Tag: feature

Freshman Evaluation: Yarin Hasson Brings Offensive Talent From Israel to Storrs

Alone with fellow freshman Apostolos Rummglou, Israeli native Yarin Hasson is hopefully the first step in UConn becoming a destination for international players. It may take a while for the versatile 6-9 forward to make an impact in actual games, as he faces a steep learning curve and most get significantly stronger. But Hasson, whom committed to UConn in late August, offers the offensive skills Dan Hurley has began looking more and more from his big men: quality perimeter shooting and passing.

Hasson, who only just turned 18, played his high school ball for Gimnasia Realit in Rishon Le-Zion. He is also a member of Israel’s U18 national team and played for the Maccabi rishon le Zion club team. The big is considered one of the best prospects in the country.

Hasson, who was encouraged to play in the U.S. by recruiter and countryman Yuval Shaham, committed to the University of Denver last spring. After admission issues with the school however, he chose to decommit and was recruited by a number of schools. Hurley and assistant Luke Murray discovered Hasson a few months, and were impressed by his YouTube videos and the Zoom conversations the trio had.

For Hasson, the coaches and school made an immediate impression on him.

“When I talked with Coach Hurley and Coach Murray, I really liked what they said to me,” Hasson told CT Insider. “They like to work hard, they have passion for the game. I liked that because that is my mindset, too.”

While there is little video out there of Hasson right now, the clips available immediately show why the Huskies decided to go after him as a developmental piece. Hasson showcases a good stroke from deep, quality passing ability and the ability to score inside as well. In addition, Hasson has been praised for his basketball IQ. Down the road, it’s easy to imagine that he could be a dangerous weapon on offense in multiple ways. While there is little information about Hasson’s defensive ability, he said he believes he could be an effective shot blocker.

As promising as Hasson is, he will not be a finished product for a while. Sham and the UConn coaches have said that he needs to become much stronger and adapt to the Huskies strength and conditioning program. Hasson, whom just turned 18, will also be much younger than the average freshman. As strong as his basketball IQ is, he obviously has a steep learning curb with the level of competition the Big East offers compared to the leagues he has competed in before. Hasson will be a valuable practice player this season, but I strongly doubt he won’t get any real minutes for at least another season.

Hasson quickly made a strong impression on his new teammates when he arrived in Storrs. Andre Jackson in particular has a lot of praise for him back in September. The junior singled out Hasson’s energy level and focus, and gave him kudos for his ability to adjust quickly to a new country and culture.

If Hasson is successful at UConn, the program may finally be able to consistently start getting international players to come, something that has not happened since the reign of Jim Calhoun. Hurley has made it clear he would like to bring on the occasional international player, particularly since they have the reputation of being more fundamentally sound than the average U.S. player coming out of high school.

Hasson is particularly unique because he may be able to open a pipeline to attracting Israeli players, something that UConn had great success with in the early years of Jim Calhoun’s tenure. In particular, Nadav Henfeld and Doron Sheffer were key building blocks to the Huskies becoming a preeminent program. Hasson spoke about the appeal UConn still has for Israeli players and fans.

“In Israel, UConn is really an iconic university and it’s really well-known here,” Hasson said. “Second, UConn is for real a big (basketball) school, a really high-major school, in the Big East. “I believe I can play at this level.”  

Hasson is exactly the type of player UConn should be bringing to Storrs to fill out the roster and serve as a developmental piece. His work ethic and basketball IQ will make him a valuable practice player, and Hasson’s versatile offensive game will immediately be a valuable skill set. If Hasson can get stronger and adjust to the level of competition over the next two years, he should be a valuable rotation player as an upperclassman. Throw in the possibility Hasson’s success could attract quality international players, and he offers a ton of upside.

Freshman Evaluation: Alex Karaban set to Bring Diverse Offensive Game to Team

Karaban, a Massachusetts native, played two seasons at the New Hampton School, earning the New Hampshire Gatorade Player of the year for the 2021-22 season. After committing to play at UConn last August, Karaban played part of a post-grad year at IMG Academy in Florida before joining UConn during the spring semester. Karaban got the opportunity to work out, compete in practice and watch his older teammates from the bench during games.

During his senior season at New Hampton, Karaban averaged 25.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.9 blocks per game while connecting on 60.3% of his field-goal attempts. He led the school to the NEPSAC Class AAA tournament championship, being names the MVP of the title game. As a member of the AAU team Expressions Elite, he averaged 18.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 blocks and earned selection to the All-Peach Jam Second Team. At the time of his commitment, Karaban was ranked 42nd in his class by ESPN.

Karaban is a 6-8 forward and entered UConn weighing 230 but had since lost 15 pounds as of the middle of August. He is a high-quality midrange and outside shooter but can also use his bulk to beat defenders at the rim. Karaban is also considered a solid passer and is an outstanding free throw shooter. He should develop into a strong rebounder for the Huskies, and multiple writers have particularly singled out Karaban’s work on the offensive glass.

Karaban will be a work-in-progress on defense at the start of his career. He was considered a solid defender in high school, particularly when playing team defense. Karaban will likely most have to work on developing more speed and improving footwork. His basketball IQ, which was signaled out for praise by Dan Hurley when Karaban committed, should help in this area and allow Karaban to adjust to different defensive schemes. It will be interesting to see if Karaban becomes an effective shot blocker over the course of his UConn career.

