Tag: Adama Sanogo

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 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.

Starter Grades With a Month Left in the Regular Season

I wrote this article ranking the performance of the bench players on No. 21 UConn prior to the Marquette win last week, with an explanation of why I chose the grade. Now, I am publishing the article I wrote but did not publish last week assigning grades to the Huskies five main starters. I will provide updated grades/evaluations on the individual starters performance against Creighton shortly. This was a lot of work, but I enjoyed much of it. I look forward to seeing your feedback!

Jordan Hawkins: B+

Hawkins got a ton of press prior to the season for the improvement in his perimeter shooting and overall offensive game, and was named to the preseason All-Big East Second Team. It was evident that the sophomore would be UConn’s go-to scorer along with Sanogo if he played up to his potential. So far, Hawkins has mostly lived up to the hype offensively, and has been playing his best all-around basketball recently even if the team has been inconsistent overall. The season still has a long way to go, but Hawkins is making a case to be seen as one of the best shooters in UConn program history.

In 23 games (he missed three due to a concussion), Hawkins is averaging 16.4 points on 42.1% shooting overall and 40.1% on 3-pointers, while also making over 86% of his foul shots. These are all a huge leap from Hawkins freshman season, when the freshman showed a lot of potential but also delt with injury trouble and confidence issues and shot just 35.3% on 5.8 points per game.

Hawkins has been on fire in the last seven games, dating back to the loss to St. John’s on Jan. 15th. In that stretch , he has averaged 21.1 points and shot 50% on 88 attempts, while also draining 44.2% of 3-pointers and 92.5% of foul shots. Hawkins has had four 20-point games during this run, including 26 at DePaul in a win, and 31 in the heartbreaking loss to Seton Hall. For the season, Hawkins has scored 20 or more in nine games and in single digits just three times.

Hawkins has been a dangerous scorer all season, but he has flipped a switch in the last month. His movement without the ball, confidence and quick and fluid shooting form has allowed Hawkins to be lethal on 3-pointers coming off of screens. He has benefited greatly from UConn recently improving its screening on the perimeter, as it has given Hawkins open looks from beyond the arc. Earlier in the season and especially during the first month of conference play, Hawkins had struggled to get open looks at times because defenders were keying in on him and being as physical with Hawkins as possible without earning fouls. He also has shown the ability to go on individual runs and carry the Huskies for multiple minutes at a time and make clutch shots against tough opponents. Hawkins nearly led UConn back from a 15-point halftime deficit against Xavier, and his multiple treys early against Marquette gave the team momentum and put it in control for the remainder of the game.

As great as his 3-point shooting has been, what has especially impressed recently is Hawkins newfound focus on attacking the basket. Earlier in the season, he frequently focused on just shooting from deep and thus could disappear from games if defenders stuck on Hawkins . Since the beginning of January however, Hawkins has regularly used his athleticism and size to attack the basket for quality layup attempts, while also pulling up for quality midrange jumpers. Hawkins has recognized that the threat of his 3-point shot allows him to effectively fake out defenders and then drive for open looks, particularly in the paint. Hawkins has improved at finishing at the rim over the course of the season, and he is outstanding at forcing contact (including behind the 3-point line) to earn free throws, where he is money. Hawkins has made 55.6% of his shots inside the arc during this aforementioned hot streak.

Hawkins has also improved his offensive game as a sophomore in other areas. Hawkins is averaging 4 rebounds per game, double his average from last season, and has especially improved on the defensive boards. Hawkins has grabbed at least 5 rebounds seven times since the start of the New Year. He reacts quickly when in good position to grab rebounds, and his athleticism allows him to beat other guards to loose balls off the boards. While Hawkins ball handling still leaves a lot to be desired, he has improved his dribbling and passing this season and cut down on turnovers. Hawkins has committed more than three turnovers in a game just once. Meanwhile, Hawkins had dished out multiple assists in seven games.

On defense, I believe Hawkins has improved the most from one season to the next that I can remember by a UConn guard in recent program history. As a freshman, Hawkins lacked the strength to effectively guard bigger guards, and his footwork wasn’t efficient enough to stay in front of his man at times. This resulted in cheap fouls when Hawkins tried to force steals to make up for being beat off the dribble. While Hawkins upper-body strength will need to improve for him to be successful in the NBA, the strength training he did in the offseason has allowed Hawkins to better body up defenders. At the same time, he has improved his footwork and ability to force turnovers without fouling. Hawkins is averaging nearly one steal per game, and has earned multiple steals in six games. Hawkins size and agility has helped him develop the ability to block shots after not showing that skill as a freshman. He has blocked 15 shots and has four games with 2 blocks.

Hawkins can still continue to improve the remainder of the season in multiple areas. While it can be difficult for him to get quality perimeter shots in a game because of how much opponents focus on containing him, Hawkins needs to do a better job of being effective over 40 minutes. He has a tendency to explode on offense for a short amount of time and then disappear. Depending on when this occurs, Hawkins doing so can make it much more difficult for UConn to win, especially if his teammates are inconsistent. Hawkins can also fall into a tendency of focusing on taking 3-pointers at the expense of everything else, even if he is cold. Slowly but surely, Hawkins has developed more variety in his offensive game, but he can still run hot and cold like many shooters. I don’t know if Hawkins can do much to improve his ball-handling in season, but he still needs to strengthen his handle if he enters the NBA draft in the offseason. On defense, Hawkins can still be more disciplined and avoid either biting on fakes or reaching for the ball and picking up silly fouls that limit his playing time. Like seemingly all of the Husky guards, Hawkins sometimes fails to provide help defense or communicating on that end with teammates, allowing for easy drives to the basket for opponents.

As frustrating as this season has been for UConn as a whole, they have gotten nearly everything they could ask from Hawkins. He is developing into a great all-around player and not just a shooter, and has even displayed vocal leadership skills during games, a far cry from his lack of confidence as a freshman. Hawkins is one of the best players in the Big East, and has supplanted Sanogo as the Huskies best player. Hopefully, Hawkins will decide to return to Storrs for a junior season even if he has projected as a first-round pick. Either way, however he is capable of leading UConn on tournament runs and creating a memorable legacy.

Adama Sanogo: B+

Sanogo was selected as the preseason Player of the Year in the Big East and was also put on the Wooden Award watch list. While Sanogo’s season has probably not gone as smoothly as expected, he still has frequently been dominant offensively and a centerpiece for UConn alongside Jordan Hawkins.

Sanogo is averaging 17.2 points in 25 games, 2.4 more than last season. He has also been much more efficient offensively and is shooting more than 58% from the field, a significant improvement from last season. Sanogo has shown even better touch in the paint this year, while still bullying opposing bigs. Fans heard that Sanogo was working on his midrange and perimeter shooting during the offseason, and he has showed great form on 3-pointers while making over 39% on 33 attempts. Finally, Sanogo is shooting 75.9% on free throws, an excellent percentage for a big man. This efficiency has resulted in Sanogo having double-digit scoring performances in every game but two, eight 20-point games, and four double-doubles.

As great as Sanogo is offensively, he has been a black hole at times, especially during UConn’s January struggles. The offense has had a bad habit of feeding the ball to the junior at the expense of getting other players involved and creating good scoring opportunities for the entire lineup. Sanogo’s teammates have also failed to move without the ball towards Sanogo in these situations so that he has open passing lanes when guarded. At the same time, Sanogo has continued his habit of taking way too long to take shots in the paint, and not passing the ball out and repositioning when well-guarded. As a result, teams have easily been able to double-team Sanogo consistently and either force him into difficult shots or turnovers.

After UConn’s loss to Seton Hall, Hurley and the team made a few important adjustments offensively that has allowed Sanogo to still be effective, but within the normal flow of the offense. Hurley has positioned Sanogo at the top of the key and had him set screens for the guards regularly, allowing the Huskies and particularly Newton and Hawkins to get around defenders and attack the basket effectively. Instead of attempting all his shots in the paint or beyond the arc, Sanogo has attacked the basket from the top of the key a few times a game on layup attempts. Because of Sanogo’s strength and agility, this has been a very high-percentage play. Finally, Sanogo has finally started to pass the ball out of the paint more and shown better accuracy when doing so. He has averaged 2 assists over the last five games while committing just four turnovers. Sanogo’s growth as a player bodes well for the Huskies success during the remainder of the season.

