Marquette – HUSKY NATION

Lessons UConn Must Learn From Marquette Loss

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Observations on Villanova and Marquette Games: The Huskies Show Their Best and Worst Qualities Against Tough Opponents

I am not going to waste a lot of time going into full details about how UConn’s loss at Villanova and win over Marquette played out, as I am sure readers (and me myself as well) are more interested in my more direct observations on these two games and how the Huskies performances contrasted each other, as well as other observations. Suffice to say, I felt very down on the team after the Villanova loss and the win over Marquette somewhat renewed my confidence in them. I’ll have a much clearer picture of my feelings after tonight’s contest at Xavier.

While UConn “only” lost by 11 (85-74) against the No. 15 Wildcats last Sunday, the game was nowhere near that close. They possess one of the best offenses in the country and are a particularly tough matchup for the Huskies due to playing with four guys on the perimeter, shooting and ball movement. Despite possessing more size than Villanova and top scorer Justin Moore being out with an injury, UConn was helpless to stop the Wildcats inside, particularly Eric Dixon (24 points and 12 rebounds), and had defensive breakdowns there as well as on the perimeter. Once Isiah Whaley and Adama Sanago each picked up two fouls in the opening minutes and UConn shot 36% in the first half, it was clear that it was on its way to being blown out against the Big East’s premier program.

The Huskies were visibly desperate to win at home Tuesday after consecutive losses to Creighton and ‘Nova and facing an opponent that had won eight of nine. This paid off with an 80-72 win, their most important of the season and one of their most complete efforts. The offense was very efficient in the first half, shooting 59% percent as the team went up 46-36. While the offense slowed down in the second half, UConn continued to dominate the boards and their defense was solid. The Huskies outrebounded the Golden Eagles 46-27 and had 20 second-chance points to Marquette’s 11. They closed the game out well after Marquette got within three points twice in the second half, going on a 9-0 run with six minutes right to take a nine-point lead and essentially lock up the win. As discussed more below, Sanago and Tyrese Martin had big games, two players who needed to get going for UConn.

As the Huskies look to maintain momentum against Xavier, let’s examine observations I had about the two most recent games pertaining to both overall performances as well as those of certain players.

It’s Amazing How Different a Team Looks When It’s Knocking Down Shots, Isn’t it?

The UConn offense looked pretty putrid in the first three quarters, scoring just 44 points to fall behind by 19. In the first half and much of the third quarter, it chose poor shots and the offense looked sluggish, featuring very little ball movement or well=executed sets. With the Huskies again struggling from the perimeter for the third consecutive game and Whaley and Sanago dealing with first-half foul trouble, UConn could not stretch the floor and operate inside efficiently. With the frequent absence of Whaley and Sanago and others not picking up the slack, it did not get its usual putback opportunities and got killed on the boards overall against a Villanova team that focuses much less on getting rebounds, grabbing just 20 boards to the Wildcats 28. The Huskies offense finally woke up in the fourth, scoring 30 points and shooting over 60% against a Villanova squad that had taken their foot off the gas. It did a better job of sharing and handling the ball and finally began to hit perimeter shots, with Jordan Hawkins knocking down three. Cole would finish with 25 points and Martin and Sanago 14. Still, UConn had no shot on winning after such a bad start and allowing Villanova to shoot 59.2% and have three players score 16 or more points.

The Huskies offensive performance to end Sunday’s game was a harbinger of things to come against Marquette, especially in its first half. The offense was excellent from the opening tip and especially caught fire 10 minutes in when UConn established control with a 17-3 run that gave it a 38-24 lead. The Huskies moved the ball very well and were able to open up space for Sanago to operate by getting Hawkins and Tyler Polley going (the pair each knocked down multiple 3-pointers). Sanago bullied defenders to the tune of 14 first-half points, and UConn’s excellent defensive rebounding allowed it to get down the floor quickly and score 15 fastbreak points.

While the offense slowed down in the second half as the game became much more physical and it had cold stretches, Sanago and Martin continued to score effectively and the Huskies managed to go on valuable runs. They especially did an outstanding job of forcing contact and getting to the free throw line and knocked down 20 of 23 attempts (87%), including 6-8 by Sanago.