Karaban’s stock has only risen since the team has returned to consistently practicing over the last two months. Much of the information coming out of practice has indicated that Karaban has consistently impressed the team with his shooting, rebounding and overall effort and basketball IQ. Hurley admitted a few days ago that Karaban had a solid chance to start at forward. Although I believe Samson Johnson will be the nominal starter at the four to start the year, I’m very confident the pair will split starter’s minutes while Andre Jackson is out with injury the first two weeks of the season.

While Karaban may not be the most acclaimed recruit Hurley has recruited to Storrs during his tenure, he may be the one I am most excited to watch. The ability Karaban could have to stretch the floor makes him stand out from any other freshman big man. When you add on Karaban’s ability to score and rebound around the rim as well and basketball IQ, he could quickly become something special. If Karaban is successful, it will only help UConn’s ability to attract top recruits in the Northeast and more versatile bigs. Now just become more refined on defense, Alex.

Tristen Newton Should be Playmaker Team Needs at Point

Despite UConn’s success the last three seasons, the program has not been blessed with a reliable scorer and playmaker at point guard. Enter Tristen Newton, formally of East Carolina. He was heavily recruited after entering the transfer portal when the Pirates season ended and the Huskies pounced on him quickly to fill their hole in the backcourt. After his official visit, Newton was quickly on board with playing in Storrs.

Newton was considered one of the top guards in the entire transfer portal and for good reason. He averaged 17.7 points, 5 assists and 4.8 rebounds for the 15-15 Pirates, regularly carrying the team in the AAC. Barring an injury, Newton seems penciled as Newton’s primary point guard next season (although Andre Jackson should run the offense to a decent extent).

The “6-5”, 190 pound Newton can score from anywhere on the floor and is particularly adapt at getting to and finishing at the rim, as well as reaching the free throw line. He was automatic from the stripe last season, shooting 87.9% overall and leading the American with an 87.4% mark. Factor in Newton’s ball-handling, ability to make plays for teammates and rebound and defend, and it’s clear he could have been successful day one at whatever program he transferred to.

Newton’s advanced stats as a junior show why he was a star for ECU. Newton had a true shooting percentage of 57.5% and an effective field goal percentage of 49.9%. In conference play, he ranked 16th in true shooting percentage. While Newton isn’t a huge threat from beyond the arc, his mark of 33.3% last season was more than respectable. Newton’s assist rate in conference play ranked second at33.2, and his overall rate of 34.4 was 24th in the nation. Newton demonstrated he could he could carry an extremely heavy workload last season, averaging the highest percentage of minutes of any AAC player and the third-most percentage of possessions.

Newton’s arrival should give the team a reliable three-true outcome scorer. In particular, Newton can both stretch the floor and effectively find teammates for good scoring opportunities. His versatility will especially be key if Hurley chooses to play four-out on offense for stretches. I can just imagine Andre Jackson and Adama Sanogo getting a lot of quality scoring chances because of Newton’s ability to create.

On defense, Newton’s steal percentage last season was 2.4% and he was excellent on the defensive boards for a point guard, grabbing 13.1% of his opportunities. Newton had multiple steals in 14 games, and five or more rebounds in 15 games. His size and athleticism will allow him to reliably pressure ball-handlers, and Newton’s rebounding ability can help UConn get out ahead of teams and and effectively run the fast-break. Dan Hurley also mentioned that Newton’s length will possibly allow the Huskies to play zone more.

Newton is expected to become UConn’s to-to player from day one along with Adama Sanogo. However, he certainly knows there are things he can immediately improve on both now and throughout the season. Newton specifically pointed to improving his strength and conditioning to withstand the tougher competition in the Big East.

Newton embraced the Huskies when he entered the portal after Hurley and the coaching staff demonstrated knowledge of his background and game, something that was not true of many programs that reached out to Newton. His bond continued to strengthen with the coaches and players once Newton reached campus. Like many players, he appreciates Hurley’s passion on the court.

“Ever since the first phone call, I knew that they cared about their players,” Newton said. “They’re players’ coaches. They’re going to push you hard and want the best for you. That’s what drew me here.”

It’s a question mark right now how likely Newton is to use his extra year. On one hand, he can be a signature player for the Huskies and a leader embraced by fans. On the other hand, Newton can put himself in position to be drafted if he has a strong season.

Newton can surpass R.J. Cole and Tyrese Martin as maybe the highest-impact transfer in UConn history. In particular, he can be the key to the program becoming much more versatile on offense and finally lead them to a tournament run again. If Newton is successful with the Huskies, it will only make them more appealing for transfers going forward. Bring him on!

Naheim Alleyne Brings Experience and Shooting to Storrs

Naheim Alleyne had three strong years at Virginia Tech, averaging 9.9 points. But after a tough first-round NCAA tourney loss for the Hokies, Alleyne was looking for a fresh start in the transfer portal. That’s when Luke Murray and UConn came calling.

While the “6-4” shooting guard was heavily pursued by programs looking for shooting, Murray was the only assistant coach who directly messaged Alleyne on Instagram. Alleyne then forged a close connection with the rest of the assistant coaching staff, and once he met Dan Hurley in person and saw the school up close, Alleyne realized the Huskies were the perfect fit for him.

UConn met the three criteria he was looking for in a program: skill development, a strong relationship with the coaches, and an appealing campus environment. Meanwhile, Alleyne was fulfilling the Huskies desire for a veteran guard who could reliably put the ball in the basket and bring a winning mentality.

