NCAA tournament – HUSKY NATION

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.

UConn Has a Lot of Positives to Take With Them Into the Sweet 16

As a natural pessimist, I wasn’t sure if UConn would live up to its No. 4 seeding in the NCAA Tournament. Would the team be able to play disciplined on both ends and put their best players in position for success? Would the Huskies be able to make effective adjustments and stay calm under pressure? The last two postseasons had left me scarred, but the players showed me on Friday and Sunday that there was no reason to be concerned.

Behind Adama Sanogo and Jordan Hawkins, UConn put together two outstanding second halves to earn comfortable wins over No. 13 Iona and No. 5 St. Mary’s and return to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2014. Despite trailing for much of the first half in both games (UConn was down 39-37 at halftime of the opener), the team maintained composure and Dan Hurley made smart adjustments, particularly with using the Huskies bench. This allowed UConn to wear down both teams in the second half and earn 24 and 15-point wins. The Huskies have won each nonconference game they’ve played by double digits.

With UConn’s excellent performance in the opening rounds and losses by other top seeds, the team is again seen as one of the favorites to go to the Final Four and win a national championship. It is in arguably the toughest region (West) and facing a Sweet 16 opponent better than its record in No. 8 Arkansas, but the Huskies look like they are capable of beating anyone right now.

Below, I go over the strengths UConn demonstrated in the opening two rounds, as well as areas they struggled and need to improve upon to possibly win the region.

Adama Sanogo is a Monster

Sanogo’s performance this season has been unappreciated throughout, with the junior center being replaced by Hawkins as the team’s “star”. He continued to be one of the best big men in the country, and reminded viewers all over of this with unforgettable performances against Iona and St. Mary’s. Sanogo put up 28 points and 13 rebounds on 13-17 shooting in the first round and 24 and 8 on 16 shots in the second win, with his KenPom offensive rating finishing over 124 in both.

His shooting efficiency and rebounding made Sanogo the first player since Blake Griffin in 2009 to shoot 70 percent or better from the field and average 25 points and 10 rebounds per game in the NCAA tournament. Sanogo also scored the third-most points all time for any UConn player in the opening two rounds, behind Richard Hamilton and Caron Butler’s 55.

Against both the Gaels teams, Sanogo’s footwork and strength allowed him to dominate defenders. He did an excellent job of positioning himself deep in the post to score easy baskets, and using shot fakes and hook shots to score over defenders. Sanogo’s improved outside shooting forced players to keep tabs on him outside the paint, therefore making it easier for him to get to the basket. Sanogo’s effort on the backboards was outstanding in both games (he had six offensive boards against Iona), and resulted in a few extra points with putbacks. Sanogo’s success was also a reflection on the offense as a whole, as his teammates did a great job of getting him the ball where he could easily score.

Sanogo’s efficiency on offense and solid defensive play gave his teammates a big lift and allowed the team to stay in both games despite slow starts and then pull away in the second half. He and Donovan Clinigan combined to wear down the opponents, and will again have the advantage against a smaller Arkansas frontcourt. It’s often said that a team will go only as far as its backcourt in March, but Sanogo is trying to remind people that a dominant big man can lead his team to a national championship.

UConn Again Demonstrates How its Depth Makes the Team Stand Out

During its 11-0 start in nonconference play, the team’s depth was maybe its most distinguishing characteristic. That depth was key to UConn winning the PK85 Tournament, and made it stand out in comparison to other teams at the top of the polls in November and December. While that depth remained a strength in the Big East schedule for the most part, UConn’s supporting cast and bench was much more inconsistent. However, they have improved in the last month and were outstanding throughout against Iona and St. Mar’s.

The Huskies got 26 bench points against Iona, with a majority coming in the first half as they struggled to establish a lead. Naheim Alleyne and Joey Calcaterra each knocked down two 3-pointers and scored a combined 14 points, with Alleyne also playing strong defense against the Gaels tough guards. Clinigan was an absolute beast with 12 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks in just 14 minutes, putting up his best stat line in arguably more than two months. Calcaterra and Alleyne’s perimeter scoring helped pick up the slack for Hawkins and Newton, who made just one basket in the game, while Clinigan did an outstanding job of defending the rim and finishing shots at in the paint. This meant that there was barely any drop-off when Sanogo was on the bench, and it exhausted Iona’s frontcourt. Andre Jackson also did yeomen’s work on both ends, putting up 10 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds to go with solid defense. With all the complimentary pieces clicking, UConn was bound to pull away from Iona once Hawkins finally began draining shots.