While Sanogo’s scoring has continued to be elite, his rebounding and defense hasn’t lived up to the expectations he set last season. His rebounding has dropped from an average of 8.8 last season to 7.2, as have the percentage of both defensive and offensive rebounds he has grabbed. I would be very surprised if Sanogo reached last season’s mark of 10 games with double-digit rebounds unless UConn goes on a tournament run. Although part of Sanogo’s rebounding numbers going down is the result of having strong rebounding guards in Hawkins and Newton and the addition of Clinigan (even if they rarely play together) and Hurley having him defend on the perimeter, I believe that Sanogo has also demonstrated less effort on rebound opportunities and when boxing out. There could be a few reasons for this in theory, including Sanogo wanting to focus more on scoring or trying to avoid foul trouble, but it is disappointing to see Sanogo giving less effort on the boards at times. I hope that as UConn hits tournament play, Sanogo ramps up his effort on theboards andbecomes the elite rebounder he was last season.

Sanogo’s defense has also left something to be desired at times. With his strong footwork, Sanogo continues to be an effective one-on-one defender against most bigs. However, his help defense has been very inconsistent. Sanogo has been late on cutting off drives, and while he still does a solid job of altering shots he has ceased to be a shot-blocking threat. Sanogo has blocked just 16 shots this season and had multiple blocks in a game just three times, after averaging 1.9 per game last season. It is understandable that Sanogo wants to avoid defensive fouls considering how much responsibility he has on offense, and UConn’s system of having Sanogo consistently run high-hedge defense makes it difficult for him to get back and help teammates defend the paint. Still, Sanogo needs to stop getting caught watching the ball or half-heartedly blocking out defensively. UConn needs him to be a skilled two-way player to capture their remaining must-win games and tournament victories.

Tristen Newton: B

Newton’s season has been a bit of a roller coaster as well. The highly touted senior guard transfer had a tough time adjusting to UConn’s early on in nonconference play, but eventually appeared to be learning how to run its offense and be a complimentary scorer by the time of the Phil Knight Invitational. However, Newton’s scoring began to drop off a cliff at the end of the nonconference schedule, and through the first half of conference play in December until the middle of January. Newton wasn’t picking up the slack enough elsewhere on offense or defense to mitigate his disappearance, leading heavily to UConn’s struggles after starting 3-0 in the Big East. Since an ugly loss to St. John’s however, Newton has had a resurgence and flashed all the talent Huskies fans have heard about, and the team has subsequently fled off his versatility and energy. UConn needs a quality point guard, and Newton is finally filling the role.

Newton is averaging 10.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. He is averaging 4.4 assists, but has committed 2.3 turnovers per game. Newton ‘s shooting percentage inside the arc has dropped significantly due to his struggles, but he has continued to improve his 3-point shooting from last season and is now up to 34.9%. Newton continues to be money from the foul line, making 80.7 of hid free throws. He has scored in double figures 12 times and 20 or more points on four occasions. Newton earns a lot of his assists at his best, and has five games of at least six dimes. Finally, he has gotten to the 4-rebound mark 12 times. Newton has earned multiple steals in seven games.

Newton has been on a tear since the St. John’s loss on Jan. 18th. Since, he has averaged just under 15 points in six games, including 20-point performances at DePaul and against Xavier, while shooting 46.6% overall ,38.1% from deep and over 80% at the line on 38 attempts. Before this stretch, Newton had scored in double figures just twice in Big East play. He has done a little bit of everything else as well, averaging just over six assists and under five rebounds while grabbing two steals. Newton’s most impressive performance came in the signature win against Marquette, as he recorded 12 points and assists and grabbed 10 rebounds in 35 minutes. It was Newton’s second triple-double already this season, with Shabazz Napier being the only other Husky to accomplish this feat.

After an All-AAC Conference junior season at East Carolina in which he averaged roughly 17 points and 5 assists, expectations may have been too high for Newton. Yes, he was a versatile guard with size and strength and a nose for the basket, but the level of competition was a big step up for a player who is not a natural point guard, especially after the conference has had more depth than preseason reports indicated. It was always going to take him a while to create chemistry with players in regular season competition, and that only became harder when Andre Jackson returned to the starting lineup and the two had difficulty co-existing on the floor while Jackson tried to take on a point guard role that he unfortunately wasn’t well suited for.

After being generally effective on offense the first month-plus of the season and relying on his ability to get to the line to rack up points, Newton steadily faded to the background for a while. He stopped being aggressive offensively and rarely attacked the basket when the team desperately needed him to (From the first Xavier loss to the St. John’s game, Newton took jut 9 free throws and made 5). Newton looked reluctant to shoot a significant amount of the time, making difficult passes in the paint instead of attacking the basket for layup opportunities. Newton’s disengagement with the rest of the team offensively and relative defensive struggles was a direct reason why the Huskies became a one-trick pony on offense and suffered their 2-6 stretch in January.

Since that team, Newton has looked completely different. It appears that Dan Hurley talked to him and urged Newton to attack the basket more and initiate the offense quicker, and Newton embraced the challenge. He is now consistently driving the ball and playing more quickly, while also moving without the ball on the perimeter and getting better 3-point looks. Newton has also been highly effectively in the zone defenses UConn has employed and especially at pressuring ball handlers in the full court with his size and strength. He has consistently seemed to be having fun, and appears to be taking on a bigger leadership role during timeouts and other game situations. The UConn offense flows much better when Newton has the ball frequently, especially during significant moments. He is the lynchpin and floor general right now that UConn fans were looking for. A team needs a reliable point guard to have postseason success, and this version of Newton can finally bring it to the UConn program.

Andre Jackson: B-Jackson has been up-and-down as a player since the moment he arrived in Storrs, but his junior career has been a special case. When the junior is at the peak of his powers, he is extremely versatile, a team leader, and an absolute joy to watch. But when Jackson has played his worst, he has played out of control on both ends and been a black hole on offense, where his confidence has been shaken.

Jackson is averaging 5.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game in 22 games, while shooting 36.4%. The point forward ‘s PPG and field goal averaging have gone down compared to his sophomore season, although Jackson’s assist-to-turnover ratio has improved significantly. He has four double-digit games for both points and rebounds, although he hasn’t scored in double digits in the new year. Jackson has dished out six or more assists in seven games, and come up with multiple steals in a significant number of games. Even if Johnson doesn’t score a lot of points in a game, at his best he’s a stat stuffer.

Jackson’s worst tendencies have slowly emerged however, with the New Year’s Eve loss at Xavier being the jumping off point for these struggles. In the 11 games since, Jackson has seen his scoring average and shooting percentage go slightly down. While he is averaging nearly the same assists, Jackson has Bommited multiple turnovers seven times. Even if Jackson’s raw stats have only gone down a little bit, he has made multiple mistakes on offense during crucial moments in each loss, while playing with a lack of intelligence on defense.

Jackson had had two distinct stages this season, with the last two wins against Georgetown and Marquette possibly signifying the start of a third stage. Starting with the Phil Knight Invitational Thanksgiving week until the end of December, Jackson contributed heavily on both ends and was the team’s sparkplug. The junior was doing a great job running the offense alongside Tristen Newton and finding scoring opportunities for teammates, while also grabbing offensive boards. Jackson was doing just enough to score via floaters, baskets at the rim and the occasional three, and with his teammates scoring so efficiently Jackson’s scoring wasn’t really needed. Most importantly, Jackson was playing exquisite defense, pressuring his man constantly and forcing turnovers and poor shots.