As a player, Alleyne profiles as a sharpshooter, reliable ballhandler and skilled defender. He is a career 38.7% 3-point shooter and has been very consistent from deep throughout his career. Last season, he shot 37.3% from three and was twenty-third in ACC play at 37.9%. He made three or more treys in 10 games. With Virginia Tech, Alleyne especially provided himself adept moving without the ball and shooting off of screens.

Overall on offense, Alleyne averaged 9.6 points per game last season with an effect field goal percentage of 48.2% and a true shooting percentage of 51.8%. Alleyne’s shooting inside the arc was again underwhelming (38.8%), but he did shoot over 85% at the line. Alleyne scored in double-digits 17 times and was strong in February during ACCC play, averaging 10 points. However he struggled in the ACC tourney even as the Hokies won, averaging just 6.5 points, and scored four on 1-3 shooting in their first round NCAA tourney loss to Texas.

While Alleyne is known for the three, he has the ability to be a solid midrange shooter as well as take the ball to the rim and score. Alleyne is not going to be a guy who regularly creates his own offense, but he can make a shot from anywhere on the floor with enough spacing. At the same time, Alleyne has the passing ability to find open teammates anywhere on the floor.

Alleyne is a very reliable ballhandler, as he committed just over one turnover per game last season. In ACC play, his turnover percentage of 13% was 19th in the conference. While Alleyne averaged just 1.5 assists, he is universally regarded as a good passer and that percentage should go up if UConn is able to knock down outside shots and spread the floor. Alleyne should especially be able to find teammates like Adama Sanogo and Andre Jackson open inside for easy looks. Because of Alleyne’s size and length, the Huskies can also rely on him to break the press in certain situations.

With his size and agility, Alleyne should be a handful against any guard or small forward he defends. He is known for his aggressiveness and active hands as well as his ability to avoid fouls. The senior transfer averaged a steal a game and had six games with double digit steals last season. With how well Alleyne seems to fit Dan Hurley’s defensive system and the coach’s ability to teach it, I could easily see these numbers going up.

Alleyne certainly has lofty goals now that he has arrived in Storrs. He told the Courant that his goal is to win both the Big East title and national championship as well as improve as a player. He also wants to show more emotion on the court at UConn, emulating Dan Hurley as much as he can.

I believe Alleyne was another great portal pickup for UConn. He’s the ideal 3-and-D player, and we know he want be intimidated playing in the Big East after facing so much talent in the ACC. All the feedback about Alleyne so far this offseason has been positive. Alleyne will definitely push Jordan Hawkins for the third guard spot in the starting lineup, although it’s more likely that he would be the first guard of the bench. Alleyne found a great landing spot, and I look forward to seeing him drain threes in my dreams.

Hassan Diarra Comes Home to Storrs

When Hassan Diarra was starring for Putnam Science Academy in high school, UConn heavily recruited the four-star recruit hard but came up short for the shooting guard, who decided to head to the Southwest and Texas A&M. When Diarra was ready for a new opportunity after his sophomore season, however, it didn’t take much time for Diarra to decide to come home.

Diarra, a ‘6-2’ shooting guard, averaged 6.2 points and 1.4 assists last season and 6 points in his two seasons with the Aggies, who just missed the NCAA tournament last season. He added 19 assists last season in 39 games. Diarra developed a reputation for clutch shooting last season, hitting three 3-pointers that either tied or won the game for Texas A&M. Diarra is certainly not scared of the big moment, telling the media “I think it’s just a testament to how hard I work. I work hard every day, and it showed in the biggest moments.”

Diarra showed some growth last season but still has a lot of room for improvement with the Huskies, who he can play up to three seasons with due to the extra Covid-19 year available. He improved his shooting significantly as a sophomore, going up 13 points in his offensive rating according to KenPom and recording solid jumps in his effective field goal and true shooting percentages as well (to 43.8 and 48.7). Diarra cut down his turnover rate by 7.3 points to 21.4, and improved his assist rate in conference play. After a tough start to conference play, Diarra ultimately ended up with seven double-digit scoring games and ultimately had 11 on the season. The muscular Diarra is a solid finisher and shot 48.7% inside the arc during conference play.

Diarra does not have a great handle and committed multiple turnovers in 12 games. However, he will be capable of providing additional ball-handling when necessary and support Tristen Newton, Andre Jackson and Jordan Hawkins with running the offense during short spurts. Diarra will likely compete with Hawkins for starter’s minutes. A key factor for Diarra earning more minutes is improving his 3-point shooting. He knocked down 31.2% beyond the arc as a sophomore and drained multiple threes in eight games.

Diarra should be a solid defender for the Huskies. He has demonstrated the ability to use his size and athleticism to body up on defenders and pressure the ball. Diarra has a knack for getting steals and earned a steal rate of 2.5% with the Aggies last year, forcing multiple ones in six games.

The long-standing relationship that Hassan’s brother Mamadou has with the UConn program certainly didn’t hurt when Diarra was deciding to transfer. Mamadou played briefly for UConn under Kevin Ollie before injuries ended his on-court career, and has been a member of the coaching staff for four years now. He was recently promoted to the role of Director of Player Development. Ultimately however, Hassan told the media that his final decision in where he transferred came down to the relationship with the coaches, where he could see himself thriving, and the program having winning as a priority.

