Dan Hurley – HUSKY NATION

Reviewing UConn’s Team Stats Heading into Final Conference Games

This season has been a dream so far for the UConn program. The 25-3 Huskies have arguably been better than last year’s champions, and certainly a better regular season team. This was demonstrated by them clinching at least a share of the Big East regular season title yesterday, and their ability to win it outright with a win today over Seton Hall. Why I could write thousands of words about the strengths of the team and their performances in particular wins, and will do so the remainder of the season , I thought it would be more interesting to list a series of team stats and metrics that demonstrate UConn’s dominance right now. I will print a similar article on individual players after the Seton Hall game today.Can’t wait to hopefully see the Huskies clinch the outright Big East title today on Senior Day!

Five. That’s the number of players on UConn who are averaging double digits, aka the entire starting lineup. I believe they are the only team in the country whose entire starting lineup is scoring in double digits. Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer are each averaging 15.2 points, Alex Karaban 13.9 (even after a big shooting slump), Donovan Clinigan 12.3 points in just 21 minutes a game, and Stephon Castle 10.9. Hassan Diarra and Samson Johnson are also scoring more than 5 points a game in less than 20 minutes per game.
No matter which way you slice it, the Huskies metrics all point to them as one of the top three teams in the country alongside Purdue and Houston. On Ken Pomeroy’s website, UConn is scoring 125.4 points per 100 possessions (PPP), while allowing 95.6, which is 18^th in the country. In Big East play, the team’s PPP numbers are 120.3 and 99.8, which both rank first in the Big East. On Bartovik, they rank 4^th and 15^th on offense and defense for the full season, and first and fourth on those ends in conference play. On both Bartovik and KenPom, the Huskies are ranked third in the country, just beyond Purdue.
EvanMya.com is the one projection site that rates UConn as the No. 1 team in the country as of March 2^nd. The team’s relative ranking, which is based on how it would perform again similarly ranked teams, based on the team’s efficiency ratings and opponent and pace adjustment. UConn’s relative ranking of 28.5 is 0.3 ahead of Purdue. Their 17.7 offensive rate, which relies on PPP against similarly ranked teams, is third in the nation, while their 10.7 defensive rate is ninth.
KenPom, which is the easiest metrics site to comprehend, has extensive stats for UConn’s play on both offense and defense. The team’s effective field goal percentage, which is a measurement of the 2 and 3-pointers it makes added up (one point is given for 2-pointers and 1.5 for 3-pointers) and divided by the number of field goals attempted and multiplied by 100, is 56.9% for the season, eighth in the country. The Huskies shoot 58.9% on 2-pointers, also fourth in the country, and 36% on 3-pointers, which is 62^nd. UConn rebounds 37.2% of their missed shots, which ranks 10th, and assists on 61.5 % of their made field goals, ranking 11^th. The Huskies are also above average on offense in their turnover percentage, free throw percentage, and the percentage of shots they have blocked. In Big East play, UConn leads the league in offensive rebounding percentage, 3-point percentage and assists/field goals made at 34.6, 37.5&, and 62.4%, respectively. The team is also to three in the league for effective field goal%, 2-point%, block%, and the percentage of free throw attempts they make compared to field goal attempts (32.9% ).
UConn’s defensive metrics on KenPom are also outstanding. They have held opponents to an effective field goal percentage of 45.1% and 44% on 2-pointers, which ranks fifth and ninth in the country. Its block percentage of 142% is 17^th. It has held opponents to 31.6% on 3-pointers, which is 57^th. The Huskies are ranked in the top 100 in the percent of offensive rebounds allowed, assists on field goals, and the percentage of 3-pointers opponents take to their overall field goals attempted. In the Big East, they are first in effective field goal percentage (45% ) and the percent of 3-pointers made (31.6%). Dan Hurley’s team is in the top three in 2-point percentage allowed, offensive rebounding percentage, block percentage, assists to field goal percentage, and the percentage of free throw attempts opponents make compared to field goal attempts.
UConn has beaten 18 teams by double-digits and 13 by at least 20 points. At the same time, Dan Hurley has done a much better job of winning close games this season. The Huskies have won seven games by single digits, and three by five or fewer points.
UConn is undefeated in neutral site and home games and 7-3 in away or semi-away games.
The Huskies are 9-3 in Quad 1 games and undefeated in games played in the three lower quadrants. These nine Quad 1 wins are one of the highest numbers for any team in America. They will have two more chances to pick up Quad 1 wins against Marquette and Providence on the road to end the regular season.
UConn is the top-ranked team on Bartovik since February 1^st. Much of this is due to their improved defense since Donovan Clinigan re-entered the starting lineup after returning from injury.

The Unforgettable Experience of UConn vs. Creighton

When I entered Gampel Pavilion Wednesday night to see UConn take on Creighton, I admit that I was apprehensive about the top-ranked Huskies ability to defeat the experienced Blue Jays, even at home. They have a strong offense that scores very effectively around the rim and can regularly knock down 3-pointers and is one of the best defensive teams in the country in many categories. Meanwhile, UConn was very inconsistent on offense in the preceding few games, struggled badly on the boards, and was not sure what it would get from Donavon Clinigan in his first game back from injury. Finally, Creighton had been the Huskies kryptonite since they rejoined the Big East, winning every game but one. I expected a close game in which UConn needed to limit Creighton in the paint and execute well on offense to win.

Instead, I saw UConn win comfortably 62-48 against one of the Big East’s top programs. The Huskies played absolutely suffocating defense, dominated the boards, and made clutch shots when needed in front of a rowdy crowd. The game, which was obviously a sellout, was one of the most memorable regular season wins for UConn in a long time. It was a joy and privilege to watch in person.

Instead of writing my traditional detailed observations about one or multiple games, I have decided to cover the Creighton win. Instead, I am going to list and do a short discussion of what I enjoyed the most about UConn’s performance up close. I hope you enjoy it!

Being able to see Donavon Clinigan in his first game back from injury was a lot of fun. In 16 minutes, Clinigan was running the floor maybe the best he has had all season and was in better shape. Clinigan was excellent on defense, blocking two shots and denying Creighton the ability to take the ball to the rim and find star center Ryan Kalkbrenner. While Clinigan was rusty shooting the ball, going just 3-8 from the field for 6 points, he snatched five rebounds and recorded 2 assists. Finally, Clinigan fueled multiple runs and brought a ton of energy when out on the floor, including a memorable sing-along to Taylor Swift. If this was what the big fella looked like in his first game back, I could see him dominating opponents soon.
UConn’s defensive performance was remarkable, especially when observing it up close. The unit never allowed Creighton’s players to get comfortable. The Huskies constantly pressured ball-handlers and rarely allowed the Blue Jays to run effective offensive sets. Their players were forced into taking difficult shots inside the arc or kicking it out for 3-pointers, with Creighton shooting just 6-26(23.1%) from there. UConn’s ability to fluster their ball-handlers led to 14 turnovers. Somehow, the Huskies limited the Blue Jays to 6 foul shots despite their aggressive defense. The 48 points were the fewest an opponent has scored in more than two seasons.
In addition to Clinigan, Stephen Castle and Hasson Diarra were especially great to see in person on defense. Castle, who covered multiple players but was on point guard Trey Alexander the most, hounded everyone he guarded and refused to let ball-handlers get downhill. The freshman forced a lot of poor shots and although he had only one steal, Castle was partially responsible for multiple turnovers. He is on another level defensively than most freshman. Diarra has always been an excellent defender and was all over the place in his 17 minutes on the floor. I also commend Samson Johnson for his defensive effort, as he was able to defend multiple players by hard hedging while still defending well. Hopefully the win will give Johnson, who had 4 points, 3 rebounds and a block, more confidence as a defender.
After a few games without Clinigan in which UConn struggled badly to rebound, it was dominant on that end throughout the game, kicking Creighton’s ass on that end 48-32. The Huskies were more physical and athletic than the Blue Jays players up front and did an excellent job blocking out and reacting to where the ball is coming off the rim. Six Huskies had at least 6 rebounds, led by Tristen Newton’s 8. By grabbing 21 offensive rebounds, UConn was able to offset its lousy shooting to some extent and control the clock better. The team won’t rebound this well every game, but having Clinigan back to handle center with Johnson will allow players to play their regular positions and make it easier to rebound.
UConn’s offensive performance was ugly. They shot roughly 35%, had only 13 assists and pretty much stopped scoring in the last six minutes of the game. Creighton was mostly able to keep the Huskies from attacking the rim or scoring in the paint effectively when playing half-court offense, and missed a lot of open midrange jumpers and 3-pointers. When they needed a player to step up and make a basket or create offense they turned to Newton, just as they’ve done all season. He hit tough jumpers, especially in the first half to give the team early momentum. The senior also was the only Husky that could consistently make threes, hitting two of four and having a third waved off due to a foul. Newton scored 16 points and was more efficient than either Alex Karaban or Cam Spencer, who each finished with 13. He may have not have gotten off to the best start in Big East play, but Newton has been one of the top players in the country this year, and the Huskies will go as far as Newton can lead them.
The crowd was outstanding all night against Creighton. Their energy and enthusiasm gave the UConn players a ton of energy and propelled runs, and the fans also helped to rattle Creighton. Everyone was loud and celebratory, and the students were very engaged. UConn gets good crowd support wherever they played, but the Gampel experience is a lot more fun because of the intimate setting and students leading the way for the rest of the crowd.