While UConn was much more reliant offensively on their starters against St. Mary’s, Clinigan and others still made big contributions. The freshman had 4 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks and even 2 assists in 11 minutes. Clinigan played exceptional defense and kept St. Mary’s from getting to the rim easily like they were in the opening minutes, and vacuumed up rebounds. Alleyne and Calcaterra each hit a 3-pointer and played solid defense, and they, Clinigan and Hassan Diarra were key to helping UConn bounce back from an initially poor start (it trailed 17-9 less than 10 minutes into the game). And while Newton and Sanogo mainly carried the offensive load until Hawkins started hitting threes, Jackson again did a little bit of everything and made some great plays for teammates, earning 7 assists to just one turnover.

As UConn goes on to face Arkansas and possibly other opponents, its depth should continue to be a big strength, particularly with Clinigan backing up Sanogo. It has guards that can provide strong defense and perimeter shooting off the bench, and Jackson’s versatility allows him to somewhat transcend stats. Now the Huskies just need to get Alex Karaban going offensively.

The Defense Locked in Over the Course of Both Games

UConn started both of last week’s games struggling on defense, especially against the guards of Iona and St. Mary’s. The players were beat off the dribble too much and failed to stop their man from getting downhill to the basket, and the help defense was lacking too frequently, especially in the round of 32. As the games went on however, UConn tightened up its man-to-man defense and covered the paint better, especially when Clinigan was on the floor. Combine this with solid perimeter defense and excellent work on the defensive boards, especially against St. Mary’s, and the Huskies had a recipe for success. In the end, Iona and St. Mary’s averaged just 0.95 and 0.86 points per possession. UConn’s ability to defend in the paint and help on pick and rolls will especially be tested against Arkansas, which makes it’s living offensively on attacking the basket and getting defenders in foul trouble.

Dan Hurley Shut up the Haters

While many people take it too far at times, the criticism Hurley has gotten over the past few seasons has been somewhat warranted, especially for UConn’s play in both the Big East and NCAA tournaments. Losing to double-digit seeds in March Madness in consecutive seasons was especially frustrating, and I still don’t understand what happened against New Mexico State. When the team lost to Marquette in the Big East semifinals, the pressure Hurley had on him entering last Friday must have felt suffocating.

Luckily, Hurley responded perfectly to the challenge. It’s clear he had UConn ready to play in both games and knew what advantages he wanted to exploit. Hurley recognized that Sanogo would be a handful for both opponents and made sure teammates got him the ball consistently, and wore down both opponents by exploiting the depth of UConn. He made sure to sub frequently and get the Huskies bench players scoring opportunities, and recognized that giving Clinigan extended minutes could demoralize the opponents. The team had great composure throughout both games even when they were trailing, and Hurley managed to keep Hawkins focused and prepared even when he was struggling to score. Hurley also made adjustments to the defense when necessary, such as having UConn press St. Mary’s to speed players up and throw their offensive flow off. While Arkansas will be a much tougher test and has an outstanding coach as well, I don’t UConn will loose due to a lack of preparation in any way.

Lessons UConn Must Learn From Marquette Loss

After UConn’s 70-68 loss to Marquette in the Big East semifinals last Friday, I had many reasons to be frustrated. The Huskies had lost another one-possession game for the second straight year in the semifinals, continuing a trait that has plagued the program for multiple seasons. The defense had stepped up midway in the second half after switching to zone, allowing UConn to rally from a 10-point deficit to tie the game at 60 with 9:26 remaining. However, this defense was negated by the offense going 3-13 from the field the remainder of the game, preventing the team from ever taking the lead.

After a layup from Adama Sanogo with a little less than three minutes remaining brought his team within two, the Huskies missed the final five shots of the game. Their shot selection during this stretch left a lot to be desired, as UConn focused on scoring from the perimeter instead of trying to get the ball to Adama Sanogo, who was being guarded by bigs in foul trouble, or at least playing inside-out. Joey Calcaterra missed two great looks from deep, and on the last play of the game Jordan Hawkins threw up a prayer after Dan Hurley elected to not call a timeout. Fittingly, Tristen Newton missed a wide-open Sanogo under the basket on the play.

Despite the frustrating loss, I am mostly at peace with the results. Yes, UConn has arguably more talent than anyone else in the Big East, including tournament winner Marquette. However, the team learned a lot of lessons from the game that can hopefully allow it to go on a tournament run.

First, I believe that the loss showed the Huskies that they need to be willing to get the ball inside more, whether for baskets in the paint or shots off of kick-outs and cutting to the rim. This is especially the case if the team is struggling heavily on 3-pointers, as it was in the second half. Despite Sanogo’s dominance inside (he scored 19 points), the junior center took just 11 shots and none in the final minutes as the guards failed to score. Donavon Clinigan was excellent as well with 7 points and 5 rebounds, but curiously played just 10 minutes. With UConn’s guards struggling and Karaban and Andre Jackson limited by fouls in the second half, Dan Hurley should have emphasized to get the ball in the paint and challenge the Marquette players who were in foul trouble (granted, he may have done so and the team just failed to execute). It’s hard to imagine Jackson and most UConn’s guards playing that badly on offense again versus No. 13 Iona Friday in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, but the team should be able to score effectively inside considering the size, efficiency, and rebounding of Sanogo and Clinigan.