Diarra is especially valuable to the program as a skilled player who will be with the program for at least two years (barring him transferring) and can develop under the tutelage of Dan Hurley. As a junior, he will likely play 15-20 minutes at most. Diarra should play significantly more minutes next season at shooting guard if Tristan Newton and Naheim Alleyne choose to not use the super senior year available to them due to Covid-19 or Andre Jackson decided to pursue a professional career.   

UConn was in need of two-way players who have had proven success at a high level, and Diarra absolutely fills that niche. If he can provide an immediate impact on defense and continue to become more well-rounded on offense, the Huskies could find themselves with an indispensable piece and fan favorite in Hassan’s final season in Storrs.

Transfer Joey Calcaterra Brings Reliable Outside Shooting to Bench

The former San Diego Torrero will be leaving the West Coast Conference and heading to the East Coast for his sixth and final college season. Calcaterra, a ‘6-3’ shooting guard, played four seasons for USD and averaged 8.5 points and shot 34.4% from three as a regular starter last season. Calcaterra struggled with injuries at times, missing two games, and had a shooting slump in the middle of the season that caused his rate states to go down in comparison to his sophomore and junior seasons, when he averaged double figures.

If one just briefly looks at Calcaterra’s stats from last season, they can be forgiven for wondering why the Huskies would want to bring in a super senior transfer from a mid-major conference that isn’t elite in any one area, especially as the program’s likely final transfer portal acquisition. But looking closer, you recognize that Calcaterra’s perimeter and free throw shooting, passing and experience makes him a great fit for the Huskies as a rotational guard, especially considering Dan Hurley’s stated desire to play a 4-out offense.

In addition to his injury issues, part of Calcaterra’s offensive inconsistency last season was due to the lack of help his teammates gave him. San Diego’s offensive efficiency was ranked 298th on KenPom, and players assisted on just over 39% of field goals, the fourth-worst mark in the nation. Calcaterra is much more suited to playing a catch-and shoot game than creating off the dribble, and it’s easy to see how having to constantly create his own scoring opportunities as well as for others could depress both the sharpshooter’s overall stats and efficiency. With UConn, Calcaterra will benefit from open, high-quality shots and be pressured into turnovers less.

In Storrs, Calcaterra should be an effective off the bench sniper who can consistently provide 10-20 quality minutes on offense, especially against defenders he matches up well with physically that he can shoot over. Calcaterra should be able to get good looks both when set and on the move off of screens. While his shooting splits were mostly down across the board as a fifth-year senior (41/.2/34.4/86.8), they were much more efficient during his pandemic-shortened junior year (44.6/37.7/867), when his true shooting was at 62.3%, and even Calcaterra’s sophomore campaign. When you go back and look at videos of his shooting stroke from last season it appears to be as technically sound as ever, even if the ball didn’t go in the basket as much. With UConn, I expect Calcaterra to improve on his shooting percentage from three as he’s given more space to operate. Even if he doesn’t, similar shooting numbers should be more than acceptable with the other perimeter threats joining the Huskies both through the portal and as freshman.

The feedback fans have gotten back about Calcaterra’s performance in practice and scrimmage since he arrived should make them even more confident about his ability to be a “microwave scorer” off the bench. Associate head coach Kimani Young called him “the best shooter by far” in the summer sessions in early August, and both Andre Jackson and Jordan Hawkins testified to Calcaterra’s shooting prowess as well as his leadership ability.

Calcaterra’s ability to contribute in areas other than perimeter shooting are a little more up in the air. White he could act as a secondary ball handler for brief stretches of time against certain opponents, he was an unspectacular ball handler and passer with the Toreros and did not show the ability to create plays off the dribble for others. This is borne out by both video and Calcaterra’s stats, as he has averaged more turnovers than assists every year of his college career (his rates were 10.8% to 19.5% last season). UConn fans know after last season that its team needs as many spare ball handlers as possible, but don’t expect Calcaterra to soundly develop a great handle or playmaking skills anytime soon. Hurley and the Huskies didn’t recruit him for that role, and it’s mostly fine.

Calcaterra’s ability to be an effective defender is also up in the air. While he is widely seen as a hard worker on that end, Calcaterra may struggle to cover more quicker and more athletic perimeter players who he doesn’t have a size advantage on. At the same time, what was considered strong defense against WCC opponents will definitely not carry over against top Big East and additional power conference foes. Calcaterra’s overall box plus-minus was -2.4 last season. Dan Hurley has shown the ability to especially coach up and help improve players on the defensive end however, and I expect him to be able to do the same for Calcaterra. And again, the transfer is at UConn to provide depth and versatility on offense in likely limited minutes.  

While Calcaterra’s defense and ball-handling may not make a positive impact in his final college season, it is heartening to see how eager he was to play for a prestigious program like UConn and willing to take a reduced role to play for a winner. When he officially transferred, Calcaterra told the media that “It’s just an exciting time to be a part of such a historic program and successful program and the opportunity itself is just really a blessing,” and “I know nothing’s gonna be given to me. Obviously, they have a great roster already, so I’m just excited to get out there and play with the guys that are on the roster.” Every program needs experienced guys who take that mentality, especially as the transfer portal becomes a much bigger part of the game. The Huskies need experienced starters to set an example for such a young team, and Calcaterra’s ability to do so is just as important as the stats he will put up.