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.

UConn Needs to Adjust to Life Without Donavon Clinigan

After a thrilling opening 11 games to the season, UConn’s final two games before the winter break were a nightmare at times. The defending champions faceplanted in their opening Big East conference game at Seton Hall last Wednesday, looking mostly lost on both ends in a 75-60 loss, the largest the program experienced since 2020. As embarrassing as the showing was on the court, what was worse was the loss of Donovan Clinigan. The sophomore center has dealt with injury and conditioning issues all season, and a fall early in the second half resulted in Clinigan injuring a tendon in his right foot, which will keep him out at least 3-4 weeks. It’s what all fans were dreading, and came just as Clinigan finally seemed to be rounding into form on offense the previous few games.

While the Huskies pulled out a gritty4-point win against St. John’s on Saturday, the offense was again stilted and the outside shooting was mostly nonexistent, especially when the Red Storm played zone and pressured the ball heavily. If Samson Johnson hadn’t stepped up so well in his first game at center, there’s a very good chance UConn would have been upset again at home.

The Huskies have a lot of question marks right now, most of which they have been able to work on during the 9-day holiday break between games. What adjustments can they make on defense to stop getting beat off the dribble and burned for layups, and to protect Johnson and Karaban in general on defense with Clinigan out of commission. How can the offense be more efficient in the halfcourt and play quicker, especially against teams that can switch throughout the lineup and deny good 3-point attempts? Finally, how can the Huskies change their identity where needed in January, including relying more on the bench and improving Stephen Castle? Dan Hurley and his assistants are very smart guys, and I feel like they will be able to get the team to continue playing well without Clinigan and then go on a run when he returns. The Big East is very deep however, and the struggles against Seton Hall and St. John’s were scarily similar to the losses the team had in last year’s January swoon.

Below, I talk a little bit about where I think UConn played well and poorly as a team the last two games, performances of a few players, adjustments the team can make on both ends, and the overall impact of Clinigan being injured and its ramifications.

The Defense Shows a Lot of Deficiencies

Throughout the season, there have been clear signs that UConn is not at the same level defensively as last year. The departure of Andre Jackson and Cam Spencer’s underwhelming defense has made the team weaker at shooting guard/small forward, and Alex Karaban still struggles to defend larger and more athletic forwards. While Castle is an excellent defender for a freshman and Solo Ball is decent on defense if undisciplined, UConn will be starting three players without Clinigan that are less athletic than their counterparts on Big East team. Finally, Johnson is super athletic and can defend the rim, but is a poor rebounder relative to his size and prone to fouling and mental errors.

Without Clinigan at the rim to protect other defenders and clean up their mistakes, UConn looked very vulnerable against Seton Hall’s athletic guards, particularly Kadary Richmond. Too much of the time, he and his backcourt mates beat UConn’s guards off the dribble and glided to the rim for a layup or forced fouls. The Huskies were unable to force turnovers or a lot of poor shots and allowed 14 offensive rebounds to the Pirates. Finally, Johnson had a horrible game, earning just two points and rebounds in 21 minutes. And most frustrating, Hurley seemed unwilling to try any forms of zones or ramp up the trapping and pressure to throw Seton Hall off and hopefully force some turnovers.

While UConn was better defensively against St. John’s, it’s guards were still able to get to the rim too easily for layups or free throw opportunities, especially in the first half. While UConn did a good job of not letting star center Joel Soriano get the ball constantly, he still was outstanding when he was in position to score and pushed around Karban and even Johnson at times. Soriano was 4-5 from the field and 6-7 at the charity stripe for 13 points. The Red Storm got to the line 28 times in all, making 21 of those shots, as those games turned into a slugfest.

Hurley and his team are going to have to make a lot of adjustments on defense while Clinigan is out. They need to come up with ways to neutralize athletic guards and not make it so easy for conference opponents to beat them one-on-one on drives, even if their guards and forwards are naturally more athletic than UConn’s and Karaban. This could mean a lot of things, including emphasizing more help defense, playing zone or similar defensive styles when necessarily, or generally focusing on guarding the perimeter less (for example, the Huskies were defending Seton Hall at the top of the key constantly even when the Pirates aren’t a team that relies on scoring from deep). The team as a whole needs try and be more disciplined and play without fouling in the whistle-heavy Big East, with this being especially true of Karaban and Johnson while UConn is shorthanded. I believe that the coaches are capable of getting the defense to improve through tweaks, but UConn needs to be as pragmatic as possible and willing to try more things on that end of the ball.

The Offense Needs to Regain its Identity

UConn’s offense was one of the best in the country by all metrics in nonconference play. They were extremely efficient and found ways to score against every opponent (barring Kansas) even when perimeter shots weren’t falling. This has changed since Clinigan’s injury against Seton Hall. The Huskies, who are already more inconsistent on 3-pointers than expected in the nonconference, shot just 23.1% (9-39) from deep against Seton Hall and St. John’s. In the half-court, both opponents and especially the Pirates were able to switch and get under screens effectively or play zone and make it tough for UConn to get into its sets quickly and consistently get high-quality shots. Considering the athletic limitations UConn’s experienced guards and Karaban have as referred to before, being forced to play in this style puts more pressure on them to carry the team and get to the rim effectively. And when the Huskies are struggling from deep, it means the team cannot space the floor to counterattack zones. Seton Hall and St. John’s also pressured UConn defenders more than a lot of over times and it was very effective for the Pirates, whom forced a season worse 17 turnovers by UConn.

Even with Seton Hall and St. John’s forcing UConn to play a different style of offense, UConn is not helped by neither all of its main players getting off track in the last two or three games. Karaban has gone back to bricking 3-pointers since the Arkansas-Pine Bluff win, presumably the after-effects of injuring his finger, and it seems to be affecting other areas of the sophomore’s game. While Newton scored a combined 31 points the past two games and came up big in the second half against St. John’s, he has been inefficient from the field and committed 6 turnovers against Seton Hall. Spencer has been highly efficient on offense all season, but he was lousy against Seton Hall and will have a lot of pressure on him from both ends with Clinigan out. While freshman Stephen Castle and Solomon Ball both have the athleticism and size that UConn’s other guards lac, Castle seems to still be getting comfortable after losing time and is playing undisciplined, and Ball is too passive and is struggling badly from deep. Finally, while Johnson’s performance against St. John’s was outstanding, it will take more than one game for me to trust that he can be consistently reliable. With Clinigan not playing, it ultimately affects the spacing of the offense and makes it harder to run plays and get guys strong shot opportunities. The Huskies will have to find a way to overcome that.

I believe that after seeing how anemic the offense looked at times the past two games , Dan Hurley and especially his staff (paging Luke Murray) will make the adjustments needed to get the Huskies playing a wider variety of offensive struggles, which would make the team more versatile for when Clinigan returns. For me, this would include UConn being more selective about taking 3-pointers, especially by certain players (discussed more below), relying more on the pick and roll game to get shots, taking a few more midrange shots, especially by certain players, and especially continuing to attack the basket, with Newton, Karaban, and Castle especially trying to get to the basket and either finishing shots or getting more free throw opportunities. If the Huskies can focus on diversifying their game and work on running successful plays against zones and increased ball pressure in practice, it will carry over to games.

Samson Johnson, Big Game Player

Even as he barely played in his first two years at UConn, we heard a ton from Hurley about Johnson’s athleticism and work ethic, and his potential to be one of the premier big men in program history. Early this season, he seemed to be an excellent complement to Clinigan as a backup center, offering a more dynamic (if also more limited) offensive game and solid rim protection at times. However, he began struggling after the win against New Hampshire with foul trouble and a lack of rebounding, and got less playing time as Clinigan began getting closer to full strength. After maybe his worst game of the season at Seton Hall, Johnson got his chance to prove himself as a starter against St. John’s and passed with flying colors.

Johnson was outstanding against the Red Storm as he went toe-to-toe with Soriano and outplayed him at times. Johnson had a few of his trademark dunks, including a memorable fastbreak one on which an obvious travel wasn’t called, and even took two quality floaters from roughly 10 feet out, making one. While Johnson needs to become a better rebounder, he grabbed three big offensive boards. As tough as it is to stop Soriano, Johnson still made a quality effort and had a block and steal. In a highly physical game with an imposing front court, Johnson looked right at home.