UConn ended up shooting 47.4% and had five players score at least nine points. Martin, who was a beast on the boards and did a great job of maneuvering through the defense to get good shots, finished with 18, 15 rebounds and 3 assists on 8-15 shooting. Sanago went for 24 and 15 and Hawkins and Polley each scored eight. While the Huskies finished with 14 turnovers, six were by Sanago and they generally did a better job of handling the ball and finding open teammates at the rim or beyond the arc. Considering the level of the opponent, this was arguably the team’s best offensive performance so far.

Owning the Glass

While Villanova is no slouch at rebounding, UConn’s inability to win at or least be competitive on the boards Sunday was extremely surprising. The rebounding gap of -8 was the largest UConn has had this season. A lot of different factors played out in these struggles. Villanova did an excellent job of boxing out despite the Huskies height advantage and consistently beat them to long rebounds or loose balls, resulting in many more second-chance opportunities for the Wildcats (they had 20 offensive rebounds to UConn’s 13. The foul troubles of Sanago and Whaley meant there were less opportunities for putbacks, and neither Andre Jackson or Martin stepped up and earned offensive rebounds. Most importantly, Villanova just looked stronger and more athletic than UConn and the effort level just wasn’t there for the Huskies, especially as they fell behind a ton. Hurley was extremely frustrated by UConn’s poor rebounding and overall effort after the game and he had good reason to be.

As I already wrote, UConn had a huge advantage on the boards against Marquette (46-27), a quality rebounding time with good size. While the Huskies were strong on the offensive boards, where they beat the Golden Eagles 14-10 and got five each from Sanago and Martin, it was the defensive boards where they made the biggest difference, beating Marquette 32-17. Behind Sanago and Martin, who had 10 each on that end, the Huskies were consistently able to limit Marquette to one shooting opportunity. Even more than with offensive rebounds, their defensive ones led to fastbreak baskets or quality shots and opportunities at the free throw line. It was clear that UConn’s rebounding neutralized the Golden Eagles fast paced offense and eventually wore them down. Outside of the team’s 17-3 run, the signature sequence of the game for the Huskies came late in the second up eight with 1:47 remaining when the Huskies grabbed three consecutive offensive rebounds before Jackson was finally fouled and made one of two. That sequence basically clinched the game and demonstrated the effort and toughness Hurley has been looking for the past few games. Hopefully it will be present against Xavier as well.

Starting and Ending Games Well is Critical to Success

While UConn actually started the game OK at Villanova, trailing just 15-12 when the second TV timeout came 8:29 in, the foul trouble of Whaley and Sanago and UConn’s poor shot selection and inability to hit a jumper weighed on them. Villanova began dominating the Huskies inside and Gillespie closed out the first half with two 3-pointers. The Huskies started the half OK and cut the deficit to seven, but the Wildcats went on a 12-0 run to seal the game with roughly 12 minutes to go, dominating the Huskies on both ends.

I’ve already gone into detail about UConn’s solid offensive start against Marquette and their ability to go on a big run to establish a decisive first half lead. However, it was its ability to counter every run Marquette went on in the second half that won it the game. When Greg Elliot and Daryl Morsell hot threes and Oso Ighodaro made two free throws to cut the Huskies lead to 53-52 with 11:56 remaining, the team made six free throws and Martin hit a jumper while forcing 11 consecutive Marquette misses to push their lead back to 11 with 7:39 to go. The Golden Eagles answered quickly with eight straight points, but a hook shot by Sanago and three from Martin gave UConn a nine point lead, with it closing the game out at the 11. The Huskies showed great composure and found scoring opportunities to maintain the lead. It’s only one game, but this demonstrated to the players, Hurley and fans that they can execute to win games late against quality conference opponents.

UConn Takes Big Step in Conference Road Win Against Marquette

Hello, loyal readers! After taking a few days off to spend the holidays with family/friends, I have returned my game observations/recap on last week’s 78-70 win against Marquette. I admit I took my time to publish it when I saw that the team’s game against Xavier was cancelled due to COVID-19 (will likely be scheduled to be made up soon). While the Huskies (10-3, 1-1) played far from perfect, especially on the defensive end, it was reassuring to see them defeat a squad at home that has earned multiple impressive wins this season. Bolstered by the duo of R.J. Cole and Tyrese Martin, who scored 45 points between them, and the return of Adama Sanogo, UConn responded to adversity and the crowd when the Golden Eagles (8-5, 0-2) rallied and solidified the win. Martin and Cole each reached career milestones in the win, with Martin surpassing the 1.000-point mark and Cole the 2,000-point mark.