Second, the loss demonstrated that UConn needs to compete hard on defense the entire 4o minutes. None of the guards played strong man-to-man against Marquette and seemed to be unfocused particularly due to their offensive struggles. Jackson’s foul trouble also caused the Huskies defense to be much less dynamic, and Sanogo’s help defense was atrocious, allowing the Golden Eagle guards to score very effectively at the rim. Combine this with Marquette’s success from beyond the arc, and it was the perfect recipe for a loss despite UConn’s effective zone defense. While Iona has strong offensive guards and can score in a variety of ways, I believe the Huskies athleticism and depth should allow them to slow down the offense enough as long as the players are locked in. Hopefully, the semifinal loss will give UConn a lot of t to step up on that end.

Finally, UConn needs to play composed. Against Marquette, the players were visibly frustrated and Hurley was having difficulty communicating with them. As the team has done all year, it seemed to tighten up and show poor shot selection in the final minutes. They will have to avoid this and handle the press effectively against Iona, which is the bread and butter of its defense. As far as individual players, Jackson and Hawkins, who each had two of their worst games of the season, need to play with confidence and intelligence. Jackson needs to be the human dynamo he is capable of, and Hawkins needs to get out of its shooting sleep and start establishing a legacy of postseason success. Finally, Hurley needs to show more smarts as a coach for UConn to go on any sort of March Madness run. He admitted that UConn wasn’t prepared mentally to face Marquette, and struggled to find the right way to communicate to his players as the Golden Eagles executed great on both ends. Harley waited too long to switch to the zone in the second half, and should have played Clinigan more, especially after he was vital in UConn’s comeback to tie the game midway through the second half. Finally, Hurley must do a better job of using his timeouts, and calling ones in the final moments of close games if a play isn’t working effectively. Hurley’s decision to not call one on the final play of the game against Marquette was dumb and put way too much pressure on the offense. This is a make-or-break tourney for Hurley, as he needs to prove he can win at least one game in March and avoid an upset. I think he will, but any criticism he gets if UConn doesn’t is justified.

UConn can make a lot of adjustments to prepare for Iona tomorrow afternoon, based on what they see on tape from Iona’s games and the strengths and weaknesses the team has shown recently. The Huskies have the talent to beat anyone these next few weeks, as we’ve seen at points throughout the season. Starting Friday, it’s now the responsibility of the players and coaching staff starting Friday to play to the team’s strengths against individual opponents and minimize their weaknesses.

A State of Shock: My Initial Reaction to UConn Losing to NMSU

After the final buzzer of the UConn men’s 70-63 upset NCAA tourney loss to No. 12 New Mexico State last Thursday, I wasn’t angry. Rather, I was just numb. How could the fifth-seeded Huskies allow Teddy Allen to completely take over for the Aggies from start to finish, especially in the final minutes? Why did the offense look so rudderless in the first half and not have any Husky play well from start to finish? Where were the adjustments by Dan Hurley and the players on both ends? These are just a few of the questions I had as the game went along and it started to look like UConn could lose in March Madness for the second consecutive year as a higher seed.

Entering the game, my idiot self thought that there was very little chance the Huskies lost to NMSU. Their strengths (rebounding, shot-blocking and defense in the paint, scoring at the rim) was strong, while vulnerabilities like poor ball-handling and 3-point shooting were more than capable of being exploited by UConn. While I knew Allen, the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Player of the Year, would be a handful to stop, I believed that there wasn’t enough scoring punch around him and that the defense would have a lot of options for guarding Allen that could cause him to play inefficiently. Even if the Huskies struggled on offense themselves, I thought at best it would be a close, low-scoring win. From there, I believed the team had a very good shot at winning their second-round game. Silly me.

I never imagined Allen was capable of scoring 37 points against a power conference defense that had played at UConn’s level. I knew the “6-4” guard was an excellent shot creator who could beat defenders inside and was money at the free throw line. However, Allen also was a poor ball-handler whom was seen by many as a liability on defense during the regular season. With the Aggies having only one other high-level offensive player (Jabari Rice), I thought that Allen would likely wear down under the Huskies pressure and have little chance of single-handily carrying NMSU to a victory. Allen completely rose to the challenge and then some, and haunted my dreams for the next few days.

After missing his first six shots of the game Allen caught fire for the remainder of the game after Andre Jackson picked up two fouls. The super senior proceeded to go 10-16 overall and hit all 13 of his free throws, ultimately finishing with 37 points. Jackson and none of his teammates were able to stay in front of Allen both inside and beyond the arc, where he went 4-7 despite normally struggling from deep. Allen hit some circus shots and did an outstanding job of drawing contact, especially by using pump fakes and drawing defenders off their feet. Allen drew fouls on two missed 3-pointers in the second half, including a devastating late call on Sanago. Allen scored the final 15 points of the game and justified the cockiness he showed. Meanwhile, Dan Hurley inexplicably shied away from calling defenses to keep the ball out of Allen’s hands at least briefly, from a simple double-team to a box-and-one or 2-1-2 zone. Allen’s success helped open up more opportunities for the Aggies shooters, who shocking went 7-10 on 3-pointers.