If Clinigan does not return until near the end of January when UConn’s schedule ramps up (which would be the January 17^th game against Creighton at the earliest), Johnson will have to show more diversity on offense and discipline on defense. Offensively, Johnson needs to not rely on just scoring on alley-oops and dunks, and instead develop better post movies. If Hurley is hopefully OK with it, Johnson can also can attempt more floaters and short jumpers. The junior showed decent form when he took those shots against the Red Storm, and Hurley has talked up Johnson’s shooting and ability to make 3-pointers in the past. If Johnson can demonstrate shooting ability, than it will open up more much-needed spacing as well. On defense, Johnson needs to get better at keeping his hands up against his man and not biting on fakes, only attempting to block shots when appropriate, and especially boxing out on missed shots. With how physical games are in Big East play and UConn’s lack of experienced frontcourt players, Johnson needs to be careful and not reach for the ball, resulting in touch fouls. I think that Hurley and the staff will be able to work a lot on defense with Johnson during the break and between games, and continue to make it tough for opponents to outscore the Huskies in the paint.

The Freshmen Ned to Make a Bigger Impact

As briefly discussed earlier, the Husky freshmen did not contribute enough the last few games and have arguably made a lesser impact to this point than one would have expected coming into the season. Solomon Ball hit one key three against St. John’s but otherwise took just one shot in 14 minutes (although he had 2 steals), and missed all four shots he took against Seton Hall, with his 6 points coming on free throws. Overall, Ball seems to have lost a lot of the momentum he had coming out of his 12-point performance against North Carolina. After forward Jaylin Stewart scored a season high 7 points against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, he played just four combined minutes in the past two games despite Karaban’s struggles defensively. Jayden Ross and Apostolos Romoglou have been MIA both the last three games and pretty much all season. Only center Yousouff Singare has made a big impression lately of this trio, as he played 6 minutes and made his first career basket against St. John’s after subbing in for Johnson. And of course, there’s Stephen Castle.

Castle had a strong start at UConn in the team’s first two games, but after missing six games due to injury he’s been an enigma, even as Castle’s playing time has slowly ramped up. Castle is disciplined defensively for a freshman and can use his size and strength to pressure ball-handlers and drivers closely. However, Castle has overall shot under 40% the last three games and has demonstrated a tendency to rush or force shots, which resulted in multiple blocks for the Red Storm. Castle also has not shown a good outside shot throughout the season, mostly scoring off drives and layups. Castle’s defense, passing and rebounding already make him a valuable combo guard even without scoring a ton of points, and versatile for a freshman. But he still hasn’t put together a full game yet against a good team or played under control offensively since returning.

With Clinigan not available, Hurley must quickly figure out what roles his freshman can be most successful in. From my observations, this would mean challenging Castle to use his size and athleticism to go to the rim more and beat defenders for baskets or create plays for teammates. Hurley needs to also emphasize to Castle that he needs to play more under control and not challenge certain bigs one-on-one, where he can just get blocked. For Ball, Hurley needs to try and get him to be more aggressive and not rely on taking 3-pointers so much, as he has the tendency to force them. Finally, Hurley needs to get Jaylin Stewart and possibly Jayden Ross more involved. The ‘6-7’ Stewart has shown flashes of good play on both ends when he’s gotten on the court, and will more importantly be able to spell Karaban, who arguably plays too many minutes and experiences foul trouble against certain teams. While Ross has barely played this season, he may be able to be a 3-point threat off the bench based on his AAU/high school experience and what Hurley said in the postseason. While I can’t imagine Hurley expects Singare to contribute on offense considering he was a project and almost redshirted, he will hopefully be decent on the boards and on defense when Johnson is resting. Hopefully, the long break between games and a relatively easy upcoming schedule will allow the freshman to play more and prove themselves on the

UConn Punctuates Nonconference Schedule With Road Win at Gonzaga

Another UConn basketball nonconference season is done, and it was again a dominate start for the Huskies. A year after going 11-0 in nonconference play, the program is 10-1 after a 76-63 win over Gonzaga in Seattle Friday night. UConn, which is ranked No. 5 in the AP poll that came out Monday, relied on its balanced and intricate offense and intense defense in the paint to get out to a decisive lead in the first half and hold the Bulldogs at bay throughout, even as the game turned into a slog in the second half. While the win wasn’t the most visually pleasant experience, it showed the Huskies could win a grind-it-out game in (basically) a road environment.

The offense was outstanding to start the game. They easily got the ball to Donavon Clinigan to start the game, and he bullied the Gonzaga big men to score 8 easy points in the first four minutes. UConn was also outstanding from the perimeter in the first half, shooting 7-9 from the 3-point line. Cam spencer got frequent open looks off the Huskies ball movement and made three treys, and Tristen Newton added a pair of threes. However, UConn could not open a large lead against the Bulldogs for most of the half. Old friend Ryan Nembhard, who transferred from Creighton, and Anton Watson gave UConn fits, and it was a five-point game with under three minutes remaining. Nembhard was especially able to beat the Husky guards off the dribble for layups and open jumpers, scoring 13 points in the half.

UConn ended the first half on an 8-2 run to go into the locker room up 8-2 , setting up a similarly strong start after the break. Spencer and Solomon ball each hit a 3-pointer in the run, with Newton and Stephen Castle picking up assists.

The Huskies began the second half on a 7-2 run thanks to five quick points from Clinigan, and eventually pushed their lead to 18. They led 61-44 with 11 minutes to go. UConn’s defense was excellent in this opening portion of the half, with Clinigan and Samson Johnson shutting down Gonzaga in the paint and Castle and his fellow guards hounding Nembhard and not allowing him to get open or facilitate.

The Bulldogs finally got going from this point, showing the game down and ending dreams of a blowout. Their increased ball pressure led to a handful of layups and free throws, and the Huskies perimeter attack dried up (they were 0-8 from deep in the second half). With just over four minutes left, Gonzaga cut the deficit to 10 on two Nolan Hickman free throws. UConn responded with an alley-oop to Clinigan and a fastbreak layup by Hassan Diarra to cement the 13-point victory.

Clinigan was the star of the night, finishing with 21 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks. Spencer scored 15 and had 3 steals. Karaban added 11 points and Diarra was outstanding in 19 minutes, finishing with 9 points and 4 rebounds. UConn shot 63% in the first half, and was still comfortably over 50% for the game, and had 16 assists. Gonzaga shot 39% and committed 11 turnovers. While Nembhard and Watson scored 35 points, no other Bulldog had more than 8.

UConn is absolutely one of the top two or three teams in America right now. While the Big East schedule is a different animal, they have all the skills and mental toughness to continue to be dominant going forward. Below, I discuss a few of the most satisfying takeaways from the Gonzaga win, as well as a few nitpicks.

Donavon Clinigan Silences the Haters

During Clinigan’s inconsistent start to the season, a lot of people have been jumping on him. How long will it take for his foot to recover and get back in full shape after injury issues stretching back to the preseason? How limited is Clinigan’s offensive game, and can he play 25-30 minutes every game? Is he that much better than Samson Johnson? The chatter was becoming deafening, and it wasn’t really far to Clinigan.

The Bristol native answered every question against Gonzaga. After a week’s break between games, he was moving quicker and getting more lift off the floor, and it was reflected in Clinigan’s stats. He established great post position against their offense and was highly efficient, shooting 8-11 and making a few tough baskets. Clinigan was great at the free throw line for the first time all season-making 5-7 to reach 21 points. He did a great job of rebounding, grabbing four offensive boards and finishing with eight, and continued to do an excellent job of finding open teammates for baskets. Clinigan’s defense has been strong all season, and it was no different against the Bulldogs. He shut down their leading scorer Graham Ike, limiting him to just 5 points, and altered many shots. Finally, Clinigan seemed to have no issues with his stamina and played 27 minutes.

It was just one game, but it was important to see Clinigan have a strong offseason season against a premier team before Big East play. He will benefit from the rest provided by the lighter December schedule due to the holidays. If Clinigan can avoid further injury and continue to play himself into shape, he has the ability to be both one of the best players in the Big East and big men in the country, especially offensively. I am rooting hard for him.

Come on Down, Hassan Diarra

Diarra has been a pleasant surprise throughout this season, showing much more offensive efficiency than his first year at UConn to go along with the same defensive intensity. The win on Friday was arguably his best performance of the season, and the best of any player not named Clinigan. Diarra’s 9 points were his second highest of the season, and he was 3-4 from both the field and line. He was strong on both the boards and in handling the ball. Finally, Diarra’s in-your-face defense helped UConn shut down Nembhard and slow down Watson in the second half.