The Huskies played their best offensive half in nearly a month (since aghast Auburn) in the first half, scoring 43 points to take a six-point advantage into halftime. Led by Martin (15 points) and Andre Jackson (eight), UConn shot 54.5% from the field. With both teams keeping one another off the offensive glass, the Huskies pushed the tempo more than it had in a long time and attacked the basket frequently, especially as the half wore on. After falling behind 16-11 6:26 in, UConn slowly crept back to take the lead and then went on a 10-2 run to take a 5-point lead, and later an 11-4 run with just over six minutes left in the half to take a 7-point lead.

In just his second game back from injury, Martin was able to get wherever he wanted in the paint and from midrange and showed some surprising athleticism. Meanwhile, Jackson drained a three, did a strong job of finishing at the rim and facilitating for others and played solid defense. After a rusty start, Sanogo made a couple of nice jumpers in the half and finished with six points (also his final total on the day).

Despite its great offensive performance, UConn was only able to take a 43-37 lead into the break because of poor defense themselves. The Huskies allowed a Marquette offense not exactly known for its prowess to shoot over 70% early and over 50% in the half. While the Golden Eagles did a strong job of sharing the ball and attacking the basket, the defense did a poor job of communicating on high screens and pressuring defenders, leading to open shots on the perimeter and easy buckets inside. Super freshman Justin Lewis had nine points at the half.

UConn got off to a solid start in the second half and kicked off a 10-2 run with a Cole 3-pointer at the 15:17 mark, taking a 58-47 lead two minutes later on a 3-point play by Cole that featured a tough layup. Unfortunately, the Huskies quickly pulled their Jekyll-and-Hyde routine, allowing Marquette to go on an 11-2 run over the next four-plus minutes to cut the deficit to two. The Golden Eagles run featured five free throws as well as an easy layup right at the rim, as the defense had multiple breakdowns and was bullied at the rim. On offense, UConn’s ball movement became stilted when Jalen Gaffney briefly took over for Cole at point guard, and it began committing unforced turnovers and missing from the perimeter.

While the Huskies bent, they finally did not break, with RJ and Tyrese making sure to secure the win. After Marquette’s run made the score 62-60, the teams traded baskets and free throws the next few minutes, and Lewis’s layup made it 66-65 with 4:15 remaining. After Martin made one of two at the line, Kur Kauth blew a dunk, and the rest was history. Martin went on a 6-0 run by himself to give the Huskies a 72-65 lead and they would secure the win. He and Cole combined to score the last 14 points of the game, driving into the teeth of the defense again and again and earning acrobatic layups and free throws. UConn did a good job of handling the ball in the final minutes and finally made the choice to good scoring opportunities.

Martin led the team with 25 points on 9-16 shooting, going 6-8 at the line, and added six rebounds. Cole bounced back from a few tough shooting games to score 20 on 7-12 shooting and dropped seven assists. Jackson stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists and steals. Akok Akok made two threes and drabbed six boards. Lewis led the Golden Eagles with 20 points and Oliver Maxence-Prosper added 13 on 6-9 shooting.

After blowing a chance at a huge road win at West Virginia and then the ugly loss to Providence, it was awesome to see UConn earn a strong road win and lead for a large majority of the game. While the loss to the Friars looms large, it seems like the team is heading in the right direction and will be able to get off to a strong start in the Big East against a tough schedule as Sanogo returns to full strength. Below, I look at all the positive observations the Huskies can take from this win as well as where the game showed they need to improve.

Cole and Martin Demonstrate How Dangerous of a Duo They Can be

While Cole and Martin have gotten plenty of attention in their year-plus at UConn, the seniors had been overshadowed by Sanago earlier in the season when the trio played together. They shouldn’t be. Cole and Martin are the best all-around players on the team, and the emotional leaders of the team along with Isiah Whaley. They both have a lot of experience and poise, and are capable of generating offense and carrying the scoring load, even when they are not necessarily shooting their best. The pair’s games match up perfectly. Cole, who is averaging 16.3 points and 4.7 assists and has scored in double figures in nine consecutive games, is the natural scorer who can make tough shots at any time and stretch the floor. Martin, who is averaging 14.4 points and 7.2 rebounds, can beat defenders for easy shots in the paint as well as step out and hit jumpers, all while owning the boards.