The energy and aggressiveness the Aggies showed offensively in the first 20 minutes was completely absent when UConn had the ball. It opened the game 3-11 from the field, and after two 3-pointers by Tyler Polley put the Huskies up 12-8 midway through the first they did very little offensively the remainder of the half. UConn rarely attacked the basket in the first, with Tyrese Martin in particular missing his usual toughness.

With Jordan Hawkins on the bench due to not being cleared for the game because of concussion issues, the team was unable to stretch the floor even more than usual as the strong NMSU defense sagged off of Jackson and Isiah Whaley and encouraged the pair to shoot from the perimeter, where they went 1-5 on threes. This script, which was followed in the last stretch of the season by opponents, resulted in Adama Sanago mostly being bottled up by Johnny McCants and his fellow bigs. Sanago had just nine shot attempts and was inconsistent, scoring 10 points on 4-9 shooting. UConn was outrebounded 17-10 and had just one offensive board in the first half as NMSU did an excellent job blocking bigs out and benefited from a Huskies offense that was largely spread out.

UConn eventually allowed the Aggies to go on a 12-2 run and take a 10-point lead into halftime, and eventually fell behind by as much as 14 (38-24) at the beginning of the second. The Huskies offense was mostly strong for the remainder of the second half and even tied the game a few times behind R.J. Cole, who was outstanding in the second and finished with 20 after a slow start. In the end, however, their inability to slow down Allen and the big deficit was too much to overcome and NMSU became a bracket buster. UConn finished the game shooting 43.1% and 7-23 from deep.

There was a noticeable lack of adjustments on both ends of the ball during the loss, especially on defense. On offense, Hurley continued to stick with Whaley instead of Polley as his starter at forward. While I understand the idea of starting Whaley in case he was needed to defend Allen, he did not do so in the opening minutes and the Huskies again got off to a poor start on offense, which Polley’s inclusion in the starting lineup could have mitigated. While I will give the Aggies, who usually struggle with ball-handling, credit for avoiding turnovers (they had just 11), UConn still could have done a better job of pushing the tempo on offense off of missed shots, as NMSU generally plays slow on both ends. Finally, I believe Hurley did not make enough use of his timeouts on offense, particularly when Cole was trapped along the sidelines in the final minute, leading to a turnover.

It was on defense that the lack of adjustments by UConn and Hurley stuck out most. I already mentioned the failure to adjust defenses to cover Allen when both Johnson and Martin struggled to, but Whaley could also have been assigned to cover Allen at times in addition to using double-teams or zones. The Huskies could have also pressured more or briefly abandoned the hard hedge for Sanago so that he could have been more available as a shot-blocking threat. At the same time, Hurley could have given Akok Akok a little more floor time to act as a 3-point threat and possibly get blocks from the weak side. In the end, Hurley did not seem to have a variety of options if UConn couldn’t defend Allen 1-on-1 or the Aggies began hitting 3-pointers. This was in contrast to Arkansas coach Eric Musselman in the second round, who said he constantly switched defenses to stop Allen and held him to 12 points in a 53-48 NMSU loss.

As I will discuss more in a second article, UConn has nothing to be ashamed of. A 22-8 regular season record and semifinal berth in the Big East tournament was a good step forward for the program, and teams are unfortunately inexplicably upset in the NCAA tournament all the time. But Hurley now has an established habit of losing close games at UConn, a deserved reputation as inflexible and the possibility of the program stepping back next year due to a young team and the possible departure of Cole. Two things are sure: The offseason will be crazy, and the fanbase will became extremely restless if the Huskies don’t start winning in March beginning in the next season or two.

The Start of Something: No. 5 Huskies Trying to Get Their First Tourney win in 6 Seasons Against No. 12 NMSU

No. 5 UConn and No. 12 New Mexico State of the WAC should be a very interesting game in the West Regionals and a matchup of teams whose strengths are very similar. The Huskies define themselves largely by their defense and rebounding and the Aggies do the same, with each team especially strong at shot-blocking and defending the rim overall. In addition, each squad has a lot of experience and coaches who have been her before (Chris Jans coaches NMSU). The areas that separate the teams besides the level of competition they faced is UConn’s superior ball-handling, athleticism and free throw shooting, areas which I think can be significant factors to the Huskies winning. All in all, it’s a pretty favorable matchup for the good guys.