Diarra’s game, however, was defined by the number of big plays he made in the second half on both ends. First, he helped end Gonzaga’s first run of the half by blocking a shot and then stealing the ball with just under eight minutes remaining. This was followed by consecutive baskets by Karaban that extinguished their momentum. Diarra had another block roughly a minute later, and quickly followed with a putback basket. Finally, Diarra had the aforementioned fastbreak layup after the Bulldogs cut it to 10 to help seal the win.

Diarra is clearly one of UConn’s leaders and the heart and soul of the team. I expect him to be more up-and-down during the rigors of Big East play, but his defense and outstanding defense makes Diara a perfect backup guard for the Huskies.

UConn Takes Control of Games and Doesn’t Let Them Go

In all the wins UConn had had against strong teams so far, they have generally been given a lot of competition in first halves and had to endure runs in second halves. And yet, the team has been able to grab solid leads going into halftime and then maintain them the rest of the game. Even as teams like North Carolina and Gonzaga went on runs late in the game to try and rattle the Huskies, they have made a couple of clutch plays to ice things. Dan Hurley and his team will not continue winning every game by double digits, but that toughness and confidence should sustain thaste team going forward.

Stephen Castle Continues to Make an Impact in Limited Minutes

The heralded freshman, who is still on a minute’s restriction, again contributed against the Bulldogs in 19 minutes despite not shooting very effectively. Castle shot 3-9 to finish with 6 points, but his excellent passing led to 3 assists. Meanwhile, his defense flustered the Gonzaga guards and made it extremely hard for them to get easy shots. At the same time, he has looked completely confident on the floor and shown leadership when running the offense. As Castle’s restrictions get loosened and he can play freely, I believe he will have a breakout game in the next week or two. He should be a star.

UConn Will Need to Defend Opponents Better off the Dribble in the Big East

Clinigan is an elite interior defender, and Johnson frequently is as well when he can avoid foul trouble. However, Spencer has been a poor defender so far, Newton is good but not great, and Karaban can be bullied by bigger and more athletic opponents. While Solomon Ball has shown promise, he is inconsistent on defense like most freshman. The Huskies were burned by RJ Davis and Nembhard at different points this month, and they will face similarly skilled guards in most conference games. It cannot become a pattern, as it was for much of January and February last season. The guards need to be able to help teammates without giving up open shots to their own man. Dan Hurley will have to find a way to get his team more effective on defense going forward, or the team will not reach its ceiling.

UConn Shows Full Recovery in Week With Signature Win

In my last article for this site, I expressed frustration after UConn’s loss at Kansas and said the team would have to address essential issues to defeat North Carolina and ultimately end its nonconference schedule with momentum. Immediately the Husky players shut me up and then some. They were impressive in a double-digit win against UNC and for a majority of Saturday’s blowout of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. UConn is now 9-1 and remains in the top five of the national polls, and can earn a final signature win in Seattle against Gonzaga on Friday night.

UConn was impressive in their 87-76 win against North Carolina, particularly offensively, and led nearly the entire game. After struggling at times against Kansas’s switch-heavy defense a few days before, the Huskies burned the Tar Heels defense consistently on switches for layups and open perimeter shots. They averaged 1.23 points per possession and made nearly 69% of their 2-pointers. Cam Spencer and Alex Karaban, who were hobbled against Kansas and had poor performances, bounced back and scored a combined 41 points while shooting 16-31 (I discuss the importance of the pair’s performances last week more below). Tristen Newton had a typically well-rounded performance, recording 14 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, and freshman Solomon Ball had a breakout performance, scoring 13 and draining three 3-pointers. Ultimately, UConn had 25 assists against just 8 turnovers.

North Carolina scored effectively against the defense, with R.J. Davis (26 points) and Harrison Ingram (20) burning Husky defenders consistently in the first half and early in the second. The defense struggled to help and close out on the perimeter at times, but the Huskies upped their pressure and intensity as the game wore on. After the Tar Heels cut the deficit to 65-60 with 11 minutes remaining, UConn went on a 18-6 run. During this stretch, the defense consistently forced UNC into tough shots and forced multiple turnovers and blocks. Newton, Diarra, and Clinigan and Johnson played strong defense up top and in the paint to shut UNC down, and Stephen Castle played excellent D in his first game back from energy.

While UConn slept walk through the first few minutes of Saturday’s game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, the offense woke up in a big way. With 3:54 left in the first half, the Huskies led the Golden Eagles just 31-29. After that point, they outscored Arkansas-Pine Bluff 70-34. After his 3-point shot had deserted him for a few games, Karaban had much better touch, draining six threes and finishing with a career-high 26 points and 7 assists. Newton had 16 points and 6 assists, and Spencer hit five treys and earned 4 assists. Clinigan was very effective on both ends, putting up 11 and 7 and blocking three shots in just 21 minutes. Finally, Castle looked very good in his second game back, scoring 7 points and recording 4 blocks and rebounds. UConn shot 56% and went 13-28 from deep, and got to the free throw line 31 times, making 22. It had 21 assists and outrebounded the Golden Eagles 42-28. On defense, the Huskies blocked nine shots and stole the ball five times. They held Arkansas-Pine Bluff to 35.6% shooting overall and 31% inside the arc.

UConn is now 9-1, and these two wins solidified its place as one of the best teams in the country and at the top of the Big East pecking order, along with Creighton and Marquette. Defeating Gonzaga in Seattle Friday will further demonstrate to observers that UConn can win against elite nonconference opponents in hostile environments. Below, I further discuss my thoughts on the UNC and Arkansas-Pine Bluff wins and the positives and negatives I drew from them.

Karaban and Spencer Come Back to Life

Against Kansas, it looked like injuries were heavily limiting Karaban and Spencer on both ends. Karaban’s shot was ineffective against the Jayhawks due to a finger injury, as he was just 2-7 from behind the arc. Meanwhile, Spencer had hurt toes on both of his feet, making it difficult for him to get good lift on his shots and move effectively on both ends. Spencer scored just 6 points while shooting 2-12, and both he and Karaban struggled to keep up on the defensive end. Prior to the North Carolina game, both men were a game time decision, and it was thought they would have minutes restriction. Because of this, it was easy to understand the skepticism myself and others shared about UConn being able to beat UNC at less than full strength.

Among the pair, Spencer was the first one to break out offensively against the Tar Heels. The senior scored 16 of his 23 points in the first half of the win, getting on the board via a series of layups, free throws, and 3-pointers. Spencer did not look stiff or slow in any shape or form. Rather, he showed off his ability to find open shots from anywhere on the floor, while still creating scoring opportunities for others. Against Kansas, Spencer had looked frustrated and angry at himself throughout. Against North Carolina, he played with that same intensity but instead fed off of it and showed their players he wouldn’t back down, even earning a technical after a little too much trash talking. While a lot of players had solid games against UNC, Spencer, who also earned 7 rebounds and 6 assists, was their MVP. After again playing well against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, my worries about Spencer have subsided.

Karaban found ways to contribute against UNC around the basket and by moving the ball. He ultimately shot 6-8 inside the arc (mostly on cuts to the basket and on putbacks) to finish with 18 points, and had 9 rebounds and 5 assists. As discussed somewhat earlier however, the win against Arkansas-Pine Bluff was the first time Karaban’s shot has looked 100 percent for a while. Karaban was 6-9 from deep and did an excellent job of moving without the ball and off screens to get open 3-point attempts in the corner. He was also successful again at getting to the rim for baskets and rebounded and passed the ball well, finishing with 3 assists. Finally, while the competition wasn’t high level, Karaban was strong on the defensive end against the Golden Eagles. It will be important to see if Karaban can keep his offense going against another strong defense in Gonzaga. What Karaban needs to remember is to not fall into a pattern of just taking3-pointers against the Bulldogs if his outside shots aren’t falling, and to be aggressive going to the basket when appropriate to create plays for himself and others.

Freshman Continue to Contribute the More They Play

After difficulty acclimating to the speed of the college game or just finding minutes at all in such a talented rotation, Ball and fellow frosh Jaylin Stewart made a big case for themselves against UNC and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. With Castle making valuable contributions in both wins in limited movements, it seems like UConn and Dan Hurley is getting closer to deciding that Castle, Ball and Stewart will get the large majority of minutes played among the freshman, barring more injury.

Ball averaged 11 points between the two wins, shooting 7-15 overall and 4-11 from deep. The shooting guard is showing a strong ability to finish around the rim using his athleticism and has demonstrated a nice touch on floaters. While Ball’s shooting from deep is inconsistent and he has a tendency to rush 3-pointers, I’ll give him praise for not being afraid of the big shot and forcing defenders to challenge him beyond the arc. Ball certainly came up big against North Carolina from there, making a trio of 3-pointers that gave UConn momentum at essential times. He also has done a good job of handling the ball well and playing with high energy on both ends during his starting stint with Castle injured and then on minute restrictions. Hopefully, Ball’s improvement during this stretch increased his confidence and will allow him to make an immediate impact off the bench when Castle moves back to the starting guard spot in the next game or two.