I am not sure if the average UConn fan appreciates how valuable Cole and Martin are to the program. Both were already accomplished college players who have taken big steps forward this season and helped take on the scoring load vacated by James Bouknight. They have each shown that they can succeed as transfer players coming from mid-major/lower conferences, particularly Cole. While fans were frustrated about the lack of transfers added to this year’s squad, imagine the state the Huskies program could be in right now without the pair agreeing to come to Storrs. I look forward to seeing how much Cole and Martin can continue to grow and the further milestones they will reach going forward.

Andre Jackson and Akok Akok Continue to Show Their Bonafides

Over the last few games, Jackson has begun to consistently show the versatility and playmaking that has gotten fans so excited and writers to product that he can be an NBA draft pick. Jackson constantly pushed the pace in the game and created transition layups and great scoring opportunities for teammates. He continues to improve at handling the ball, a skill UConn desperately needs, as well as work effectively off it. It’s really exciting to see Jackson cut down as his turnovers and (somehow)become an effective 3-point shooter, and he is emerging as essential cog for the Huskies, especially on offense and the boards. I can’t wait to see the player he will become by the end of the season.

While Akok isn’t quite the all-around player right now that Johnson is, he is slowly demonstrating strides as the season advances. Akok’s two early threes kick-started the UConn offense and he had six rebounds while also playing strong defense and recording a block. Akok’s rebounding and defensive skills and ability to score both at the rim and behind the arc allows him to make a valuable impact against almost any opponent, even if the matchups aren’t quite favorable. With Akok improving, I hope Hurley gives him consistent minutes against every opponent and uses him in the right spots. Akok has earned his faith.

Welcome Back, Adama Sanago

The sophomore was far from his vintage self in his return from an abdanomal injury, but Adama played solid in his 12 minutes, making a couple of tough jumpers and recording two rebounds and a block. Sanago wasn’t as effective defensively as offensively, but this was understandable considering he had less stamina and game legs in general. My only big knock on Sanago is his three turnovers, which were caused multiple times by his reluctance to pass out of the post and instead force shots. As Sanago gets back into game shape and becomes a focal point of the offense, Hurley needs to emphasize the importance of Sanago sharing the ball better.

Defense MIA in Action at Times

It’s been rare that UConn’s offense has been better than the defense, especially against the best opponents, but it was definitely the case against Marquette. The Golden Eagles did a good job of creating shots and being aggressive at the rim, but that’s no excuse for all the miscommunication on screens or the Huskies being bullied at times inside, even Whaley (I never would have thought Whaley would have struggled that much with Lewis, as good as he is for a freshman). Some of the defensive inconsistency can be chalked up to lineup changes Hurley made and the ineffectiveness of Sanago, as well as his stubborn refusal to cut back on using the hard hedge or double-teaming. But the players need to realize that they cannot play defense like that against upper-echelon Big East teams and win.

Still Not Enough from the Bench

While Akok seems to be making a consistent impact in certain areas, the rest of his bench compatriots continue to underperform. The trio of Tyler Polley, Jordan Hawkins and Jalen Gaffney combined for just seven points on 2-8 shooting, with none playing over 11 minutes. Hawkins continues to struggle with his shooting and seemingly his confidence and Polley was again unspectacular from beyond the arc (1-3) and didn’t contribute in any other meaningful way. Gaffney played seven minutes, missing a 3-pointer and committing two turnovers, and the offense was inefficient with him manning the point. As usual, Samson Johnson and Rasool Diggins didn’t play at all.

Ultimately, Gaffney has played poorly this season against high-level competition, and you have to believe that Hurley was sending a message to him by demoting minutes. What I hope is that Hurley challenging Gaffney will light a fire under his ass, and that he can be motivated to address his game and become more disciplined and dynamic. Otherwise, Gaffney is going to lose minutes and duties preeminently to Johnson and Hawkins. UConn was able to get away with a quiet night from its bench due to the brilliance of Martin and Cole. This needs to change however, especially if Sanogo is slower to return to form than expected and other guys wear down. Guys like Gaffney and Polley need to demonstrate their strengths so that the Huskies depth is utilized best.

UConn Finally Shakes Off the Pressure

All season, opponents have been using full-court pressure to terrorize the UConn offense, which did a poor job executing against it and experienced extensive turnover trouble. Against Marquette, the Huskies finally looked patient and collected against the Golden Eagles 2-1-1 three quarters press. They were able to break it quickly and get the ball to open players, and Cole, Martin and Jackson all seemed to understand what to do to escape trouble against the press. Credit goes to Hurley for getting the players ready for dealing with the defense and Marquette’s strategy. Hopefully, that shows UConn will be able to respond to all defenses opponents throw at them going forward.