Background on New Mexico State’s Season

The Aggies went 24-6 and 13-4 in the regular season before defeating Grand Canyon and Abilene Christian as a No. 4 seed in the WAC Tournament. They rank 86^th on offense and 73^rd on defense according to KenPom, and their best wins came against Davidson and at Washington State out of conference and then a trio of wins against Grand Canyon. However, NMSU had a number of ugly losses such as at Chicago State (339^th in KenPom), Sam Houston State by 25 (143^rd) and New Mexico (155^th) at home.

New Mexico State, which plays at a similar tempo to UConn), is led by guard Teddy Allen, who was named WAC Conference Player of the Year. Allen, who played earlier in his career for both West Virginia and Nebraska, averaged 19.3 points and 6.8 rebounds and is outstanding inside the arc and at the free throw line, where he shoots 86.5%. Allen is the definition of a volume scorer, putting up over 30 points in four games. Jabari Rice is the only other Aggie who averages double-figures at 12.2 per game and also leads the team in assists with 3.2. Forward Johnny McCants has a very similar game to Isiah Whaley and he is an elite defender, averaging 1.8 blocks per game to go along with 8.5 points and 5.3 rebounds. Right next to him, Will McNair averages 6.7 and 4.9. Jans used a deep rotation during the season, as 11 players averaged more than 10 minutes, and follows the 2-foul rule strictly, meaning a player will be sat down if they pick up two in the first half. While Allen took by far the most 3-pointers on the team, Rice was the most reliable regular 3-point shooter among the players expected to play, shooting 34.2%.

New Mexico State’s defensive shooting numbers were great across the board after adjustments, as it held opponents to a 45.5% effective field goal rate (20^th in country), 30% on 3-pointers (24^th) and 45.8% on 2-pointers (30^th) as well as a block rate of 12.9 (31^st). However, the Aggies almost never earned steals, as their percentage ranks 332^nd in the country, and they force turnovers on just 16.9% of possessions (266^th). The NMSU EFG % of 52.2 is 79^th in the country and it shoots 54.2% inside the arc, good for 26^th on KenPom, but shoots just 33% on 3-pointers and 69.3% on free throws. Their offensive rebounding percentage of 33.2% is 41^st on KenPom. Finally, it turns the ball over on over 20% of possessions and Allen, Rice and McCants average at least two turnovers per game, with Allen at 2.8.

When UConn is on Offense

This is a very good matchup for Sanago, who badly needs to get going after his lackluster offensive play in the Big East Tournament. He has the footwork and strength to score effectively against the 6-10 McNair, his likely defender, and UConn should make a point of trying to get the big bis oy going early. Sanago has shown a consistent ability to bounce back after he has a tough game or two and as long as he makes intelligent decisions with the ball, I think he should have a very good game. I think that Martin is also set up well to have a strong offensive game. While he may have a tough time making 3-pointers on the Aggie D, Martin can clean up on the offensive glass and bully Rice and fellow guard Clayton Henry, both “6-4”, using his size and strength.

While R.J. Cole is significantly smaller than all of the NMSU starting guards (Allen is “6-6”), he has the shot-making skills and basketball IQ to find ways to score against the trio and possibly get them in foul trouble. If Martin struggles from beyond the arc, it would be valuable for Cole to make a couple of threes and just keep the defense honest while giving him more room to operate. It’s hard to know what you’ll get with Andre Jackson offensively from game to game, but his athleticism and size should allow him to get good scoring opportunities if he wants it, especially in transition (more on that just below). Cole, Jackson and Martin should all make a point of trying to attack Allen when they can, as he is not seen as a good defender and foul trouble in the first half could force him out of the game and put the Aggies in trouble. Jalen Gaffney could be a valuable offensive piece in this game when he replaces Cole because of his size and ability to attack the basket along with his tournament experience. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him put up a couple of points.

With the Aggies capable of shutting down the paint, UConn will have to find ways to get Polley good 3-point looks consistently to help open up the offense. These could come off of screens, in transition, kickouts and similar examples. Polley needs to make sure that he moves without the ball to get open and shouldn’t hesitate to look for ways to score in the midrange or at the rim as well using his size. Polley may be able to do a better job of getting open today versus a Big East Team which is more familiar with how to effectively defend him. If Tyler Hawkins is available and capable of playing around 10-15 minutes, he can also be another 3-point shooting threat as well as a decoy. Finally, Whaley may have to step out of the paint and possibly even behind the line to get a few good looks against McCants.

I believe UConn’s ace in the hole for this game is the opportunity they could have to dominate New Mexico State in transition. It is facing a less athletic and lengthy team that is very susceptible to turnovers, and the Huskies are certainly capable of playing at a high tempo if they choose to do so. Players like Jackson, Cole and Martin are built for playing transition basketball and highly effective at it as long as the Huskies are disciplined. If it becomes a turnover-fest on the Aggies part, I think UConn could run them out of the gym.