Prior to the game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Jaylin Stewart had played intermittently this season. Against the Golden Eagles however, the forward was aggressive on the offensive end and rewarded with a season-high 15 minutes. Stewart scored 7 points, making all three of his 2-pointers, and had 2 rebounds and an assist. Stewart also got to the line for three shots, though he only made one. He demonstrated the ability to beat defenders off the dribble and shoot over them, as well as strong athleticism. Stewart will have to keep his defensive effort up and shoot better at the charity stripe to consistently get more playing time, but I believe that he can be a solid member of the rotation by the second half of the season.

While I can’t imagine being worried about Castle’s ability to contribute either way, he demonstrated that he could make an impact in multiple ways in limited minutes against the Tar Heels and Golden Eagles. The acclaimed freshman had 3 points, 4 rebounds, and both an assist and steal in just 11 minutes against UNC, and then put up 7 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in 18 minutes in the second win. It’s clear that Castle can beat defenders in the paint and create offense even when not fully healthy. His strength and reflexes allowed him to rebound well in the wins, and his passing was solid. What was most impressive against the two teams was Castle’s defense. His ability and length can allow him to hassle defenders and create turnovers. As long as he gets fully healthy, I expect Castle to start having a few breakout games in the next few weeks and show why he is one of the best freshmen in the country.

UConn’s Ball Movement and Rebounding is Elite

The Huskies ability to share the ball and get assists, which helps create the team’s depth, and it’s rebounding were big areas of strength last year, and have remained so throughout this nonconference schedule. UConn is running an intricate offense that is great at confusing defenses and finding players for high-percentage shots. Through 10 games, the Huskies percentage of assists on made field goals is 60.8%, which ranks 29^th in the country. They recorded 24 assists on 35 field goals against North Carolina, and 33 assists on 69 field goals against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. UConn’s passing is a thing of beauty, and it has helped lead to the balance the team has throughout its lineup. Four players (Newton, Spencer, Karaban and Clinigan) are averaging double figures, led by Newton’s 17 points per game. Castle is just under that at 9.8 points in less than 20 minutes of play.

Rebounding, especially on the offensive end, has been a huge emphasis of all of Hurley’s teams, and it unsurprisingly a huge strength again this season. UConn has consistently outrebounded its opponents, usually significantly so, and is grabbing roughly 42 per game. It is grabbing 38.9% of its offensive rebounds, which ranks seventh in the country. The biggest difference this season is that the Huskies guards are some of its best rebounders, with Newton grabbing 7.2 per game.

UConn Needs to Improve Significantly at Guarding Teams From Deep

The Huskies still have a very strong defense despite losing important talent and athleticism from last year’s roster. Opponents are making just 47% of their 2-point shots, which ranks sixth in the country, and the team is blocking a bunch of shots again. However, their opponents have been getting hot on 3-pointers, making 37% .4% of them, which is one of the highest percentages allowed by any team. While that mark may be a little inflated due to a few opponents shooting significantly better than their normal rates beyond the arc, the UConn players have consistently allowed guys to get free for wide-open 3-pointers, and been burned as a result. There could be a few reasons for this, including miscommunication by defenders, poor decision making, and the Huskies deliberately leaving a lesser perimeter shooter open to guard the paint. I know Hurley puts an emphasis on guarding the rim, but if opponents can stay in games by getting hot from three UConn will be susceptible to upsets, especially in March. Hurley has been emphasizing the need for the team to stop allowing so many 3-pointers, and hopefully they will have made changes to defending from there in practice during this long break that will pay off in games.

Donavon Clinigan Still a Question Mark

Even with the injury issues to his foot and having to play his way back into shape because of a lack of live practice in the preseason, Clinigan has still been an excellent defender. He is constantly altering or blocking shots and limiting opposing big men’s freedom of movement. The sophomore slowed down Bacot against North Carolina and shut down the Arkansas-Pine Bluff bigs, and no opposing center has been completely successful against Clinigan so far this season. On offense however, it is clear Clinigan is more limited than expected. His ability to finish around the rim is inconsistent, partially due to a lack of lift caused by the foot injury. This is also holding Clinigan back from showing the same explosiveness he had as a rookie. In addition, Clinigan’s foul shooting has still not improved, as he is making just over half of his shots there. I am holding out hope that the Bristol native will start living up to preseason expectations in a month or so. The current version of Clinigan, however, is holding back UConn from reaching its full potential as a team.

There’s No Such Thing as a Good Loss

To all UConn fans, I say don’t believe what you here. While the team showed a lot of toughness coming back and almost winning in a hostile environment in Friday’s 69-65 loss at Kansas, there is ultimately no such thing as a “good loss”. UConn did not play well against the Jayhawks, with no player having a strong all-around game besides Tristen Newton. In fact, if it wasn’t for an amazing performance by Newton, the team would have been blown out. The Huskies did a putrid job with penetrating the defense and creating easy scoring opportunities for much of the game, looked significantly less athletic than Kansas, and continued to have defensive lapses that ultimately allowed the Jayhawks to go on a decisive rally to end the game. Throw in a lousy performance at the free throw line (8-15) and Cam Stewart injuring both his toes and having it badly affect his shooting performance, and it was all too much for UConn to overcome. While this issues may have been for just one game, they are definitely ones that could affect the team’s performances against North Carolina and Gonzaga.

The Huskies are in a very vulnerable position heading into their game with the Tar Heels at MSG Tuesday night. With Spencer hobbled (the pain in his feet clearly affected his shooting accuracy against Kansas), Donovan Clinigan still dealing with a foot that continues to hurt him and affect his athleticism, and Alex Karaban ‘s injured finger possibly affecting his shooting accuracy as well, it isn’t an ideal time for the team to be facing such tough back-to-back opponents. Dan Hurley even admitted on Monday that Spencer, Clinigan and Karaban have been limited in practice, and that it is not a guarantee that Spencer will play. While Stephen Castle is likely to return against UNC, I am sure he will be on a minutes restriction. Considering that North Carolina has an elite offense that likes to push the ball, you have to hope that one or two of those aforementioned guys as well as Castle can keep up on both ends and be effective. Otherwise, there is a very good chance the Huskies will lose. It would help if Hurley was willing to play any freshman besides Solomon Ball if those players are struggling, even if he is reluctant to. The group did not play one minute against Kansas.

Below, I provide a brief analysis of the areas UConn struggled in against Kansas, and the possible steps they can take to get back on track against UNC. I still believe that the Huskies can be an elite team and beat anyone at their best. Now, it’s time to prove it against the Tar Heels and then Gonzaga.

UConn’s Offense Was Ineffective Against Kansas

There are ugly offenses, and then there was the Huskies offense against Kansas. While the team was ultimately able to get to 65 points and average 1.08 points per possession, those numbers do not tell the whole story. UConn started very cold, allowing Kansas to get out to a 16-5 start, and it remained very inconsistent from there. While a lot of the struggles can be attributed to the Jayhawks suffocating defense and the intensity of the crowd, the Huskies still could have done a lot of things better. Players did not try hard enough to move the ball on the perimeter or help Newton and Spencer by coming to the ball. UConn rarely pushed the ball off rebounds, and took to long to get into offensive sets, leading to low-percentage shots. While players were forced to take a lot of challenging perimeter shots because of Kansas’s ability to pressure the ball, they were still able to get enough open shots that everyone besides Newton should have been a little more effective from beyond the arc. The remainder of the roster shot 5-19 from three, with Karaban and Spencer combining to go 3-14. As tough as it may have been, the Huskies should have tried to attack the basket more and get more opportunities for offensive rebounds and free throws. Only three players reached the line. Finally, UConn had Clinigan setting too many screens instead of focusing on him playing in the low post. The sophomore took just seven 2-pointers and was unable to get enough easy shots, ultimately going just 3-7. UConn should have an easier time scoring against North Carolina. The Tar Heels have allowed every power conference team to score 70 points, struggle at defending the 3-point line and foul frequently.

The Defense Was Poor at the Worst Times

Like its overpowering defense, the Kansas offense was surprisingly efficient, especially at the beginning and end of the game. The Jayhawks jumped out to a 16-5 lead, making everything, and leaving the UConn players gob smacked. While they cooled off somewhat from there, they still went into halftime shooting over 50%. After shooting hot and cold for much of the second half, allowing the Huskies to briefly take the lead, Kansas seized it back by going on an 11-0 run starting with 6:53 remaining that featured three consecutive treys by Kevin McCullar, a subpar 3-point shooter, and Hunter Dickinson. McCullar hit one more backbreaking three to seal the game as UConn furiously tried to come back. Kansas, which had been inconsistent offensively against the best teams on its schedule and does not have great depth and shooters, definitely played its A game offensively at times. Shooting 9-14 from three is an obscene percentage, for instance. Still, the Huskies could have done a lot more to try and slow down Kansas.