As discussed before, we don’t know when UConn will play next, with the game against Butler on Friday up in the air as scheduled right now depending on how players and coach’s test. Hopefully the Huskies won’t be rusty when they next play, but defeating Marquette is a huge win to build on.

Observations on win against Marquette: UConn has best offensive performance in conference play, Cole continues hot streak, and team again deales with foul trouble

Back at the beginning of January, Marquette seemed to be on the way to handing UConn an ugly loss before it came back from 18 down to earn its biggest comeback win of the season so far. This was the game that James Bouknight injured is elbow before missing nearly six weeks. On Saturday, the Golden Eagles came into Storrs looking for revenge and to build momentum after upsetting North Carolina three days before.

The Huskies were in danger of a trap game and suffering a costly loss as they try to eanr an NCAA tournament berth. UConn quickly dispelled any possibility of this, however, as they shut down Marqueette in the first half and got on an offensive role midway through the half. Behind Bouknight and R.J. Cole, the Huskies kept up their great offensive play the rest of the game and went on to have one of their largest wins of the season, defeating the Golden Eagles 80-62. UConn moved to 12-6 and 9-6 in the Big East, while Marquette fell to 11-13 and 6-11 in conference.

Bouknight continued his excellent offensive play since returning, scoring 24 points on 9-15 shooting and earning two steals. Cole was the MVP of the game however, scoring 21 points on 9-14 shooting and 3-6 from three and recording three assists. Cole has now scored 38 points in the last two games and totaled 10 assists against just two turnovers. Bouknight has averaged just under 21 points in four games since returning.

UConn struggled in the first five minutes, committing five turnovers and falling behind 11-6. The defense quickly got on track however, holding Marquette scoreless for 8:05 and causing it to commit five turnovers during this stretch. The Huskies did an outsanding job of pressuring the Golden Eagles players and making it difficult for them to score in the paint while consistently altering or blocking shots at the rim. They would miss their first 10 layups. Marquette was unable to adjust to their struggles in the paint by making shots from the outside, and would ultimately go 4-16 from beyond the arc in the game.

On offense, UConn began to get going midway through the half before exploding in the final 7:30, during which it scored 20 points to take a 38-21 halftime lead. Bouknight gave the team its first lead on a jumper at the 12:34 mark, and Tyrese Martin and Jalen Gaffney combined for the next eight points, with six coming on layups.

Cole and Tyler Polley led the aforementioned offensive spurt. The pair each hit two 3-pointers during it, and Cole would score eight points in the final 5:13. The offense did an excellent job of moving and handling the ball in the final minutes of the half, and took advantage of Marquette’s turnovers and quick shots to push the ball and score fastbreak points. The Huskies were effective both in the paint and on jumpers. They scored 20 points in the paint during the first half and ended it on a 26-10 run.

At the beginning of the second half, UConn’s bigs as well as Martin struggled with foul trouble. Isiah Whaley and Sanogo each picked up their third fouls before the first TV timeout and Marquette would quickly be put in the bonus. In addition, Josh Carlton rolled his ankle 3:04 in and did not return, limiting the Huskies frontcourt even more.

While UConn’s foul trouble and improved offensive play by the Golden Eagles put pressure on the Huskies offense, Cole and Bouknight were able to carry it in the opening 10 minutes of the second half, scoring 17 consecutive points for the Huskies. The pair killed Marquette in the halfcourt, consistently making jumpers and keeping defenders off balance.

The Golden Eagles were able to get as close as 11 points in the second half, but UConn always responded as other players eventually got going on offense. The Huskies did an outstanding job of handling the ball and commited just two turnovers after the game’s opening five minutes. Even as the Marquette offense executed better on offense in the second half, UConn’s defense continued to pressure them and force turnovers.

UConn shot 51.6% for the game despite going just 6-21 from three (it made up for this by shooting 62.8% inside the arc). It scored 40 points in the paint and 17 fastbreak points. The 18-point win was the Huskies largest in the calander year and third-largest of the season. It was the fourth time they have scored 80 or more points.

In addition to Bouknight’s 24 points and Cole’s 21, three other players scored over five points. Polley shot 3-6 from behid the arc to finish with nine points. Andre Jackson had one of his best overall games. The freshman earned eight points and rebounds and added two assists in 27 minutes while playing strong defense. Martin scored six and was again great on the boards, grabbing eight (three offensive). Sanogo had seven rebounds in 15 minutes, and Gaffney earned four assists and did not commit a turnover. UConn had 12 assists.