As the calendar flipped to the new year however, Jackson’s quality of play plummeted on both ends along with the team’s as a whole. He lost all confidence shooting the ball, and frequently had poor selection when doing so. Jackson frequently refused to attack the basket and occasionally turned the ball over when doing so. His floater (Jackson’s go-to-shot) deserted him, and he began to be bated into taking risky 3-pointers when defenders stay off of Jackson. This led to ugly shooting lines on threes like a 4-12 performance at Xavier and 0-3 marks against both Providence and the Musketeers. While Jackson continued to rebound well, he began to play out of control when running the offense and making risky passes that either led to turnovers or teammates not being in the right position to score.

What was more frustrating then Jackson’s struggles on offense was his disappearance on the defensive end. After living up to his accolades as a defender early Jackson declined heavily in the first half of the Big East schedule. Jackson become overaggressive on defense, committing silly fouls and having to be removed by Dan Hurley as a result, and repeatedly tried to block his man’s shots from behind instead of working harder to stay in front of players. Combine all of this with Jackson’s shaky help defense, and he was the player most responsible for the Huskies defensive decline when they lost six of eight games. Jackson’s defensive struggles carried over to the offensive end and caused the junior to become disengaged at times while not fulfilling his status as UConn’s leader.

After the Huskies second loss to Xavier and Jackson’s 2-point performance against DePaul, he and Hurley said that the coaches and Jackson were working to tighten up his defense and putting him in situations on offense where he could make plays more efficiently. In the wins since against Georgetown and Marquette, Jackson has demonstrated this hard work paid off. Jackson’s defense has continued to be aggressive while also more disciplined and focused. He held Hoyas star Primo Spears scoreless, and was et defending multiple Creighton players while helping to force poor shots and defenders. Jackson’s rebounding and passing was solid in multiple games, especially against Georgetown. Instead of taking jumpers and 3-pointers, Jackson focused on getting open for scoring opportunities around the basket on layups and putbacks and dunks, resulting in a combined 12 points on 5-12 shooting. It has been great to see Jackson not just more effective, but having a lot more fun on the court in these wins. When he is playing loose and with energy, all the other Huskies feed off of it.

The remaining regular season and tournament games will be huge for Andre Jackson’s legacy at UConn. Can he prove that he and the team have truly righted the ship? Can Jackson show improvement on offense while playing up to his potential in other phases of the game? And maybe most importantly, can Jackson truly be the leader of the next Huskies team that goes on a tournament run? Jackson is capable of answering all these questions with a triumphant yes. Now it’s just time for him to be a great player, and not just a great athlete.

Alex Karaban: B+

If Dan Hurley wanted to create a freshman big who is well-rounded offensively in a lab, he probably couldn’t do any better than Alex Karaban. The freshman power/small forward from Massachusetts’s has already demonstrated that he can score from nearly anywhere on the floor, particularly in the paint and behind the arc. When you combine that scoring ability with quality passing, solid rebounding and quickly-improving defense, and you have a Husky who is qualified to be the Big East Freshman of the Year.

Karaban, whom UConn has relied on heavily at forward with Samson Johnson out nearly the entire season, is averaging 9.8 PPG, 4.1 RPB, and 1.8 APG in 28.7 minutes. He is shooting 46.9% on field goals , 39.7% on 3-pointers and 82.1% at the free throw line. Karaban’s offensive metrics on KenPom and elsewhere are off the charts, especially for a freshman. He has scored in double figures 15 times, and has hit his season high of three 3-pointers in eight games, most recently in the last two wins. Karaban has scored in double figures five of the past eight games, with a high of 17 in the first matchup with Marquette. While Karaban doesn’t have any games with a huge amount of assists, he has dished out multiple ones in 12 games. Karaban was named the conference Freshman of the Week for the week of Jan. 29th after averaging 7.5 points, 4.5 assists and 4 rebounds, which was the fifth time this season he has received the honor.

Karaban ‘s best offensive skill right now is shooting 3-pointers. He is excellent at moving without the ball, has quality form and does not hesitate no matter the moment, has evidenced by his 3-pointer late at Georgetown that gave UConn a 63-61 lead it never relinquished. Karaban has already established a solid post game and can score effectively on both layups and post-ups. As Karaban works on getting stronger in the offseason, it could allow him to score more effectively in the post while also stretching defenders out beyond the 3-point line. In addition to scoring Karaban’s court awareness and basketball IQ has allowed him to be a quality screener in the pick-and-roll and an excellent passer, especially compared to the average freshman. Adama Sanogo and Donavon Clinigan have particularly benefited from Karaban’s passing skills.

On defense, Karaban has also consistently gotten better. While he needs to add a lot of upper-body strength and doesn’t have the athleticism a lot of the power forwards he’s facing in the Big East (a conference with excellent big men), Karaban has learned how to challenge shots and go after rebounds inside without fouling, and how he can position himself to challenge shots. Karaban’s recent improvement at avoiding foul trouble has allowed him to make a more consistent impact on offense, particularly from beyond the arc.

Alex Karaban quickly proved himself to be an indispensable player for the Huskies. Currently, I would argue he is their third-most reliable player beyond Jordan Hawkins and Sanogo. If Karaban is this developed as a freshman, I cannot imagine how good he will be as a junior or senior. Slowly but surely Karaban is building a legacy in Storrs, one that may lead to a tournament run in March.

Observations on Last Week’s Win: A Dominant Sanogo, Strong Defense and Sensational Freshmen

It was a fun but tense first week of the season for UConn. The transfer-heavy Huskies, who were already missing Andre Jackson for the first few games due to a finger injury, had to endure Jordan Hawkins suffering a concussion early in its opener against Stonehill (Hawkins is progressing well and should make his return against UNC-Wilmington Friday). Despite the big loss and 3-point shooting struggles, UConn defeated Stonehill handedly 85-54, as freshman Alex Karaban and Donavon Clinigan immediately impressed.

On Tuesday, the team learned that Samson Johnson suffered a foot injury in the win and would be out indefinitely, leaving the Huskies down three starters for Friday’s matchup against Boston University. The players remained resultant however, with Adama Sanogo putting them on his back. After a strong first game, Sanogo was a monster against the Terriers, scoring 27 points on 12-15 shooting and grabbing 15 rebounds while also playing excellent defense. The offense improved and shot 10-21 from deep, and the Huskies again mostly played disciplined defense to win 86-57.

 Overall, UConn navigated the challenges of injury and a roster that lacked experience playing together in games with aplomb. Sanogo showed why he is a star, and each transfer and freshman who played demonstrated that they could bring unique skills to the table that make the team tougher to contain on both ends. The Huskies were sloppy on offense and lost focus on defense occasionally, but were largely in control throughout both games.

Below, I have a few observations on the positives and negatives I saw in the games as well as on the injury issues UConn’s experiencing:

  1. Adama Sanogo flashes new skills and shows why he was named pre-season Big East Player of the Year

After a breakout sophomore campaign, fans were excited to see what new skills Sanago showed and if he could step up when new players were struggling. Well, mission accomplished. Sanago averaged 23 points and 10.5 rebounds in the two wins while shooting 77%, and had a block and steal in each game. These numbers earned Sanago the Big East Player of the Week award. The junior center took advantage of the opponent’s small frontcourts to bully his way into the paint and get easy shots and rebounds. Sanago did an excellent job of finishing around the basket and displayed his remarkable footwork. Most importantly, he stepped out and hit jumpers outside of the paint in both wins, including two threes against BU. Sanogo’s form on these shots was impressive and bodes well for his ability to expand his range this season. Finally, Sanogo did a strong job of passing the ball out of the post and finding teammates, making impressive passes in both games.   

Sanogo also played strong defense against the overmatched Skyhawks and Terriers. His footwork was strong and he consistently altered shots. Sanogo was especially strong on the defensive boards and had 11 defensive rebounds against BU. If Sanogo can avoid foul trouble and stay healthy, he can be the lynchpin of an imposing defensive frontcourt.  

  • Transfers Show Strengths and Add Depth

It was a lot of fun to see the quartet of Tristen Newton, Naheim Alleyne, Hasson Diarra and Joey Calcaterra finally on the big stage for the Huskies, as I had no knowledge of them before they came to Storrs.