When UConn is on Defense

On defense, everything begins and ends with stopping Allen. While he isn’t the most efficient scorer, his shot-making abilities and ability to get into the lane and draw fouls allows him to put up huge numbers and be one of the top mid-major players in the country. It seems like UConn’s optimal strategy will be to trwhoey and push Allen out past the 3-point line and have him take 3-pointers or difficult midrange shots. To do that, the Huskies and specifically Whaley and Sanago will need to communicate well and run the hard hedge to run Allen off of the 3-point line and force him into passes or low-quality shots. The main defenders on Allen will likely be Martin and Jackson, and they both have the size and athleticism to successfully defend Allen if they can be disciplined and not fall for pump-fakes or euro-steps. If Allen ends up taking a lot of 3-pointers, UConn still needs to focus on closing out on him effectively. If Allen is forced into the role of distributor, it could help lead to scoring opportunities, as he is prone to turnovers (2.8 per game). And if UConn can’t stop Allen effectively in the man-to-man, then Hurley has to swallow his pride and either double-team him or switch to new defenses to keep him in check. Make Allen work and think as much as possible on both offense and defense to tire him out, and everything else should fall into place.

Aside from Allen, Rice is the other player UConn will need to key in on, as he is the main distributor for the Aggies. Rice will most likely have some combination of Jackson, Martin and Cole on him, and whomever is guarding him will similarly have to pressure Rice when he has the ball in his hands without fouling and force him into low-percentage shots. I am confident Sanago and Whaley can successfully defend McCants and McNair effectively, and believe that Whaley can outplay McCants because he has a higher offensive ceiling and McCants is extremely prone to turnovers (22.8% turnover rate). While New Mexico State has demonstrated that they are skilled at avoiding having their shots blocked, the combination of Sanago and Whaley is almost definitely better than any other duo the Aggies have seen in conference play, and UConn should be able to block or at least alter a decent number of shots. The Huskies will need to defend Henry closely on the perimeter, as he shoots 37.5% from three.

The Huskies should be able to force plenty of turnovers against New Mexico, especially if they’re intimidated by the environment or come out slow. I’d like to see Hurley press ballhandlers a decent amount, especially at the end if its close. Jackson, Martin and Cole all can press players effectively and force turnovers and Cole is especially adept at nabbing steals from opponents. If UConn can force turnovers and pressure the ball without fouling, defend the rim well and keep Allen somewhat in check, then I think the team will be in fine shape at the end.

In Conclusion

New Mexico is the type of team that could have been a reliable upset pick against the right opponent, especially with a player who can take over the game in Allen. I think that UConn’s strengths match up well to New Mexico State’s, and its overall talent level is higher. When you throw that in with the Aggies turnover issues and mediocre 3-point and foul shooting, there is a stark contrast between the teams. Last but not least, I don’t think this years Huskies squad, especially the seniors, is going to hide from the moment. They are on a mission to prove this is a top program again, and that starts with making some noise in march. New Mexico State will keep it somewhat close with its defense and the play of Allen, but I am comfortable picking UConn to win by somewhere between 8-10 points.

Previewing the First-Round NCAA Tournament Game Against Maryland: Five things to watch for

Five long years after UConn was in the NCAA tournament, the program is finally back where it belongs. In year three of Dan Hurley’s rebuild, he has the 15-8 Huskies competing in March Madness. This is despite a crazy regular season that featured significant injury issues and multiple COVID-19 pauses and cancelled games. Led by James Bouknight, UConn is No. 7 in the East region and will play No. 10 Maryland (16-13) out of the Big 10. Even after losing to Creighton in the semifinals of the Big East tournament, the Huskeies are a trendy Final Four pick largely because of going 11-3 this season with Bouknight. As we now however, they are defined by much more than just one player.

UConn and Maryland is definitely a fascinating matchup and will likely be a close game throughout. While both teams play at a very slow pace, on offense they are otherwise very different. The Terrapins are extremely guard-oriented (four of their five leading scorers are guards and they regularly play five-out), while the Huskies are led by a singular scorer and frequently score many of their points in the paint. In addition, Maryland rarely puts any effort into offensive rebounding and is one of the worst offensive rebounding teams in the country, while UConn is one of the best. Both teams are high-quality defensive squads, with the Huskies defense ranked 24th in KenPom and the Terrapins 27th. Both teams have players who won Defensive Player of the Year in their conferences (Isiah Whaley and Darryl Morsell, who will primarily guard Bouknight). All signs point to the contest being a slow paced and bare-knuckle affair. Y

Can Bouknight score effectively against Morsell?