After becoming more familiar with Calcaterra over the past few weeks, I think he was a great pickup as a reliable and heavily experienced shooting guard who should be able to regularly play 10-15 minutes and have a few standout performances when his 3-pointers are following. You can’t do much better for a sixth backcourt option, especially now that Hurley has committed to regularly playing a 4-out offense. I can immediately see Calcaterra becoming a favorite of myself and many other loyal fans. One thing is for certain: Hurley’s quartet of transfer pickups (Calcaterra, Tristen Newton, Hassan Diara and Nahiem Alleyne) has to be one of the most impressive of any power conference team and bodes well for their chance of improvement.    

Examining the Transfers Who Left: A Bigger Picture

With UConn getting a trio of strong transfers so far, I will absolutely give coverage of each transfer as well as the larger impact they should have on the program in the next week. Before that however, I have to examine the four transfers UConn lost (Rahsool Diggins, Akok Akok, Jalen Gaffney and Corey Floyd Jr.), the circumstances behind each player’s decision and the impact they had on the Huskies while in Storrs. In a lot of ways, I think the three transfers UConn has gotten in the portal so far this offseason are a net positive over the ones they lost. However, losing each transfer is very disappointing, especially the transfers of Gaffney and especially Floyd. One thing that’s obvious: Having at least one or two players transfer from the Huskies in the portal should be the norm in the next few years, particularly with the attractiveness of NIL deals.

Below are my thoughts about the four transfers. It is said to see them all go. However, I think the transfers will as a group likely find better opportunities with their new programs.

Rahsool Diggins

When Diggins first committed to UConn in the summer of 2020, there was a hope that he could be the next great UConn point guard. The four-star Philly product was seen as a top-10-point guard in the 2021 class and a top-60 player overall, and was named the Pennsylvania Player of the Year as a senior playing for Archbishop Wood High School. The Huskies snagged Diggins over blue-chip programs like Florida, Villanova and Kansas a long with over strong ones. On the recruiting circuit, Diggins was seen as a strong ball handler who could attack and score at the basket, and was especially heavily praised for his leadership ability. When he arrived in Storrs last summer, Diggins continued to be praised for his potential, swagger and leadership potential.

At the beginning of this past season, it was hoped by fans that Diggins could become a reliable backup at point guard to R.J. Cole and Gaffney by the end of the year and a general sparkplug off the bench. However, he never displayed the ability to do so. Diggins only twice played more than seven minutes (against Central in the opener and Grambling State) and no more than three minutes in the four Big East games he played in. Ultimately, Diggins shot just 3-10 and committed 6 turnovers against 4 assists. Diggins turnover rate in the miniscule minutes he played was 45.6%.

Like most fans, I was desperate to see Diggins appear more, especially with Gaffney disappointing throughout Big East play. However, it is understandable to me why Hurley didn’t give him more run time. Diggins appeared overwhelmed when he did appear during garbage time, struggling to run the offense and handle the ball efficiently. There is the caveat that Diggins almost never played with multiple starters. Between his play and the whispers about him struggling on defense and consistently running the offense in practice, it seems that Diggins was not ready for the level of play as a freshman. If Diggins had been performing well in practice as the season went on, I think it’s likely that he would have taken minutes from Gaffney, just as Jalen did as a freshman from Alterique Gilbert.

After looking at a handful of programs on the East Coast, including Penn State, Diggins decided to transfer to UMass and play for new head coach Frank Martin, who led South Carolina to the Final Four five years ago. The decision makes a lot of sense, as Diggins will be able to play for a coach who’s determined to give opportunities to young players and should get more playing time at a slightly lower level of competition. Diggins definitely has the skills to be an effective point guard for a winning A-10 program and possesses the drive to succeed. Diggins decision to not stay longer at UConn to compete for playing time still stings, but it makes sense when he knew Dan Hurley would bring in an experienced point guard as a transfer, which turned into Tristen Newton. Best of luck to him.

Akok Akok

The big man entered Storrs from Putnam Science Academy three years ago with a ton of hype, and his athletic and energetic style of play endured him to fans early on as a freshman. Unfortunately, Akok’s Achilles tear in February of his first year was a devastating injury that had a huge effect on his athleticism and overall game, larger than myself and most fans expected. Even when he re-entered the rotation for good this past season, Akok’s playing time was very inconsistent and he never showed the same athleticism he had as a freshman. After his checkered year and no guarantee he would be a go-to guy as a senior, Akok understandably decided he needed a fresh start and transferred to Georgetown to play for Patrick Ewing.    

Akok played in 23 games this past season and was absent from a decent number due to a combo of health and matchups issues. He appeared in just three of the last 13 games and played double-digit minutes in Big East play just five times. Akok, who is “6-9” and has a larger wingspan but is pretty skinny, scored in double figures just three times (against St. Bonaventure, Grambling State and Coppin State) and grabbed double-digit rebounds just once. Akok was still plenty effective as shot blocker in certain games, recording 3 or more in seven games.

Overall, Akok had an offensive rating of 126.4 and a true shooting percentage of 55.2%. Akok had a defensive rebounding percentage of 16.6% and blocked 8.2% of shots on offense. Akok’s offensive statistics were heavily boosted by his shooting from deep, as he made over 46% of 3-pointers on 28 attempts. However, Akok shot under 50% inside the arc, with most of these coming right at the rim, and missed 12 of 18 free throws.