My biggest frustration with the defense was that it just didn’t throw in enough wrinkles to try and slow down Kansas. Hurley didn’t have his players ramp up the ball pressure significantly and did not try and trap the Jayhawks until the final two minutes of the game. With the Huskies struggling so much to get good shots and allowing regular fastbreak opportunities off their poor shots, trying to play a defense that could hopefully lead to turnovers and easy baskets would have been a godsend. UConn also never played zone defense when Kansas was hot, and the one time it experimented on D by playing Clinigan and Sampon Johnson together, it blew up in the team’s faces, as the Jayhawks picked the moment to go on the 11-0 run that sealed their win.

While the Huskies decision to focus on guarding the paint instead of the 3-point line made sense at the beginning of the game because Kansas does not take many treys and the defense wanted to slow down Hunter Dickenson, UConn should have began playing the perimeter tighter earlier in the game. Even when they began doing so, players were consistently late on closing out. The defense had a habit of losing guys they were assigned to guard, leading to open jumpers, and were beaten off the dribble way too frequently, especially in the first half. The injury to Spencer did not help, as he is not particularly athletic or a good-on-ball defender even at full strength.

However, Karaban was by far the worst defender. He was abused off the dribble by the bigger and stronger KJ Adams, who finished with 18 points and was probably Kansas’s best all-around player. Once again, Karaban showed that he can be burned defensively by bigger guys, and his inability to keep his hands up while guarding ultimately led to Karaban fouling out. The one player I will give kudos for his defense is Clinigan, who did a great job of denying Dickinson the ball and altering his shots, holding the All-American to 3-8 shooting in the paint while blocking three shots. Hopefully, Hurley came up with some wrinkles to slow down North Carolina in practice while still protecting his hobbled players.

The Injuries Held Back UConn on Both Ends, and Stephen Castle is not Going to be an Immediate Solution

UConn was blessed to not have any long-term injury issues outside of the loss of Johnson, who would have played very little anyway. Maybe the gods are cursing them for their good fortune right now, as the current starting lineup looks like a MASH unit. The most concerning injury is to Spencer. As we saw against Kansas, his injured toes were a big factor in the senior’s 3-pointers constantly being short, affected his ability to play defense and drive to the basket, and even hindered his free throw shooting, as Spencer missed his first two attempts of the season. Spencer is a gamer and I expect him to play at least a little bit against North Carolina, but if his shots aren’t falling and his mobility is limited, I can’t expect Spencer to give UConn much on Tuesday.

While Clinigan has done a valiant job of playing through a foot injury that his still not fully healed, it is still limiting his athleticism and ability to grab rebounds and finish around the rim. Clinigan will again have to face an elite big man Tuesday in UNC’s Armando Bacot, and hopefully UConn’s guards will do a better job of getting him quality shots in the paint. Karban’s hurt finger is seemingly hurting his shot more than expected, as he has been terrible from beyond the arc in the last three games, including 2-7 against Kansas. Hopefully, it will recover quickly and Karaban will be smart by trying to score more at the rim and on free throws instead of 3-pointers. Finally, while I have high expectations for Castle and am glad his knee healed quickly, I don’t expect him to play a ton against North Carolina or to even be highly effective, at least as reflected in the box score. Castle has not yet faced a high-quality opponent, and it is going to take him a little while to get adjusted and get back up to game speed. Hopefully, all these injuries won’t be long term. In the meantime however, UConn will demonstrate their mettle if they can overcome them to beat North Carolina and then Gonzaga.

Extend the Rotation, Coach

This is more of a general issue I have with Hurley than just being focused on the Kansas game. I am never going to understand his reluctance to play most freshman extended minutes, even when it makes sense. UConn had one of the best recruiting classes in the country. With Spencer hobbling around, Karaban struggling on both ends and Solomon Ball mostly invisible against the Jayhawks, why didn’t he bring in Jaylin Stewart and possibly Jayden Ross, even if it had only been for three or four minutes at most. There wasn’t anything to lose, and Stewart has shown promise so far this season and Ross is a quality 3-point shooter. Yes, the freshman might not have been able to handle the intense environment of Allen Fieldhouse. But you don’t know until you try, and Stewart possibly could have made an impact at all against North Carolina and possibly Gonzaga, and will be unprepared for the rigors of conference play when it starts late this month. Hurley has to be willing to give a little rope, especially when the situation calls for it, and the Husky freshman deserve the opportunity to prove themselves. This is not a particularly deep team. Give the freshman consistent minutes as the season goes along, or Hurley may have most of them transfer.

Despite how frustrated I was after the Kansas loss, I believe UConn will beat North Carolina Tuesday. They match up with the Tar Heels better, and I cannot imagine the team will perform so poorly offensively outside of Newton for the second consecutive game. No matter what though, it will be a close game, and the Huskies still must prove they can win those. UConn has a lot of talent on both ends and is an elite offensive team and solid defensive one. It definitely lacks the depth or defensive ability last year’s squad had right now however and is not as good as that group was at this time last year. Against UNC, the Huskies have the chance to prove me wrong.

UConn Huskies Season Preview: The Returnees

After UConn’s unforgettable run to the program’s fifth national championship last season, the program’s offseason and the Huskies athletic department didn’t have a fun offseason. The team lost heated recruiting battles to Duke for blue chip recruits Cooper Flagg and Patrick Ngonbga, and UConn athletics just missed out on being accepted to the Big 12 starting in 2024. These setbacks somewhat obscured all the talent men’s basketball is returning from last year. This is before you even consider an incoming freshman class that could be the best the Huskies has had in more than a decade, which will be discussed in a later post. UConn is sixth in the AP preseason Top 25 poll and has a serious chance at winning consecutive national championships.

After the departure of Adama Sanogo, Jordan Hawkins and Andre Jackson, UConn will rely on the versatile trio of Tristen Newton, Donavon Clinigan and Alex Karaban. After playing a sidekick role in his first year in Storrs last season, Newton is expected to take on a much bigger role both offensively and as a team leader this year. The fifth-year senior guard is looking to be a much bigger offensive threat, similar to his role at East Carolina before transferring, while continuing to be one of the Huskies main facilitators. Newton averaged 10.1 points, 4.7 assists and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 36.6% from three last year. Newton is specifically looking to improve his overall shooting and ball handling, work ethic and defense this season. Dan Hurley was pleased with Newton’s performance in the preseason and during UConn’s games in Europe and scrimmages. At the same time, Newton will need to be a strong leader for the team both vocally and through both his work ethic.

Clinigan made a huge impression in limited minutes as a freshman backup center last season. The 7-3 monster from Bristol averaged 6.9 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks in just 15 minutes. He had a true shooting percentage of 63.4 and grabbed 29.4% of offensive rebounds and blocked 14.4% of shots. Clinigan, who showed much more athleticism than expected last year and was elite as a rim-runner, is seen as a lottery pick next spring by NBA scouts and has the potential to be one of the best big men in not only the Big East but the entire country. To do so, Clinigan will have to continue to be an elite rebounder and shot blocker while expanding his finishing ability at the rim and displaying a decent shooting touch outside the paint. If Clinigan does all this, the attention paid to him should provide quality scoring opportunities for his teammates.

It is also essential that Clinigan improve from the line so that opponents don’t employ the hack-a-Shaq method against him and get better at avoiding foul trouble. Ideally, Clinigan will average around 25 minutes per game. In the summer and preseason, Clinigan worked on improving his core strength and foot speed as well as shooting and was extremely effective in practice and game situations. Clinigan also worked on becoming a more vocal leader and being even more aggressive on offense. As long as Clinigan stays healthy and continues to improve, all of UConn’s opponents will struggle to contain him and the sky will be the limit for the fan favorite.

While Newton and Clinigan are a ton of fun to watch, my favorite player on the Huskies continues to be Alex Karaban. The sophomore forward was a virtual Swiss Army Knife as a freshman, averaging 9.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists while shooting 47.6% from the field and 40.2% from deep. Karaban’s 125.9 KenPom offensive rating in Big East play was third in the conference, while his effective field goal percentage of 57.5% was seventh. Karaban showed remarkable basketball IQ and versatility on offense from the moment he stepped in Storrs. In addition to his shooting ability, he was a consistently a strong passer and rebounder and did an excellent job of screening for teammates to provide easy scoring opportunities. Karaban improved significantly as a defender over the course of the year and particularly at guarding at the rim. He also showed impressive stamina, regularly playing for over 30 minutes. Finally, Karaban displayed a clutch gene quickly, with 3-pointers at the end of the first half becoming a signature play for him.