Did I just say the Huskies were more than one player? Is this the most juicy matchup of the game? Yes. Morsell, a “6-5” senior guard, had a defensive ratting of 99.2 and 1.3 defensive win shares this seazon. He fits the mold of the long, physical guards whfo have given Bouknight trouble this season, with examples being Marquette’s Koby McEwan and Damian Jefferson of Creighton. Bouknight must concentrate on not forcing shots and scoring within the flow of the offense, likely on jump shots. At the same time, he needs to be able to share the ball with his teammates when he is pressured, which he did a poor job of doing last game (granted, no one else was making shots for much of the game).

In UConn’s rcent losses with Bouknight, he has shown a tendancy og getting easily frustrated and losing concentration when defenders are heavily physical with him. This has led to a pattern of costly misses and turnovers. Bouknight cannot do this against Morsell. If he is struggling and or the Huskies are losing, their best player still needs to keep his cool and be a leader on the floor.

How well can UConn rebound on the offensive end, and can they take advantage of their opportunities?

This game is tailor-made for the Huskies to have a huge advantage on the boards. They are sixth in the country in offensive rebounding percentage at 36.8%, while Maryland is solid but unspectacular on the defensive boards. In contrast its percentage is 20.9%, 327th in the country. The Terrapins make a conscious effort to get back on defense after taking shots to allow them to shut down transition opportunities for opponents, a strategy that has worked more often than not.

UConn has a golden opportunity to bounce back from its poor performance on the boards against Creighton. If it can limit to Maryland to one shot per possession and regularly get second-chance opportunities on the other end, then the Huskies will be in very good shape to win. The one catch is that they regularly struggle to score at the rim, even on bunnies and putback opportunities. If that happens, this will be a very frustrating night.

Can UConn outperform Maryland from behind the arc?

The Terrapins are not a great 3-point shooting team, but they are a strong one and consistently emphasize scoring from beyond arc and on the peremiter in general. In Big-10 play, they took the highest percentage of threes for any team at 37.4%, and shot 34.6%, good for fifth in the league. Donta Scott, a forward, shoots 43.7% from three on the season, and leading scorer Eric Ayala (14.9 points per game) shoots 33.5%. Meanwhile, UConn was an average 3-point shooting team this season but is extremely inconsistent. Bouknight has shot just 30.3% from three since returning, and Tyrese Martin has made only one in the last six games. In addition, Tyler Polley has gone just 6-19 from behind the arc in the last three games.

The Huskies defend the three very well, limiting opponents to 31.6% from behind the arc. Maryland can make it difficult for them though, as their guards are bigger than UConn’s. If the Huskies regularly use the hard hedge on defense, will Adama Sanogo and Whaley be forced to defend the Terrapins guards from deep? Will R.J. Cole be able to effectively defend on thepereimeter if needed despite a height difference? On the other end, Maryland does not defend the three particularly well. Can Polley, Cole and others hit a few threes to get momentum and open up the offense, especially early? It will be fascinating to see how things play out.

How effective can Cole be?

Cole was cleared two days ago to play after being in concusion protocol for a few days. When he came out against Creighton with less than five minutes ago due to falling onto the floor and getting cut, a five-point quickly slipped away and UConn ultimately lost 11-3. Cole has been great in the last eight games, averaging 15 points, 5.1 assists and 1.3 steals, and the team will need him to be at full strength and run the offense efficiently. At the same time, the junior will need to overcome his lack of size to have a strong defensive game. If Cole is rusty and ineffective, the Huskies have little chance of winning.

Can multiple players have good games?

I’ve already discussed the need for Bouknight and Cole to play well, but they will need others to step up. In particular, Sanogo, Martin and Polley need to provide support on both ends. Sanogo has to find a way to avoid foul trouble so he can provide help on the boards and in guarding the rim, while continuing to play well on offense. This would be the perfect game for Martin to snap out of his offensive funk and hopefully be a third reliable scoring option. Finally, Polley making a few threes, ideally early, would open up the offense in a huge way. Jalen Gaffney could also be valuable on offense if he stays agressive. If UConn could share the ball effectively and at least two of these players perform well, I am very confident it will win.

My thoughts on UConn Making the NCAA tournament

Three days, folks. In three days, the Huskies basketball program will be back in the NCAA tournament where it belongs. It’s a wonderful thing to say.

UConn (15-7), which is competing in March Madness for the first time since 2016, is seeded seventh in the East region and will be facing No. 10 Maryland (16-13) on Saturday. If it wins, it would almost definitely face No. 2 Alabama (24-6), which is playing No. 15 Iona in the first round. on Monday. As with most 7-10 tournament games, it appears to be a toss-up, though most metrics have UConn slightly favored (Ken Pomery gives it a 57% chance of winning, with the predicted score 66-64).

I will certaintly have more analysis of the game and the keys to the Huskies winning later in the week. First, however, I wanted to briefly reflect on the program’s accomplishment and its significance both in the moment and for the future. No matter what happens against Maryland and other opponents if UConn wins, earning an at-large bid in 2021 can be the first step in UConn eventually becoming an elite program again.