Diarra, a junior combo guard formerly of Texas A&M, probably had the best week of the quartet. He ran the point at times and averaged 8.5 points, 6.5 points and 4.5 rebounds. He was especially good against Stonehill, scoring 11 to go along with 7 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. The speedy Diarra did an excellent job of attacking the basket in both games and made some excellent passes for assists. He was particularly effective in the fastbreak. Diarra, who was known as a strong defender coming in, used his strength to body up players and force challenging shots. His active hands forced deflections and turnovers and eventually led to fastbreak points.

Alleyne, a guard whom played at Virginia Tech for three seasons, easily slipped into the role of a strong perimeter shooter and defender. Alleyne averaged 9.5 shots on 40% shooting. He had 11 points and drained three threes against BU, and was able to score on floaters and layups against Stonehill when his 3-pointers were not falling. Alleyne played lockdown defense in both games, and his constant pressure led to 4 steals against Stonehill. The maturity and smoothness that Alleyne was said to play with was consistently on display in both wins.

Newton, a senior combo guard, was up-and-down in his opening games at UConn. The former ECU star averaged 10 points but surprisingly struggled with his shots, making just 27% of them. However, he did go 10-14 at the free throw line. While Newton certainly did not have trouble getting open shots and attacking the basket, he just was not able to finish at times or took ill-advised shots. Newton did grab an impressive 11 defensive rebounds on the week. While Newton mostly looked comfortable running the offense, his ball-handling was inconsistent. He had three assists in the opener but committed four turnovers against the Terriers. While Newton wasn’t known for his defense at ECU, he was solid on that end in both games and able to mostly stay on players. While fans may have had higher expectations for Newton entering the week, his inconsistency was understandable considering Newton was filling a different role than he did at ECU and playing in a different offensive system. As he gets more accustomed to the role Hurley wants him to play and his new teammates, I am confident Newton will be a strong guard at UConn and have some big games this season.

Finally, senior Joey Calcaterra, aka Joey California, offered some much needed 3-point shooting in his limited minutes. Calcaterra, who previously played for the University of San Diego, shot a combined 3-6 from deep in the two games and averaged 5.5 points. While his defense was shaky, he came up with 2 steals against BU and grabbed 4 boards. While Calcaterra will likely play limited minutes when Jackson and Hawkins return and must improve his defense, his 3point shooting can offer the Huskies some key scoring off the bench this season when necessary.

  • Freshman are fun!

While expectations were certainly high for Alex Karaban and to a lesser extent Donavan Clinigan entering the season, it is safe to say that fans didn’t expect the pair to have such good performances in their first two games for UConn. With injuries allowing the pair more playing time against Stonehill and BU, they took advantage and then some.

Karaban was touted as a big with a lot of offensive versatility and basketball IQ since arriving on campus, and he showed these skills off consistently last week. The freshman forward from New Hampshire averaged 11.5 points, 3.5 assists and 2 rebounds, and had a steal in each game. His performance earned him Big East Freshman of the Week honors. He showed the ability to both score in paint and hit the occasional jumper. Karaban, who scored 13 points against the Skyhawks and 10 against the Terriers, made up for his troubles from deep by attacking the basket for buckets and free throe opportunities. Karaban’s passing stood out more than his shooting, however. He had a combined 7 assists against just one turnover, displaying great court vision and ball handling. Karaban made excellent passes, especially in the paint. His basketball IQ was on display both with his passing as well as ability to move without the ball and execute pick-and-rolls.

On defense, Karaban occasionally lost players but played good team defense and guarded the basket occasionally when needed. Overall, Karaban displayed a ton of confidence and smarts on the court and the ability to make contributions wherever they were needed. His versatility should allow him to consistently make contributions even against tough competition.

As great as it was to watch all the Huskies last week, the most fun player to see was by far Donavon Clinigan, and I believe most fans would agree. In just 31 minutes, the gigantic Bristol native averaged 9.5 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks. Clinigan mostly subbed for Sanago, but occasionally played alongside him to create a highly imposing frontcourt. Clinigan did an excellent job of finishing shots and getting putbacks. He had four offensive rebounds against BU and reached the free throw line six times, making four shots. On defense, Clinigan did a strong job of anticipating shots and avoiding fouls. He had 4 blocks in the opener. Clinigan looked much quicker than expected while still displaying lots of muscle, showing the weight loss and strength training he put in during the preseason has been paying off. Clinigan will have a lot of ups and downs like any freshman big, especially against high-quality opponents, but he already looks like much less of a project than anticipated. And it is so much fan to have a Connecticut native to root for again.   

  • Defense and Rebounding Again Key to Team Identity

 For the last two seasons, UConn’s biggest strengths were their defense, especially in the paint, and rebounding, particularly on the offensive end. Stonehill and BU were not exactly Creighton and Villanova, but the Huskies looked pretty much the same last week. On defense, Alleyne, and Diarra pressured guards relentlessly and forced turnovers, and Sanogo, Clinigan and Karaban took terms altering shots and protecting the rim. UConn got a ton of put-backs and limited the opposition to very few second-chance opportunities. If it can consistently be strong in these areas when Jackson and Hawkins return like last year, the Huskies will have a chance to win pretty much every game.

  • Team Needs to be More Disciplined on Offense and Consistent from Deep

The largest areas of concern against Stonehill and Boston University was UConn’s sloppiness and lousy 3-point shooting against the Skyhawks and in the first half against the Terriers. The Huskies committed 29 turnovers against 33 assists in the wins. Newton’s ball-handling was surprisingly, as he had 6 turnovers and only 4 assists. Calcaterra was also loose with the ball, committing 5 turnovers, and Sanago had 5. Only Diarra and Karaban had strong assists-to-turnover ratios. The turnovers were less the result of strong defense by Stonehill and BU than UConn not protecting the ball well, leading to steals, and playing out of control at times. I am confident that Hurley will work with the players in practice to improve their ball-handling. When Jackson and Hawkins return and Newton hopefully gets more acclimated to his role, I believe the Huskies will be smarter with the ball against a large majority of teams.

UConn’s iffy 3-point shooting is a little stranger. Considering Alleyne came in as a proven sharpshooter, Diarra and Newton have been decent from three in their careers, and Karaban entered the program with a reputation as a strong perimeter shooter, and the level of competition the Huskies were facing, there is no reason they should be struggling this much. The team largely took high-quality threes in both games, with many shots rimming out. For now, I will chalk up this hiccup to the law of averages. Once Johnson and Hawkins return, UConn’s 3-point shooting should be better. It will need to be solid throughout the season to consistently stretch the floor and give Sanago more room to operate down low.

  • Richie Springs, Take a Bow

It has been a tough couple of years for Springs, who had to redshirt and then barely play the last two seasons. The junior has continued to work hard and stay upbeat however, and it paid off in the first half against BU when other bigs were in foul trouble. Springs had five points and two assists in 10 minutes while also grabbing a rebound. He looked composed on both ends and played solid defense in the paint. Springs has always looked solid in the very few minutes he’s played, and hopefully Hurley will reward him by giving him occasional minutes while Samson is out and UConn is playing an easy schedule.  

Fans Need to be More Positive About Team

During the few weeks leading up to UConn’s preseason against Stonehill Monday night, I noticed a frustrating trend from the Huskies fanbase: Way too many members of Husky nation are extremely cynical about this team. Yes, there is the small contingent whom are already certain UConn will be lifting the national championship trophy. But many, especially online, are constantly questioning the team’s reliance on transfers and the ability of certain players to live up to the hype. These fans are especially skeptical of Dan Hurley’s ability to adjust as a coach and lead the Huskies to greater postseason success.

I don’t mind reasonable skepticism about UConn’s ability to be successful this season, and share a lot of the same questions and concerns as these fans to some extent. However, this cynicism is misplaced. Yes, there will be growing pains as the team integrates a lot of new faces and probably new styles of play (four-out on offense and a faster pace of play, zone on defense), and the Huskies will eventually have to demonstrate they can consistently win close games against tough opponents. But there will also be more depth and likely offensive versatility than the last few seasons, players are primed to take large steps forward, and the transfers each offer clear strengths already. The beginning of the UConn season is a time for optimism, not worry.