Karaban was praised for his work ethic and leadership skills by Hurley and others last season, both traits that made him stand out compared to most freshman. Karaban is applying that work ethic to becoming a more aggressive player on both ends this season as well as a more vocal leader. On offense, Karaban will try to attack the basket more and average double-digit in points. On defense, the team hopes he will stop players off the bounce more effectively and be even better at defending opponents at the rim. Karban had a strong preseason and is fully capable of being one of the best players in the Big East and the team’s best player overall. If Karban does so, he will put himself in position to be an NBA draft pick this season or next.

Outside of UConn’s Big Three, the bench will rely on senior transfer guard Cam Spencer, backup junior transfer guard Cam Spencer, junior backup center Samson Johnson and backup senior point guard Hassan Diarra. Spencer will likely be the only one of the three that starts at least early in the season. The transfer from Rutgers averaged 13.2 points, 3.1 assists and 2 steals in his one season with the Scarlet Knights after transferring from Loyola of Maryland. He is expected to replace the 3-point shooting skills of Jordan Hawkins and Joey Calcaterra, while adding another strong ball handler and defender to UConn’s backcourt. Spencer shot 43.4% from deep last season, good for 44^th in the country, and ranked eighth in the Big Ten at 42.7%. He made 89.4% of his free throws, 23^rd in the country. During his college career, Spencer has shot 40.5 percent from deep, and 50.8% on field goals overall. Spencer was an excellent defender for the Scarlet Knights, recording a steal percentage of 3.9 overall and 3.4 in conference, ranking third. Spencer decided to transfer to UConn because of the opportunity to play against talented guards in the Big East and the competitiveness of the Husky players, and especially Hurley. Spencer has been praised by the team for his versatility and ability to open up the offense.

Johnson may not be a starter like the Big Three (barring injury), but he is every bit as essential to UConn. The “6-10” junior center is an enigma, as he has played just 15 career minutes in 25 games due to injuries and ineffectiveness. Now, Johnson will be thrown into the fire as the backup to Clinigan. He was a four-star recruit out of New Jersey who grew up in Togo and was described by Hurley as having the talent and potential to be an NBA lottery pick. Johnson, who has a ‘7-5’ wingspan, has shown a lot of athleticism and speed when he’s played, and could be an effective shot blocker. However, he has looked uncertain on the court at times in games and has been prone to foul trouble. In the preseason and especially in the Huskies scrimmages, reports indicated Johnson was one of the top performers. In addition to his athleticism and speed, Hurley said Johnson is an excellent ball-screen offensive and defensive player because of his effectiveness in the lob game and ability to disrupt other big men. If Johnson lives up to expectations, he can play for15-20 minutes a game and combine with Clinigan to form a similar dominant duo like he had with Sanogo last season.

Diarra will be UConn’s main backup point guard. The ‘6-2’ senior from Queens had an up-and-down first season in Storrs, establishing himself as a high-energy defensive stopper but struggling offensively in a conference distinguished by hard-nosed defensive guards. Diarra had a stealing percentage of 3.6 last season and steven games with multiple steals. However, he averaged just 2.1 points and 1.8 assists while playing 12.1 minutes per game. Diarra shot just 30.1% overall and 18.9% from three after making 32.4% from deep as a sophomore at Texas A&M. He also was terrible from the free throw line for a guard after being solid as a sophomore, draining just 51.4 of his free throws. These offensive struggles outweighed Diarra’s value as a defender and ball handler come tournament time. In UConn’s run to the championship, he scored no points in 31 minutes.

Diarra will have the opportunity to get valuable minutes at guard as Stephen Castle acclimates to the challenges of playing at an elite program. He already is an excellent defender and will be an important leader to the young Husky guards. All reports have indicated that his shooting was improved across the board in the preseason. If Diarra can improve offensively, especially at finishing at the rim and developing a reliable jump shot, he will consistently be the first gusard off the bench and possibly push Castle for the starting job at point for at least the first portion of the season.

Sophomore Apostolos Romoglou is the one other scholarship player returning. Romoglou, the 6’8’ hybrid guard who appeared in 20 games last season playing garbage-time minutes and made two shots, has been praised for his shooting in practice and appeared to have solid ball-handling skills last season. However, don’t expect him to play any serious minutes unless he improves as a team defender.

UConn’s upperclassmen are very capable of taking UConn to a Big East title and on another Final Four run with the help of the freshman class. They have all the tools, from an elite big man and a pair of guards who are well-rounded and skilled ballhandlers and passers to the incomparable Karaban. They and a solid group of backups have good leadership abilities and a great coach to help them improve. If Castle lives up to his potential, then the Huskies will have one of the best starting five in the country. I expect everyone discussed in this article to improve and UConn to be a top 10 team for a solid portion of the season. Buckle up, everyone!

One Unforgettable Moment

Six seasons ago, myself and UConn Nation were despondent and had no clue if UConn could become a premier program again. The Huskies were adrift in the American Athletic Conference, and head coach Kevin Ollie seemed constantly disengaged from players and unable to to coach them effectively on either side of the ball, despite leading them to a title in 2014. After UConn finished consecutive losing seasons, the administration found a way to escape Ollie’s costly long-term contract and fire him for cause, despite the violations discovered being dubious.

Athletic Director David Benedict eventually tapped URI’s Dan Hurley to be the Huskies next head coach. While Hurley had a good track level at the mid-major level (two wins in the NCAA tourney) and a reputation as an excellent player’s coach, there was no guarantee he could succeed in the demanding environment of Storrs.

Cut to last Monday night in Houston, with the confetti falling down and UConn players and coaches as well as others celebrating the program’s fifth national championship after defeating San Diego State to win the title. It was a sight that I thought may never happen again after UConn fell apart in the second half of Ollie’s tenure, and the celebration almost moved me to tears.

While Hurley’s two previous tourney teams in Storrs were talented and very likable, this season’s squad was on another level. It had great depth, size and athleticism, which showed itself in different ways on each side of the ball.

On defense, the length and strength of Adama Sanogo and Donovan Clinigan allowed UConn to shut down the paint against most opponents, and the Huskies perimeter defenders were bigger and more effective than last season’s unit thanks to the additions of Naheim Alleyne and Hassan Diarra and improvement of Jordan Hawkins. And of course, Andre Jackson is one of the country’s best defenders at his best.

Offensively, Sanogo anchored one of the best frontcourts in the country, and UConn’s perimeter shooting, ball-handling and passing was consistently strong and elite at times. Hawkins lived up to his promise as one of the best pure shooters the program has ever seen, and Jackson continued to improve as a facilitator, and eventually as a scorer despite a limited skill set. UConn was one of the best rebounding teams in the country all season on both ends of the floor, and ranked second in offensive rebounding percentage at the end of the season.

Last year’s squad could be frustrating to watch offensively due to a lack of shooting and spacing in the front court, where Sanogo and Isiah Whaley could clog the paint. That was never a problem with this championship squad. It could score from anywhere on the floor while bullying opponents in the paint, drive to the rim effectively, and shared the bell as well as any team. (UConn’s rate of assist on made field goals was eighth in the country). At their best, this group of Huskies were extremely fun to watch and played with a sense of joy and toughness that was missing to some extent on Hurley’s earlier squads. It made nearly every game a must-watch event, which was a forgotten experience for myself and others.

As great as it was to UConn at their best in the regular season, it was just as rewarding seeing how it overcame the struggles of January to become a more well-rounded team, one that was again playing like on of the best in the nation by the end of the regular season. After losing six of eight in January, multiple players switched up their approaches on the offensive end and made both themselves and the team better as a result. Sanogo, Jackson and Hawkins especially stood out in this regard.

Sanogo, who was being constantly double-teamed, attacked the basket more directly instead of playing a traditional post-up game, and cut to the rim more for easy baskets and passes. Jackson, who was being goaded into shooting from outside and struggling mightily, got his confidence back on both ends by playing more in the “dunker’s spot” at the rim, which allowed him to score and rebound easily as well as make spectacular plays for others. Finally, Hawkins attacked the basket more for layups and free throw opportunities, while also benefiting from the improved spacing the offense had in February and March. At the same time the offense improved, UConn’s team defense got much more disciplined and focused, as the Huskies cut down on the unnecessary fouls and poor help D they played in January. Hurley’s ability to teach his players how to make these adjustments and his improved composure in games helped the UConn players compete with more confidence in games, and handle adversity when it cropped up. By the time the Huskies got to the latter stages of the NCAA tournament, they were able to always control games, ensuring there was no such adversity.