Here is a list and description of my immediate thoughts below. Please enjoy.

Getting to the NCAA tournament is a wonderful reward for all the seniors have given to the program

Isiah Whaley, Tyler Polley and Josh Carlton have each faced a ton of challenges during their UConn careers. As freshman, the trio had to experience the ugly final season of the Kevin Ollie regime. Whaley was buried on the bench as a sophomore and at the start of his junior season until he broke out during conference play. Polley was having a solid junior season before tearing his ACL, and had his recovery process interfered with due to COVID-19. After being named the American Athletic Conference Most Improved Player as a sophomore, Carlton had a disappointing junior year and lost his starting spot at center this season. And of course, they were unable to compete in tournament play last season when it was shut down due to the virus. Through all of this and their wild, truncated senior season, Whaley, Polley and Carlton have been model players for the program.

Any of the seniors could have understandably transfered to play at another school when Ollie was fired, and yet they stuck it out and showed tremendous loyalty to the program, Dan Hurley and their teammates. Whaley, Polley and Carlton have each had impressive careers in different ways and acted as team leaders this season. They did well in the classroom and earned their degrees in four years, and none of the three got in any trouble, at least that I am aware of. Whether any of the seniors stays at UConn to play a fifth year or not, they deserve the honor of playing in the tournament for the Huskies. The team wouldn’t be where it is without them, and the seniors legacies are secured.

Dan Hurley helps lead yet anothe program to its goal

Hurley is nicknamed “The Carpenter” for a reason-he builds programs, and quickly. Despite being just 48 and having only coached for 11 seasons, Hurley has turned around each of the three program’s he’s coached (Wagner, Rhode Island, and now UConn). At URI, he led the Rams to their first NCAA tournament appearance and win of the century in 2017, and did the same the next year. Now in just three short years, he’s completely turned around UConn basketball as it returned to its rightful home in the Big East, and reached one of the team’s major goals this season by leading it to a tournament berth.

Hurley has helped this year’s squad build an identity based around excellent defense and rebounding as well as depth. His abilities as a teacher and leader can be seen through the improvement of the team as well as the development of individual players like James Bouknight, Adama Sanogo and Isiah Whaley. Hurley has helped build a buzz around UConn, and his strengths as a recruiter already have and will continue to pay off. Hurley is far from perfect as a coach, and he would be the first to admit it. At this point though, it is clear Hurley is the right man to lead UConn going forward.

Qualifying for the tournament is the next huge step for UConn to get back in the national spotlight

The program began to receive national attention again last year when it was announced it would return to the Big East starting in 2020-21, and James Bouknight’s emergence as one of the country’s top freshman at the end of last season also drew some eyes. However, the attention really started to come in the preseason when the Huskies were picked to finish fourth in the Big East. Their win over USC and strong start amped up the excitement surrounding UConn even more. While the team’s struggles during the middle of the season caused awareness of it to ebb somewhat, the Huskies great play down the stretch with Bouknight back led them to be the favorite to win the Big East tournament among both pundits/writers and college basketball fans. Even after the loss to Creighton, UConn is a trendy Final Four pick. Having most of the Huskies Big East games broadcast on national television again (mainly through FS1 and Fox) has also been a huge boom, as it makes it much easier for causual college basketball fans to check out the team.

Making the tournament is already a huge step, especially in this crazy season. Now if UConn can win multiple games in March Madness and make a deep run, I think it will solidify the program as the second most prominent in the Big East going forward. Although the Huskies “brand” has diminished somewhat in the last half decade, Hurley , Bouknight, and to a lesser extent Sanogo and Whaley are bringing it back, and recruits and national writers/pundits are taking notice. The program has a great chance to get causual fans to notice too.

James Bouknight has the perfect chance to establish himself as one of the UConn greats to all fans

Bouknight has played less than two full seasons at UConn, and yet its utterly agreed amongst the program’s fans that he is one of the most talented players to ever put on a Huskies uniform. The shooting guard is an extremely skilled offensive player who seemingly can get a basket whenever he wants. Bouknight is also an underrated rebounder and defender, and many would argue the best player in the Big East. As talented as Bouknight is however, his injury issues and poor performance against Creighton in the Big East semifinals caused his reputation to take a bit of a hit.

Bouknight has still not shown that he can take over a game and lead the Huskies to victory on the biggest stages. March Madness will give him a chance to remedy that though. First, he will get to face off against Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year Darryl Morsell, who will be Maryland’s the primary defender on Bouknight Saturday. If he wins that battle and leads the Huskies to the win, Bouknight will likely have the opportunity to lead the team to a victory against No. 2 Alabama and then beyond the Sweet Sixteen. While Bouknight will need help from his teammates, I believe he can easily take over any game and earn signature tournament moments. Bouknight can put himself on a stage with Kemba, Shabazz, and other UConn legends over the next two weeks. Let’s hope he does.