First, I believe the fanbase is expressing too much concern about transfers Tristen Newton (senior guard), Hassan Diarra (junior guard), and Naheim Alleyne (senior guard). UConn has shown already that they can develop transfers from smaller conferences into impact players in R.J. Cole and Tyrese Martin, and that will continue.

Newton, a 6-5, 190-pound combo guard, had a huge season at East Carolina last season, averaging 17.7 points and 5 assists and earning First Team All-AAC honors. He averaged just under 12 points overall in three seasons at ECU. Newton showed last season that he can take over games and be a floor general against strong competition, and brings more size and speed to UConn’s backcourt.

As he gets comfortable against the tougher competition, Newton should develop into a go-to scorer for the Huskies. He does not need to be the guy constantly handling the ball for UConn with Andre Jackson and Diarra also right there, and I don’t expect him to be. Newton just needs to gain the trust of his teammates and Hurley and demonstrate reliable ball-handling. By the middle of the season, I think Newton will be main guy the team relies on to attack the rim and get big-time buckets and free throws in crunch time. Dan Hurley has indicated he has high expectations for Newton and that he needs to work hard to meet them, and I believe Newton can meet Hurley’s demands.

 While Newton’s success will likely depend on his ability to create offense for both himself and others and make baskets when the game is on the line, Darra’s will depend on him being a junkyard dog and doing all the little things, especially on defense. The 6-2, 190-pound combo guard from Queens and Texas A&M is highly regarded as an on-ball defender and can use his size and strength to force turnovers. He showed at A&M that he can be a primarily ball-handler when necessary, and improved his assist-to-turnover ratio tremendously from freshman to sophomore year.

While Diarra is still an inconsistent offensive player, he similarly made strides as a shooter and demonstrated he could be a threat behind the arch, most memorably in the Big 12 Tournament. Diarra was highly regarded by the Aggies coaches for his work ethic and competitiveness, and all reports indicate Hurley and his staff feel the same way. I strongly believe that Darra’s strength and competitiveness could help him develop into a solid rebounder for a guard of his size.

Diarra seems like he is destined to eventually become a fan favorite at UConn. With his defense, ability to play the point, and improved shooting, he could be a sparkplug off the bench or an ideal running partner for Andre Jackson, Newton, and Jordan Hawkins. Diarra showed off his versatility against Stonehill (11 points on 5-8 shooting, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals) as well as his intensity. Reports coming out in the preseason said that Diarra was demonstrating improved shooting and the ability to run the offense effectively, and Hurley seems to get the most out of any player who plays all out. In a few years, Diarra could emerge just like Christian Vital did as a senior.

While Alleyne players shooting guard and not forward, it appears to me his game is a better, more complete version of Tyler Polley. The 6-4, 195-pound senior transfer was a reliable perimeter scorer in three seasons at Virginia Tech and made 37.3% of his threes for the Hokies last season. He is over 38% in his career from deep. While Alleyne missed all four threes, he took against Stonehill, there is no reason to think those numbers will not be similar at UConn. With his size and shooting range, Alleyne should open up the offense for whomever else is on the floor.

Alleyne is more than just a 3-point specialist, however. He is considered a solid defender, and had four steals in the opener. Alleyne can play at small forward against certain teams and has been both a starter and sixth man. His maturity and extensive experience playing in a high-major league can allow him to be a leader for the Huskies, especially in these first few weeks while Jackson and possibly Hawkins are out with injury.

Most of the feedback about Alleyne’s play in the preseason was positive, and Hurley expressed satisfaction with the flexibility he offers UConn on both ends of the court. Alleyne is the perfect complimentary player every good program needs to improve.

I have become even more frustrated over the skepticism fans have in the ability of Adama Sanogo, Andre Jackson and Jordan Hawkins to become more complete and efficient players. All the offseason work Sanogo put in to expand his game, and the team’s efforts to make the offense more flexible, can allow him to be the Big East Player of the Year. Fans have read the reports/stories and seen video about Adama expanding his shooting range and passing ability, and his passing certainly looked much smoother against Stonehill. I expect Sanogo to become a more disciplined defender over the course of the year as well, especially if Hurley fully adjusts the defense so Sanogo must defend the high hedge less. I also think that with the encouragement of Hurley, Sanogo will be more aggressive offensively (more dunks please!). Finally, the likely improvement of the Huskies shooting can make it much easier for Sanogo to score and create offense for others. Fans will have to wait a while to see if he can consistently make jumpers against good teams when the opportunity arises. But Sanogo has told the rest of the Big East for two years that they should not bet against him.

Andre Jackson is already likely the most essential player to UConn reaching its ceiling not named Sanogo, as well as my favorite Husky now that Martin left. He improved tremendously as a defender (I would argue he is one of the best in the Big East) and rebounder last season, and as a ball-handler in the second half of the season. While Jackson’s offensive game was extremely inconsistent and his shooting mechanics remained ugly, he significantly improved his shooting last season and was a 3-point threat, albeit with very few attempts. With all the hard work Jackson put in to improve those mechanics and ability to finish at the rim during the offseason, and the positive feedback Hurley and reporters have given about those efforts, I think Jackson will be a more aggressive offensive player and consistent scoring threat. He may even be able to average double digits.

While I am excited about Jackson’s potential to improve as a scorer, I am way more bullish in his ability to run the offense and create good scoring opportunities for others. Jackson’s speed, vision and unselfishness is unique, especially for a forward. If he can just be more disciplined and not always go for the spectacular pass, he can be a nightmare for defenders, especially on the fastbreak. Throw in Jackson’s eagerness to embrace the role of the Huskies vocal leader, and there is a reason Hurley thinks Jackson is the heart and soul of the team. I need a little time to see if Jackson can really be a point guard like he claims, especially if Jackson is rusty when he returns from injury in a week or so, but the NBA will come calling if he can.

I am a little less confident in Hawkins’s ability to take as big of a leap offensively as fans and pundits are predicting, and that the added muscle and weight he put on in the offseason will still make it easier for him to score and avoid injury. And of course, that fear of him getting injured has only increased since his possible concussion against Stonehill that will keep him out at least one game. Hawkins has excellent shooting mechanics and was consistently praised for the offensive improvements he showed in preseason practice and scrimmages by both Hurley and reporters. While James Bouknight was better as a freshman than Hawkins, Hurley has shown the ability to develop talented freshman into sophomore stars in both Bouknight and Sanago. There is a reason NBA scouts are so high on him and he is already projected to be a first-round pick if he leaves UConn. If Hawkins can improve his ball-handling and ability to score around the rim, Hawkins will be a double-digit scorer and could consistently take over games. And as a result, UConn will likely go on a postseason run and put Hawkins in position to be a possible lottery pick next summer. 

Finally, I feel a small but loud contingent of fans believe that based on the last two seasons, Dan Hurley is incapable of winning a majority of close games against quality teams and taking the Huskies to a Big East Tournament championship and far in the NCAA tournament. These fans have unrealistic expectations for Hurley and can sound ridiculous when saying he should be fired if UConn does not get to the Sweet 16 or further in the next two seasons. I am frustrated by how the past two seasons ended, and feel that Hurley can be too slow to make in-game adjustments and call timeouts, especially in their final minutes. His tendency to always be highly emotional in games also appears from my high to have a negative effect when the players are struggling. Still, Hurley’s strengths fair outweighs his faults. He appeared to make the necessary roster adjustments in the offseason for UConn to became a more well-rounded team.

Hurley is an excellent defensive coach, and his teams the last two seasons have been especially strong at guarding the paint and getting blocks, led by the incomparable Isiah Whaley. With the departure of Martin to the NBA and Whaley and Cole to other professional leagues, Hurley made sure to bring in two well-regarded defenders in Diarra and Alleyne. While Hurley’s offenses have been more limited, he made a concentrated effort to add better shooting and ball-handling through both the portal and recruiting (for this season and next). As already stated, generating improved perimeter shooting should give Sanago more space to operate in the post, which he frequently lacked last season.