While it was easy to see UConn being capable of going on a Final Four run and maybe even winning the championship, never would I have imagined that it would dominate NCAA tournament opponents to that extent. They won the six games by an average of 20 points, and each win was by at least 13 points, including the 76-59 beatdown of San Diego State to win the title. The offense easily averaged over a point per possession (PPP) in each game while scoring 70 or more points, and held each t0 65 or fewer points and 0.95 or fewer PPP. Sanogo was the best player in the tournament, averaging over 17 points and a double-double, Hawkins averaged over 16 points and shot 50% from deep, and Tristen Newton was UConn’s best player in the championship game, scoring 19 points and earning 10 rebounds and 4 assists. Add all the intangibles Jackson brings and great performances by the bench throughout the tournament, and the perfect mixture for a championship is there.

Obviously, basketball fans who weren’t overly familiar with UConn fell in love with them as the team made its run. The team’s athleticism, shot-making and toughness jumped off the chart in each game, and it made a bunch of outstanding opponents look helpless at times. The basketball IQ and enthusiasm for the game every Husky displayed in March Madness was off the charts, as well as Hurley and the player’s composure in tight moments and ability to shack off poor plays. I know if I was a neutral fan, I would enjoy jumping on the UConn bandwagon. As nervous before and at points during each game, I was in ecstasy by the end of each win.

Now that UConn has five titles in 25 (technically 24) seasons under three different head coaches, everyone is debating over whether they qualify as a blue blood. I have always thought that title is meaningless in the grand scheme of things, especially considering how hard it is to define. All I know is that UConn wins championships when it goes deep in the tournament, and it is arguably the best men’s basketball program of the last 30 years, and that Storrs is the college basketball Capitol of the World. All I know is that this was arguably the most complete team top to bottom of any of the Huskies championship teams this century, and certainly my favorite to watch. And finally, I know that this championship has redeemed by belief that UConn can be a consistently elite program. Thank you, Dan Hurley and the 2023 championship UConn Huskies.

UConn is on its Way to the Mountaintop After Reaching Final Four

When Dan Hurley took the UConn men’s coaching job five seasons ago, the program was stuck in the purgatory of the AAC and struggling to recruit quality players. Despite this, Hurley had grand ambitions and promised he could eventually make UConn a national power again. As difficult as it was to believe him at times, Hurley has made this goal a reality, culminating in a Final Four appearance in this year’s NCAA Tournament as a No. 4 seed. Last weekend, the Huskies steamrolled Arkansas and Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight to earn the program’s sixth appearance in the Final Four, and first since 2014.

After watching UConn’s 82-54 defeat of No. 2 Gonzaga on Saturday night, there were a ton of thoughts floating through my head along with unbridled joy, and there have only been more over the course of this week. I am just so happy for Hurley and his coaches, the Huskies players, and others surrounding the program. This is a special team, and they are playing at a level unmatched by any other team in the tournament. Right now, I feel that no team can beat UConn when it is playing at its best and am very confident it will win the national championship. Saturday night’s game against No. 5 Miami, which has a great offense, should be very exciting.

Instead of writing a summary of UConn’s West Regional wins against Arkansas and Gonzaga, I have decided to instead write seven observations I had while watching these games, focusing on individual players and the team as a whole, Dan Hurley, and the importance of making the Final Four to myself and UConn nation as a whole. I hope you enjoy it, and let’s go Huskies! I predict wins over Miami and San Diego State to earn a fifth national championship in 24 seasons.

Jordan Hawkins now has a killer instinct. Earlier in the season, Hawkins could be inconsistent against the best teams, especially if his outside shot wasn’t falling. In the tourney and especially the two West Regional games however, Hawkins has shown that he could rebound from cold spells and catch fire quickly offensively, while also finding other ways to contribute besides just shooting 3-pointers. For example, Hawkins was inconsistent from beyond the arc against the Razorbacks, shooting 3-9, but made up for it by going 3-4 inside it and making all his 9 free throws f 24 points, while also adding 3 assists. In the Elite Eight, Hawkins shot 6-10 from deep and scored 20, and also grabbed 6 rebounds. In addition to his overall offensive performance in March Madness, Hawkins has demonstrated his increased versatility and burgeoning leadership skills, with the sophomore being more vocal in the huddle. He has demonstrated to a national audience that he is one of the most skilled shooters in America, and this has helped Hawkins shoot up NBA draft boards. Even if Hawkins has an off shooting night against Miami, I am confident he will find other ways to contribute on both ends. And I wouldn’t count on him being quiet for a full 40 minutes.
While this year’s tourney has been a coming out party for Hawkins to fans who may not pay close attention to the Big East, it has also given Adama Sanogo an opportunity to remind people that he is one of the best big men in America. Sanogo was a monster in the first two rounds, averaging 26 points and 11.5 rebounds on nearly 70% shooting. Last weekend, the junior center averaged “only” 14 points and 9 rebounds on over 50% shooting. Sanogo demanded lots of attention against both Arkansas and Gonzaga. After scoring 18 in the first game, he took advantage of that attention against the Bulldogs, dishing out 6 assists to teammates who cut to the rim. It was a showcase for how much Sanogo has improved as a passer, and become a more versatile player overall on both ends. Sanogo is the rock for UConn, and he will provide a very tough challenge against the big men he will match up with against Miami and possibly in the championship game.
Andre Jackson is a joy to watch when is causing havoc on defense and making smart plays on offense, and he has done both throughout March Madness. After four games, Jackson is averaging just under 8 points per game on just under 50% shooting, 7 assists against just 2 turnovers, and 7 rebounds. Jackson has been excellent at cutting to the rim for easy buckets, led UConn on fastbreaks and found teammates, especially Hawkins and Sanogo, for easy buckets, and generally just been everywhere on the boards. On defense, Sanogo has provided great help and been able to defend a wide variety of players. He had 3 steals against Arkansas. The tournament has been a great opportunity for Jackson to show how he has improved since the beginning of February, and that he can do a little bit of everything for the Huskies. He will be a difference maker against Miami and be a huge factor in the team winning the title.
In nonconference play, UConn’s depth was one of the things that distinguished them as an elite team. For a good chunk of Big East play, the bench play was disappointing and helped cause the Huskies to sleep. In the final weeks of the regular season however, the bench players were much better and have carried that other to NCAA Tournament play. Naheim Alleyne, Donovan Clinigan, Joey Calcaterra and Hassan Diarra have each contributed in different ways, and it’s helped make the Huskies the best tourney team so far. Alleyne has been outstanding on defense as always, and has provided another reliable outside shooter and extra ball-handling. Alleyne is averaging just over 7 points in the four games, while shooting 6-11 from deep. Clinigan has been dominant on both ends in his limited minutes on both ends, guaranteeing UConn would see little drop-off when Sanogo is on the bench. Clinigan is averaging just under 7 points, over 5 rebounds and has blocked 9 shots, while making roughly 70% of these shots. This is all despite playing 52 minute in the entire tourney. The duo of he and Sanogo will almost definitely be too much for Miami to handle. Calcaterra is averaging 6 points per game and shooting 40% from deep. Finally, Diarra has played solid defense and been reliable off the bench as a point guard, averaging 2 assists. No opponent has been able to completely shut down the bench so far, and has a result it has allowed UConn to increase leads while getting much-needed rest for the starters. Let’s see if Miami can be the team that significantly limits the quartet’s offensive contributions.
While so far I have focused on individual players, UConn deserves praise as a group for being able to step on the throat of opponents during the second half of tournaments and end any hopes of a comeback for them, particularly in the West Regional. It absolutely blitzed Arkansas and Gonzaga in the final few minutes of the first half and especially in the second, outscoring the two by a combined total of 27 points. The Huskies did a great job of not letting up on offense and going on runs to put the game out of reach. They have tightened up their defense and improved their rebounding in the second half of all four games. We know that UConn doesn’t exactly have the best record in close games, so instead they are just taking control early and then executing the kill shot in second halves. If the team gets off to a decent lead in Saturday’s game in the first half, the Hurricanes will be in trouble.
Dan Hurley has been outstanding in this tournament. Against Arkansas, he did a great job coming up with a plan to stop their ball screens and force the Razorbacks to shoot from outside. Then against Gonzaga, he emphasized to players that they needed to get Drew Timme in foul trouble, and forced the rest of the roster to keep up with them offensively, which the Bulldog players failed to do to say the least. Hurley has done a strong job of using his subs on both ends to keep players fresh and confuse opponents, and made sure to emphasize that UConn use cuts to score more effectively around the basket and make it harder for opponents to limit Jackson. Finally, Hurley has been calm and collected on the bench, which has allowed his players to have the same demeanor as well. Hurley is maturing as a coach in all areas before our very eyes, and it bodes very well for UConn’s success going forward.
This has been a great ride for the fanbase in general. This is what we have been waiting for since UConn went back to the Big East, and the excitement among both hardcore and more casual fans is palpable. For the next couple of years, the program will likely be well-supported, and it’s possible they can have one of the most devoted fanbases in the country again. All credit to Dan Hurley and his players for getting in this position.