Because of his shot-blocking and perimeter shooting skills, Akok seemed like a good complement to Isiah Whaley and Adama Sanago in the frontcourt. There was also a good possibility he could become more effective over the course of the season as he built up stamina during the Big East schedule. These hopes never lived up to the reality, however. While Akok remained an excellent weak-side shot blocker, the athleticism he lost from injury and body type made it tough for Akok to be a reliable defender and shut down guys 1-on-1. On offense, Akok similarly lacked explosiveness and never scored consistently in the paint. On both ends of the floor, he looked disengaged at times and now did not have the stamina to play for long stretches at a time.

I agree with some fans that Hurley did not give Akok enough minutes on the floor at times to help spread out the offense or provide another shot-blocking and rebounding threat. In the end though, it was hard to deny that Akok got lost easily on defense and was not well-incorporated on offense. Considering the high ceiling Akok originally indicated he could reach it is a sad story that injuries caused Akok to currently be less skilled.

When Akok decided to transfer he mainly looked at Georgetown, Pittsburgh and West Virginia as possible destinations before deciding to join Georgetown and Patrick Ewing for next season. Akok was told he could get more consistent playing time and maybe even become a starter in DC, and would provide the Hoyas the perimeter scoring and defense they are looking for as the program looks to get back on track. With no guarantee of how much playing time he would see in Storrs and a loaded frontcourt, it is understandable that Akok chose to follow a fresh start. The best of luck to him, and I’ll always remember the highlight-reel plays he provided.

Jalen Gaffney

Before Diggins was looked at as the next great UConn point guard, it was Gaffney (one of many New Jersey natives on the Huskies) who fans hoped would hold that title. Gaffney came in as higher-ranked than James Bouknight and for good reason. And as a freshman, he showed a lot of promise and even took the starting point guard position from Alterique Gilbert late in the season. Unfortunately, Gaffney did not take a huge step forward as a sophomore and then underperformed nearly across the board this past season. When Hurley made it clear that he was going to go after point guards in the transfer portal, Gaffney chose to pursue a starting role at Florida Atlantic, a member of Conference USA.

After having an offensive rating of 107.7 and true shooting percentage of 55.4% as a sophomore, Gaffney’s advanced shooting marks fell to 103.4 and 48.9% as a junior. His traditional field goal shooting percentage also suffered, as Gaffney shot just 38.1% inside the arc and 29.5% on 3-pointers, nearly seven percent lower than 2021. Gaffney attacked the basket much less than expected and struggled to finish in the paint, and his struggles from deep limited UConn’s ability to stretch the floor. This was after he was expected to be one of the team’s main 3-point threats entering the season. Gaffney did not score in double-digits in Big East play and had an offensive rating of just 91.6 while shooting 30% from the field.

Gaffney’s ball-handling did improve somewhat as a junior but slipped in Big East play. He had an assist rate of 27.2% overall against a turnover rate of 21.4%, but his turnover rate jumped to 27.3% in the conference, three points higher from his sophomore year. He frequently had multiple assists outside the conference early in the season but just three times in conference play. Overall, his assist to turnover ratio was roughly 1.5-1. Gaffney generally did a decent job of managing the offense when R.J. Cole played off the ball, but was still inconsistent and could not be relied upon to run the offense with Cole sitting against the best teams. His shooting struggles and mediocre defensive play caused Gaffney to lose playing time over the course of the season and put more pressure on Cole while forcing Andre Jackson to also act as a secondary ballhandler. On defense, Gaffney was a reliable threat to get steals and his on-ball defense was somewhat improved, but still struggled to defend high-quality guards despite his size.

Gaffney’s inability to live up to expectations in 2022 was especially frustrating because of the strong end to his sophomore year how much fans and Dan Hurley were hoping he would bring. All preseason long, they kept hearing about how Gaffney “would be more aggressive” and “take on a leadership role” while allowing Cole to play off-ball more. A large part of the reason UConn didn’t really look at transfers in 2021 was because of how much faith Hurley and the other coaches had in Gaffney, and it’s just sad that he could not fulfill it. By the end of the season, Gaffney appeared timid and somewhat disengaged. I don’t mean to gang up on him, but I had definitely soured on Gaffney by midway through the season.

All this being said, Gaffney could find a lot of success at Florida Atlantic. It’s a program that is trying to build on a solid 2022 season and needed an experienced point guard. Gaffney’s size, athleticism and experience should give him a big heads up against a lot of the competition in C-USA. In addition, I am sure he will be motivated to prove his critics wrong and reach his potential in his two years at FAU (second his extra year of eligibility due to Covid-19). After representing the Huskies well both on and off the court, a fresh start for Gaffney could be wonderful for him and I will be rooting for Gaffney from afar.

Corey Floyd Jr.

The full story of what exactly happened with Floyd Jr.’s decision to leave UConn, where he had redshirted this past year and was primed to get solid playing time in 2023, and transfer to rival Providence (his father’s alma matter) will not likely be understood for a few years. All I know is that hearing he was entering the transfer portal in April and then going to the Friars, where he originally was originally recruited, made me equal parts sad, angry and confused. A month plus later, it’s confusion that reigns the day.