In regards to returning players, Hurley has been clear that he plans on playing Jackson at point guard frequently when he returns. While that is an audacious move to make with a guy that was recruited as a forward and has been sloppy with his passing at times, it has a ton of upside. Jackson has outstanding court vision and length and has improved his ball handling, and a point guard with his speed and size could help UConn run a devastating fastbreak. Finally, Hurley has indicated he is willing to play more zones and other defensive styles with this year’s team instead of being so reliant on the high hedge. I think doing so successfully will help the big guys a ton, especially Sanago and Clinigan, and possibly allow the Huskies to have more energy for the end of games.

I am sure I will be plenty critical of Hurley on this blog at times throughout the season, especially if the Huskies continue to lose close games like they did last year. But if Hurley truly can adjust and learn from his mistakes, this is the year the team should break through in March Madness and win a few games. Who knows what will happen in future seasons, but it is nice to have a top-5 recruiting class coming to Storrs next season.

I urge Husky nation to embrace this fun team with so many newcomers. Enjoy the opening slate of games and the opportunity to see less experienced players contribute, and do not freak out if UConn drops a game or two when they start facing powerful out-out conference teams. This group has the talent to seriously challenge for the Big East titles and go on a tournament run, and is showing a lot of promise already despite missing some key players. If UConn has a strong year, it will put them in position to likely challenge for a Final Four in the next couple of years with the talent coming in. Support the players and enjoy the ride!

Observations on Big East Tournament Games and Team Overall: Sanago at a Crossroads, Martin on Fire, and Questions About 3-Pointers

With the best UConn men’s basketball team since the 2014 season (in my humble opinion) ready to enter the NCAA tournament, a lot of fans will want to just completely focus on the tourney results and not dwell on what the Huskies accomplished either during the regular season or Big East tournament. There are a lot of valuable observations and lessons that can be taken from their conference tournament performance as the No. 3 seed, a quarterfinal win against Seton Hall and semifinal loss to eventual champion Villanova. In particular, I learned a lot from the performances of Adama Sanago and Tyrese Martin and how the team used them in the games.

The 62-52 quarterfinal win against sixth-seeded Seton Hall on Thursday was easily one of UConn’s best performances of the season. Its defense was elite, holding the Pirates to 18 points in the first half and just 0.87 points per possession on 35.7% shooting. The defense, particularly Andre Jackson and Isiah Whaley, absolutely shut down Jared Rhoden and Alexis Yetna, holding the dynamic duo to a combined 13 points on 4-21 shooting. While the Huskies were not exactly lighting MSG on fire as they shot 36.1%, they 17 points each from R.J. Cole and Tyrese Martin, outrebounded Seton Hall 46-33 (five players had five or more boards), limited their turnovers and shot 12-14 from the free throw line, all formulas to tournament success.

While the UConn-Villanova semifinal game on Friday wasn’t quite as exciting as the second between the two a few weeks ago, it was close. While UConn came out on the losing end of a 63-60 game, it gave the Wildcats everything they had and led in the final minutes of the first half and early in the second. What ultimately did the Huskies in was their offensive struggles in the paint and beyond the arc and inability to stop Villanova from scoring at the rim in the second. After Jermaine Samuels and Brandon Slater burned UConn on 3-pointers in the first, Samuels continued his excellent play in the second and Colon Gillespie put on an offensive clinic, finding teammates for buckets with bounce passes and finishing with 10 assists. The Huskies inability to finish shots at the rim and find quality 3-point shooting opportunities doomed them as they tried to make a comeback. Martin was their only reliable offensive player on the night, scoring 19 on 7-17 shooting and grabbing seven rebounds and two steals.

While UConn may have lost in the Big East tournament semifinals for the second consecutive year, their outstanding win against Seton Hall and solid performance against Villanova, which is a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament, bode well for how compeubjtitive they can be in March Madness. The Huskies, whom are seeded No. 5 in the West Region, will play No. 12 New Mexico State in the first round and should be solidly favored. After the Big East tourney, fans and the medica can feel up about the play of Martin and Andre Jackson, UConn’s excellent rebounding, especially on the offensive end, and overall defense on the interior. However, there are legitimate concerns about the play of Adama Sanago, UConn’s inconsistent shooting and the thinness of the bench. I address these subjects and more below, as well as my overall positivity about the team’s ability to go on a tournament run.

The Curious Case of Adama Sanago

There are two versions of Adama Sanago. One is the Sanago that is scoring effectively and aggressively around the basket, getting teammates involved on offense and dominating on both the boards and defense while avoiding foul trouble, even if these elements aren’t all happening at the same exact time. The other is the Sanago that is hesitant on offense and missing easy shots at the rim and or not sharing the basketball with teammates when well-guarded, struggles with foul trouble and gets lost on defense, leading to easy baskets for opponents. Good Sanago is the extremely gifted sophomore who was named First-Team All-Big East and nominated for the Kareem-Abdul-Jabber Award, which recognized the top five big men in the country. Unfortunately, the Huskies got Bad Sanago on offense at the Big East Tournament, and it especially cost them against Villanova.

After consecutive games where he didn’t play well offensively and struggled on defense against Creighton, Sanago ended his regular season on a high note against DePaul with a double-double of 26 points and 11 rebounds, giving fans hope that he would have strong games against Seton Hall and then Villanova. Sanago had been excellent against both teams in UConn’s most recent games against them. Instead, he had ugly offensive performances against both teams. Sanago shot just 2-11 against Seton Hall and scored just six points, and then had 15 points on 6-15 shooting against the Wildcats and went 3-7 from the free throw line. Sanago committed two turnovers in both games and had a single block between the two, coming against the Pirates. There were bright spots, as Sanago grabbed a combined 24 rebounds against the teams and generally avoided foul trouble while playing solid defense.

Against Seton Hall, Sanago did not obtain a lot of high-quality shots, as the Pirates did a very good job of not allowing him to get position deep in the paint and playing him aggressively without fouling. However, there was still no excuse for Sanago not to make at least a couple of more shots. While his performance was concerning, it was less of an issue with the Huskies ahead virtually the entire game, and I was pretty confident that he would have a better game against a Villanova defense that wasn’t quite as good or had the length of Seton Hall. I was very wrong. Despite being able to establish strong position in the paint and getting a decent amount of open looks against the Wildcats, Sanago consistently missed shots within five feet of the rim, a few times even badly. While he was able to get to the line seven times, Sanago missed four of the shots. The sequence that summed up his struggles came when he got the ball on four straight possessions and scored just one point, missing free shots and a free throw during the stretch. Sanago still ended the game with a double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds and was far from the only UConn player that had an ugly offensive day, as Isiah Whaley went scoreless and R.J. Cole 1-6 on 3-pointers. However, his team probably would have won if Sanago had hit just two or three of his open looks at the rim.

For Sanago, who played poorly in last season’s first-round NCAA tourney loss to Maryland, it is time to step up Thursday. He should have a big advantage against New Mexico’s state front line and if the Huskies most likely face Arkansas in the second round, a favorable matchup as well. Sanago needs to start either using the backboard or dunking the ball more on his shots to make it easier for him to score, and absolutely needs to involve his teammates more when well-guarded against the high-quality defenses he could consistently face in March Madness. At the same time, he needs to show a killer instinct offensively every second he is on the floor. I am expecting Sanago to rebound well against any opponent he faces and play good defense against most of them as long as he avoids foul trouble. If he isn’t efficient and smart offensively however, UConn will be in trouble and games could turn ugly.

Tyrese Martin Emerging as a Star on the Biggest Stage

My man crush on Martin is well-documented, and every UConn fans knows how important his versatility on both ends of the floor has been to the team’s success this year. He still seems to be overshadowed by Cole and Sanago and not fully appreciated by the media however, as he was snubbed for each of the All-Big-East teams despite averaging 13.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2 assists per game despite missing four games due to a wrist injury and dealing with lingering effects to his wrist throughout the season. Martin, whose big personality and competitiveness has always been a treat to see, was sufficiently motivated by the slight and said he would get back at it by trying to earn the conference tournament MVP award. While he didn’t quite reach that goal, Martin still earned a place on the All-Tournament team by averaging 18 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2 steals and assists against Seton Hall and Villanova.

Martin was outstanding on both ends in each game and especially against Seton Hall. The senior forward spent the whole game trash-talking the Pirates and absolutely shut down Pirates star Jared Rhoden, limiting him to 7 points on 2-13 shooting. Martin made some tough mid-range shots whenever the Huskies needed them, distributed the ball well (4 assists) and was strong on the boards as always with 8 rebounds. Against Villanova Martin was by far the most reliable offensive player, going 4-8 from three, and helped keep UConn in the game in the second half with multiple 3-pointers. As in the first game, his defense and rebounding continued to be strong.

Martin could be a nightmare for New Mexico State and any other NCAA Tournament opponents to content with. His ability to contribute in nearly every facet of the game, as well as his 3-point shooting (43.9%) in Big East play, can allow him to make a difference even if his shot isn’t falling. In addition, Martin is arguably UConn’s emotional leader along with Whaley and can help his teammates get through any struggles and intimidate opponents. As long as Martin is having a strong offensive game and can mostly avoid his issues with fouling and turnovers, it will be very hard for the Huskies to lose to an opponent.

UConn Continues to Dominate the Boards While Improving its Ball-Handling

Everyone already knows the Huskies rebounding prowess, especially when on offense, but there were still occasional games throughout the season when UConn had fewer rebounds than opponents even when the team had a clear advantage in this area normally. This has not been a problem lately, as the Huskies won the rebounding battle comfortably in the final few regular season games and then against Seton Hall and Villanova. This especially made a huge difference against Seton Hall, as their second-chance opportunities helped overcome a poor shooting night. While UConn did not convert on many of its second-chance opportunities against the Wildcats, their offensive rebounding helped to eat up clock and limit Villanova’s scoring opportunities. The Huskies talent on the boards will help nullify New Mexico State’s strength in this area as well. If they advance and most likely face Arkansas, they are better on the boards on paper as well.

While UConn’s struggles where turnovers have been a problem throughout the season, it has improved its ball-handling remarkably since early February, a huge factor in the team’s success late in the season. That continued in the Big East tournament, as the Huskies committed 17 turnovers against 22 assists, and only 7 versus Villanova. As a team, their turnover rate of 17.4% ranks 110th in the country. It is still higher than a team of their caliber should have, but the improvement is a good indicator for NCAA tourney success. New Mexico State forces turnovers just 16.4% of the time and Arkansas 17.4%.

Most of UConn’s improved numbers in the turnover department can be attributed to the improvement of Andre Jackson when handling and passing the ball. After being a turnover machine at times for much of the season, Jackson has not committed more than one turnover in six consecutive games while averaging four assists per game during this span. Jackson has not been as reckless when running the fastbreak and cut down on making risky passes that teammates are not ready far while still showcasing his outstanding his outstanding court vision. While his minutes have been limited, Jalen Gaffney has been more careful with the ball when running the paint recently, and Jordan Hawkins has been more disciplined with his dribble when handling the ball, although Dan Hurley has rarely put him in the position to do so. If these players can continue to limit their turnovers and guys like Martin and Sanago can be more disciplined with the ball, then UConn’s offense can run a lot smoother in the tournament.

The 3-Pointer Conundrum

Entering the season, many fans were worried about how well UConn would shoot from deep after they didn’t get a sharpshooter on the transfer market. It was actually significantly better on 3-pointers than myself and many others thought they’d be, draining 35.3% of them overall (79th in the country) and 35.7% in conference play (fourth). While Cole and Gaffney’s numbers from deep fell, Martin improved significantly, as did Polley to a small extent and Jackson significantly. Add on the contribution of Hawkins (33.3%), and the Huskies 3-point shooting numbers were actually a strength of the time. At the same time, they were pretty inconsistent against high-caliber team and struggled mightily on threes in the last four games of the season (27.3% against Creighton and 30% against Seton Hall). The team also had issues getting Polley open for 3-point opportunities, with an example being him taking no more than three 3-pointers in any of the last five games.

After missing three games due to a concussion suffered against Creighton, Hawkins is expected to be able to play a significant number of minutes against New Mexico State. His presence will help make it easier for UConn to get good 3-point shooting opportunities in the NCAA Tournament. To go on a tournament run, it is essential that the Huskies shoot well from deep. It’s not only a skill that’s been demonstrated to be a barometer for tournament success over time, but will make it easier for Sanago to score as defenders will be drawn away from him. Martin needs to continue to make threes at a consistent clip, Cole needs to be more consistent and another player (likely Hawkins, Whaley or Jackson) will need to contribute at a decent clip. Most importantly, the team needs to find a way to get Polley a decent number of opportunities in every game it plays, particularly shots where he is set, and he needs to do his job and be the sniper he was recruited to the program to be. New Mexico State has held opponents to just 30% from deep (20th in the country), so the Huskies have their work cut out for them.  

While there’s legitimate concern about UConn’s ability to make threes, the bigger issue is allowing threes. It allowed all opponents to shoot 34.5% (233) and conference opponents to make 35.8% of treys). It allowed their last three opponents to shoot over 33% from three, and generally allowed a lot of opponents and players who weren’t particularly good from three this season to have very good nights against its defense (See Brandon Slater and Jermaine Samuels against Villanova). Part of opponent’s success from three against UConn is due to its defensive system, which prioritizes guarding the rim and not allowing ball handlers to beat them off the dribble. While the hard hedge is very successful on defense a majority of the time, it can make it harder for players to close out late on 3-point shooters. As I discuss more below, the Huskies have to be willing to make defensive adjustments to limit quality 3-point opportunities if a player or full team is going off. The players also need to communicate with one another to help limit kickouts and make sure players are capable of closing out efficiently.

New Mexico State and Arkansas are both poor 3-point shooting teams, although Vermont is an excellent one if they managed to pull off the upset against the Razorbacks. While a lot of luck is involved when team’s have especially good games from deep, I could absolutely see that being a big Achilles heel for UConn whenever it loses.

Will Dan Hurley be Flexible?

Hurley had a very good year. He continued to be an excellent defensive coach, tweaked things on offense in the second half of the season that allowed it to become more efficient and began to win more close games as the season went on. Hurley was also instrumental in helping Jackson and especially Sanago make big leaps as sophomores. At the same time, Hurley needs to be willing to make adjustments in a couple of areas in certain situations during March Madness, especially if the Huskies are losing to New Mexico State or another opponent down the round.

The first area UConn and Hurley need to be flexible is with their starting lineup. It has consistently started games out slow and a huge factor in this is the lack of offensive power in its regular lineup with Jackson and Whaley. As elite of a defender as Whaley is, I think that the team would generally be better off starting Polley or possibly Hawkins (although I very much doubt that will happen). Starting Polley involved could help him get going early and allow the Huskies to possibly stretch the floor at the same time, which could be a huge boom for Sanago. I am almost completely sure that Hurley would ride the starting lineup he has all season, but it would be interesting to see him change it and throw a wrinkle into the game plan of opponents, especially considering the strength of New Mexico State’s defense.