Floyd, another NJ recruit who played at Roselle Catholic, was a “6-4” four-start recruit and considered by recruiters as one of the best combo guards in his class. When he originally committed to the Huskies last winter, he chose them over Providence and Rutgers as well as a handful of other strong programs. Floyd was targeted by Hurley and lead recruiter Kamani Young for his ball-handling skills and ability to attack the basket, jump-shooting and strength. Floyd reclassified to 2022 so he could go to UConn early, and agreed with Hurley and coaches to redshirt this past season to work on improving his game and strength and get the chance to compete against the whole team in practice. When Floyd said that he would initially redshirt, he also promised he would work hard to improve and get it lifted so he could compete in games.   

From all reports, Floyd improved very highly over the course of the season and became stronger. Hurley even said right after the season that Floyd could have helped UConn with the depth issues it experienced at guard, although he gave no indication that Floyd would have played much if at all. There is almost nothing known about why Floyd decided to leave and chose Providence specifically versus the other schools that tried to attract him in the portal, most notably Rutgers. He had not given any interview quotes about the subject and Hurley or Friars coach Ed Cooley isn’t going to reveal Floyd’s thinking process.

However, there were Internet rumors that Floyd and his family had been told by Hurley that his redshirt would be lifted if Floyd performed well enough in practice, and yet Hurley had decided to not do so when Floyd thought he was outperforming members of the rotation in practice before saying Floyd could have helped the Huskies after the season ended. Those rumors caused the Floyd family to lose faith in Hurley and Corey to defect to Providence. Considering how the timeline played out, that tracks. This is especially true if there weren’t any extenuating issues with Floyd’s family that caused him to decide to leave.  

Obviously, I am not a psychic and have no insight into what happened between Floyd and UConn and why he decided to leave so abruptly when it looked like there would be good opportunity to earn playing time next season. It’s not hard to conclude however that Floyd likely mismanaged Floyd. With the transfer portal currently being a Wild West, it makes no sense to redshirt a player for an entire year, especially when he had the potential and immediate strengths that Floyd offered. In retrospect, what should have been done was to try and see if Floyd could have finished his high school credits early and then joined the team for spring practices and workouts in 2021, similar to what Alex Karaban is doing no and what Akok did before him. That way, Floyd would have been able to work on his game and build relationships with teammates while seeing the program and Hurley up close. If he had changed his mind and then decommitted before the season started, it would have made much more sense. Instead, Floyd got to improve his skills and strength and conditioning while not having the reward of playing in games, and UConn, Hurley and Floyd’s former teammates are left holding the short end of the stick.

While my feelings on Floyd’s decision to go to Providence have mostly stabilized in the month since it happened, there was definitely a sense of bitterness when he chose the Friars of all programs. How dare he go to a rival right down the road? But Floyd is entitled to look out for his best interests, and I can see him becoming one of their team’s best players over the next two to three years. I just hope he has his worst games against the Huskies. To all fans, I urge them to not be angry at Floyd or blame Hurley for letting him get away if Floyd becomes a star. Instead, blame how messed up the current transfer portal system is and pray that a similar situation doesn’t occur with another UConn recruit. Adios, Corey. I hardly knew you.     

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Background on New Mexico State’s Season

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

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

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

When UConn is on Offense

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

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

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

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

When UConn is on Defense

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

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

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

In Conclusion

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

What UConn Needs to Do to End the Regular Season Well

The buzz surrounding the UConn men’s basketball program right now is the highest I can remember in years, possibly since the 2014 season. The 21-7 Huskies, who are 12-5 in the Big East, have won five straight, are third in the Big East standings and strengthening their case for a high seed in the NCAA tournament. For the third consecutive season, the program is playing its best basketball at the end of the season. In particular, UConn has been playing outstanding offense recently, particularly from beyond the arc.

Creighton and DePaul would like nothing better than to extinguish the Huskies momentum in their last two regular season games in the coming days. Creighton, in particular, has never lost to them in five games and wants to maintain that superiority and sweep the season series between the teams. If the Bluejays win at home Wednesday night, they can finish third in the conference standings if they and UConn finish with the same record. And while DePaul is currently 10th in the Big East standings at 5-13, the Demon Deacons have been a handful for many of the conference’s best teams, including the Huskies at the end of January. While UConn is playing very strong overall, there are areas they need to improve on or be more efficient in.

The aspects of the game the Huskies either need to improve or continue to play well in against Creighton tonight and DePaul Saturday are numerous. While the team may be flying high right now, Creighton is a very tough environment to play in, and a loss to DePaul would be an embarrassing slipup and leave UConn with a bad taste in its mouth entering the Big East tournament at MSG. Not to mention that a loss to either team would move the team to a fourth-place seed in the tournament and possibly a tougher second-round matchup. Below, I discuss what UConn must do tonight and Saturday to win and maintain the excitement around the team.

  1. Tyler Polley and Jordan Hawkins need to continue being effective on offense, preferably at the same time

When Polley and Hawkins are both playing well offensively the Huskies have proven to unstoppable, as exhibited by the team’s 5-0 record when the pair scores in double digits. All season long Polley and Hawkins have been touted as UConn’s x-factors and it’s been proven to be true during this most recent win streak. Polley is on one of his vaunted multi-game hot streaks from deep, as he shot 7-12 from three and averaged 12 points against Xavier, Villanova and Georgetown and drained one of the most memorable shots of the season with his three against ‘Nova in the comeback during the final minute. At the same time, Polley went 9-10 from the line against them and Georgetown. Hawkins has improved immensely on defense, and the improvement on that end has earned him more playing time and the ability to figure things out at that end. The freshman played well on offense in his 14 minutes against Xavier, scoring 7 points via a 3-pointer and four free throws. He then had one of his best offensive performances of the season against the Hoyas Sunday, scoring 11 in 21 minutes on 3-6 shooting and making a spectacular dunk. Hawkins shooting from deep has slowly improved and he is demonstrating the ability to effectively attack the basket, a skill the Huskies definitely need more of.