A second area Hurley needs to be flexible is making sure to his players that they cannot fall into a habit of feeding Sanago and watching him work, especially if Sanago is struggling. Instead, Sanago needs to be told to pass the ball out or to cutting teammates if he is not in good scoring position and then find methods for allowing Sanago to score more easily. Sanago should be very effective against New Mexico State, but UConn would need to continue to follow this strategy against any opponent it faces. Finally, Hurley needs to be way more flexible with his defense if the Huskies are struggling in the man-to-man and with playing the hard hedge, which would involve practicing it a decent amount in the leadup to Thursday’s game. I’d like to see him throw in some variation of a zone if the defense is shaky. Ditto with a box-and-one defense. If the team is consistently struggling to stop a single player, which in this scenario would likely be Aggies star Teddy Allen, I believe Hurley shouldn’t hesitate to double-team said player. Finally, I would love to see the Huskies press ball-handlers in an effort to get more transition opportunities. When you’re in the win-or-go-home situation of an NCAA tourney game, a team shouldn’t hesitate to try anything that might give them a better chance t

Abscence of Tyrese Martin and Adama Sanogo Could Continue to Hurt Huskies Going Forward

When I first heard that senior forward Tyrese Martin and sophomore center Adama Sanogo would each be out for a few weeks with different injuries, I must admit that my first thought was “fuck! How does this keep happening to the Huskies?”. Let’s admit, the UConn program has experienced a lot of major injuries which have thrown wrenches into its seasons in recent years (see multiple injuries to Alterique Gilbert, Akok Akok and Tyler Polley’s ACL tears, James Bouknight’s elbow injury last season, and Jalen Adam’s MCL sprain in 2019). Luckily, neither injury does not seem to be as bad as fans first imagined, and both Martin and Sanogo are ahead of schedule in their rehab processes. After defeating University of Maryland-Eastern Shore and Grambling State to improve to 8-1, the Huskies lost their second game of the season to West Virginia Wednesday and will have their hands full this week trying to gameplan for a quality St. Bonaventure team on Saturday (likely) without two of their best players. And don’t forget the beginning of Big East play.

While I will examine UConn’s performances against the three teams they played without the duo, let’s first look at how the absence of Martin could affect UConn against Maryland and St. Bonaventure, as there is a possibility he could make an appearance against St. Bonaventure (he is a game-time decision as of Friday night). Before injuring his wrist during the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament that sidelined him for 2-4 weeks prior to the game against UMES beginning on November 30th, Martin was averaging 12.9 points and 7.7 rebounds (currently ranking third and second on the team) and is second on the team in field goal shooting at 53%. On KenPom, Martin is first in true shooting and effective field goal shooting percentages of 59.2% and 58.3%.

As previously discussed in this space, Martin is by far my favorite player on the Huskies. Since arriving in Storrs from URI, he has been one of the team’s best rebounders and defenders and a reliable scoring option. Martin has been a more versatile offensive player this year, improving his finishing at the rim and his 3-point shooting (43.8% on 16 attempts). While Martin is a natural small forward, he can also play at small forward or shooting guard in certain situations. His most distinguishing traits may be his leadership abilities and toughness. Martin frequently visibly demonstrates to opponents that he, and by extension the entire team, cannot be pushed around. Martin was at his best during the Battle 4 Atlantis, averaging 12 points and over nine rebounds and recording a double-double against Michigan State. When you sum this all up, I think Martin is the team’s best all-around player, just ahead of Sanogo. 

Martin’s absence would be deeply felt against St. Bonaventure. Against the Bonnies, Martin would provide a reliable defensive presence against their quality offenses. St. Bonaventure limits turnovers and blocks well as of Thursday night and shoots well inside the arc. He would likely be a primary defender on Jalen Adaway, who is averaging 14.6 points and 7.5 rebounds and could take on an even bigger role if Kyle Lofton doesn’t play for the Bonnies. On offense, Martin could have helped UConn score effectively in the paint and given it a huge lift behind the arc, as teams shoot 33.9& from three against St. Bonaventure. Finally, Martin could have provided a huge lift on the boards, as the Bonnies are not particularly strong in this area.

Martin’s biggest competition for best all-around player on the Huskies is Sanogo, who will be out close to a month due to an abdominal strain after injuring himself against Grambling State. Sanogo, arguably the best big man in the Big East as a sophomore, is averaging 15.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in eight games. Sanogo has a true shooting percentage of 57.9% and a block rate of 6.8%. Sanogo has three 20-point games, and at his best is unstoppable against defenders, constantly bulling him. He scored 30 points and had six rebounds in the tournament win against Auburn, scoring in a variety of ways. Sanogo’s two big weaknesses as a player right now are his reluctance to pass out of the post when covered and a tendency to get into foul trouble, though he has improved in the second area a lot this week.

Against St. Bonaventure, Sanogo could have gone toe-to-toe with the “6-10” Osun Ossuniyi on both ends, who’s averaging 3.3 blocks. Sanogo’s ability to block shots and shooting touch would have allowed him to have a solid game against the Bonnies. Looking ahead one game, Sanogo’s absence could hurt the Huskies on the 21st against Providence, as Friars center Nate Watson is averaging 15 points and 5.3 rebounds.

With no Martin and a limited Sanogo against UM-ES, UConn’s performances have been inconsistent so far between that game and West Virginia. Against a poor UM-ES squad, the Huskies played their worst game of the season and won by just nine points (72-53). They looked flat throughout, with RJ Cole (25 points and four assists) and Tyler Polley (14 points) basically dragging them to the win. UConn shot just 43.7% and outrebounded UM-ES just 33-30. UM-ES shot 47.1% and was in the game until the very end.

The Huskies rebounded against Grambling State last Saturday, winning 88-59. UConn dominated the boards, outrebounding GSU 48-33, and limited GSU to 39% shooting while forcing 16 turnovers and earning 10 blocks. Cole overcome a poor shooting day to go 10-11 at the line and score 18 points. He added seven assists and four steals. Whaley continued to be a rock inside, going for 12 and 8, and Jordan Hawkins recovered from a tough few game to score 15 points and knock down three treys. Akok Akok, had one of his best games of the season, finishing with 10 points and six rebounds.

If the depth UConn displayed against GSU made any fans think winning at West Virginia could be easy, they had another thing coming. The Huskies were a mess offensively for much of the game against the Mountaineers excellent D, and again lacked composure and efficiency at the end of a close game in the 56-53 loss. While much of the blame for the loss can be put at the feet of the Huskies shooting 3-21 from beyond the arc, there were a ton of other issues. The team’s ball handling was atrocious at times and UConn finished with 16 turnovers. Its rebounding was also lackluster, as the Huskies allowed WVU to earn 12 offensive rebounds and did a poor job boxing out. Finally, there was a huge disparity among the teams in foul shots and UConn went just 6-11 at the line. Their offensive showing negated an excellent defensive performance. The Huskies held the Mountaineers to 39.6% shooting and had eight steals. Their scoring was very unbalanced, as Taz Sherman and Sean McNeal scored 39 of the 56 points. Cole and Whaley were again UConn’s best players, scoring 14 (along with three assists and steals) and 15 points respectively. Cole had consecutive threes midway through the second half to finally put the Huskies in front for the first time.   

The Huskies were able to overcome their offensive limitations and the pressure of the Mountaineers defense by dominating the paint and especially executing well on cuts in the first 30 minutes and were eventually able to take a 47-43 lead. From this point on however, West Virginia successfully upped the pressure even more and crawled back to tie the game. In the final five minutes, UConn had three turnovers, all generally unforced, multiple shot clock violations, scored just four points and committed six fouls. Even more concerning, Husky players were unable to adjust at all to a 1-3-1 zone that WVU coach Bob Huggins threw at UConn, and everyone besides Cole and Whaley looked like they didn’t want to take such high-pressure shots.      

West Virginia was a loss that made me want to panic, as silly as that sounds. It wasn’t the fact that UConn lost, as this wasn’t a big surprise when the time was playing in a hostile environment down two strong players. It was having to see UConn crumble in the final minutes of a game again, with the team unable to avoid silly mistakes or adjust. I don’t know how much that is on the players just screwing up or not being prepared in general partially due to Danny Hurley. Eventually however, the program must show the ability to hold the lead in close games, particularly if they are on the road. Even as Hurley has gained more talent, he and his players have not demonstrated this is a major step they can take.

UConn should get the chance to prove they can win a close game against St. Bonaventure, particularly if Kyle Lofton (17.4 points and roughly six assists) returns to play and Martin is not available. If he does, it would change the complexion of the game. Even down two players however, the Huskies have faced tougher competition and the Bonnies defense does not measure up too many teams UConn has played). To win, the team will have to cut down on mistakes, adjust if their offensive approach is not working, and continue to rebound and defend well. I will give the Huskies the benefit of the doubt and say they get their second high-quality out of conference win. If they do, the WVU loss will be a blip on the radar. If UConn loses again however, I would be concerned about the team’s state of mind entering Big East play.