When one or both of the sharpshooters are feeling it in a game, UConn’s offense is much more efficient. Space opens down low for Adama Sanago and others to get good looks at the basket, the team can play inside-out and move the ball well side-to side, they have more options on fastbreak plays, and players have good chances for offensive rebounds if Polley or Hawkins happens to miss. When Polley comes off the bench for Isiah Whaley or Sanago and plays with the other starters, these lineups rank 7th and 8th in the Big East in adjusted team efficiency margin per Evan Miya.

It is particularly important that Polley and Hawkins as well as the other bench players play well against Creighton. The Bluejays have the top defense in the Big East according to KenPom, and h against Cave held opponents to 31% from three in conference play, which also ranks first. In the first matchup with Creighton, UConn had one of its worst offensive performances of the season in a 59-55 loss, with Polley and Hawkins combining to go 0-7 from the field and the team 5-21 from deep. If the pair can hit a handful of 3-pointers and open up the team’s spacing, it will open up the team’s spacing and give them a leg up in what will probably be a low-scoring and physical game. If they can get to the line, that would be valuable as well since the Bluejays normally allow few foul attempts.   While the Huskies should be able to perform well on offense against DePaul, it would be great for Polley to end his regular season career with a strong performance on Senior Day.

  • Adama Sanago needs to end the regular season with a bang

Adama had arguably his worst game of the season Sunday against Georgetown, especially considering the level of competition. He fouled out in just 18 minutes, putting up only 6 points and 2 rebounds while committing 5 turnovers. Sanago seemed disengaged and let the refs quick whistle affect him, and with the rest of the offense humming teammates didn’t look for him as much as normal. Sanago needs to stay out of foul trouble and avoid ones out on the perimeter against Creighton and DePaul while playing disciplined on offense. That means establishing position in the paint and not forcing shots out too far from the basket, and passing the ball back out effectively if he does not have good position, which will help Sanago to avoid turnovers. Finally, he will need to block out effectively on both ends and put himself in position for putbacks.

Sanago also struggled to score in the first game against Creighton, putting up 8 on just 3-10 shooting, and had only one block. His performance against DePaul was also mediocre, as he only finished with 10 points. The Bluejays are tremendous at depending in the paint and allow opponents to shoot just 43.4% on 2-pointers, eighth-lowest in the country. Against their big front line, Sanago will need to establish position deep have success in the paint early and often, while passing out successfully when necessary and to avoid turnovers. The sophomore has shown the ability to play very well against big men he struggled against in rematches (he just did last week against Villanova and Eric Dixon), and I am confident he will do so against Creighton and then continue to stay engaged and have a good game Sunday against the Demon Deacons.  

  • Avoid turnovers!!

I realize the 16 turnovers UConn had against Georgetown was somewhat of an outlier, as they were largely the result of Sanogo’s struggles and then the benchwarmers not being prepared for the Hoyas press in the last two minutes of the game. Still, the Huskies are a team that has enormous struggles taking care of the ball at times, especially in conference play (their turnover percentage of 18.3% is eighth in the Big East). Even though Creighton’s defense does not force many turnovers and UConn had just nine against them in the first game, we have seen the offense have multiple games where they committed costly unforced turnovers against teams that don’t rely on forcing them.

To carry over their success at limiting turnovers from the Villanova and Seton Hall wins, the Huskies offense must make sure not to force passes to players who are well-defended or not ready, avoid playing out of control and make sure that they throw the ball over defenders if they are being pressed or trapped, especially along the baseline. The UConn players also need to make sure that they have a tight grip on the ball and are dribbling the ball high to make the team less susceptible to steals. Among the players, Sanago, Whaley and Tyrese Martin must do their best to avoid the turnover issues they have experienced recently, while Andre Jackson needs to continue distributing the ball efficiently while not forcing passes or trying to make plays that are overly flashy.

The defense needs to be more disciplined, especially when guarding the 3-point line

UConn’s defensive effort was lousy for most of the second half against Georgetown, which came into the game as the worst offense in the Big East. It did a poor job of guarding the rim and fouled way too much (though a late of that was on poor officiating), and the help defense was frequently too late both at the rim and on the perimeter. In general, the Huskies did not look like they were trying to extend much defensive effort once they got a comfortable lead, resulting in 1.15 points per possession. While I expect a much more robust effort against Creighton, a mediocre offensive squad that doesn’t shoot very well, UConn has struggled to guard the paint at times during February, even in wins, and their 3-point defense is eighth in conference play. Against a Bluejays squad that commits a lot of turnovers, the Huskies will need to avoid being beaten off the dribble and play tight defense without fouling, while also pressuring the ballhandlers to make steals more likely. At the same time, UConn will need to consistently provide help defense when necessary and avoid giving Creighton too many open looks from three. It shot 9-17 in the first matchup with UConn, arguably the biggest factor in their win. While DePaul is a weak offensive team, the Huskies need to continue playing good defense against it to give them momentum heading into the Big East tournament.