UConn held Marquette to 39.3% shooting from the field and 25% from three, and it went 14-21 at the line. The Golden Eagles committed 15 turnovers against just eight assists. After the Huskies struggled with foul trouble at the beginning of the second half, they did a better job of avoiding them for the remainder of the game. The UConn guards did a strong job of pressuring Marquette’s ball handlers throughout the game, with Jackson especially using his wingspain to limit player’s passing and shooting abilities. The Huskies bigs did a strong job of defending when they were on the floor. Dawson Garcia led the Golden Eagles with 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds, and Justin Lewis shot 5-9 and finished with 14.

The win helped UConn move up six spots to 28th in the KenPom standings, where they still are as of Monday night. It is also now ranked 25th in BPI and 28th in the Sagarin ratings, and is 36th in the NET rankings. The Huskies look to be in pretty good shape for an NCAA tournament berth, and can probably ensure it by winning at Seton Hall on Wednesday or a game or two in the Big East tournament.

Here are my observations on the win against Marequette:

R.J. Cole centerpiece of a great offensive performance

The epitome of a quality point guard is a player who can run an offense efficiently and put teammates in a position to succeed, score effectively when necessary, play strong defense, and most importantly, act as one of the team’s leaders. Over the course of the season, Cole has become a quality point guard for UConn, and he is peaking at the right time.

Cole was very good against Marquette in all facets of the game. After a sloppy start by the Huskies, the redshirt junior did a very good job of running the offense. He helped push the tempo, leading to great fastbreak opportunities, and made sure to get teammates consistently involved and in position to score. Cole helped kickstart UConn’s offensive run in the final eight minutes of the first half and made two key 3-pointers. When the team got in foul trouble at the beginning of the second half, he and Bouknight stepped up and led the offense. Cole did an excellent job of pulling up to hit open jumpers and beating defenders off the dribble. Throughout the game, he played strong defense and limited the Golden Eagles ability to shoot from the outside.

In addition to scoring when needed, Cole also visibly provided leadership on the floor. He was consistently communicating with teammates on the floor and in the huddle, and the joy he expressed clearly rubbed off on the Huskies other players. In recent games, Cole has become more vocal both in games and practices, and UConn clearly needed vocal leaders. I am confident he will continue to grow as a leader in the remainder of the season.

Cole has now averaged 17 points on 46.2% shooting AND 43.2% from three and just under five assists in the Huskies last five games, recording a 4-1 assist to turnover ratio. He and Bouknight are a great duo together now that Cole’s improved so much, and they are establishing themselves as one of the best backcourts in the Big East. If Cole can help lead UConn to a win at Seton Hall tomorrow, it will be a great indication of how much he’s grown.

UConn demonstrates their impressive depth on offense

I’ve already gone into Cole’s great game, and Bouknight improved as the game went on and scored successfully in the midrange and at the rim to make up for his struggles behind the arc. After inconsistent offensive performances as a team against Villanova and Georgetown, UConn again showed how effective their offense can be when it gets solid contributions on that end from multiple players.

Thanks to the Huskies depth, they were able to suceed on offense both in the paint and from midrange and behind the arc. Polley joined Cole in providing scoring from 3-point range, making three triples in 21 minutes. The senior knocked down open opportunities and did a good job of getting himself in quality shooting position, even shot faking on one of his makes. Polley scored nine or more points for the third time in five games, and is shooting 39.1% on threes in that stretch. Jackson (who I discuss more below) was able to score at the rim effectively and on fastbreak opportunities (going 3-4 on 2-pointers) and again had a spectacular dunk, and he also again passed the ball well. Martin did not make a three for the third consecutive game and fouled out, but again finished well at the rim. His offensive rebounding continues to be outstanding, as he has grabbed multiple offensive boards in six consecutive games. Finally, Gaffney made two nice jumpers and his four assists were the most in a game this season.

The excellent offensive performances by UConn;s guards and forwards offset the struggles of Whaley, Sanogo and Carlton, whom were all limited by foul trouble or injury and scored just eight combiend points on 4-10 shooting in 43 minutes. The Huskies will need this group (depending on the health of Carlton) to improve their play against Seton Hall’s big frontline. With their depth, however, the offense should be able to consistently make up for struggles in certain areas and perform well in each game going forward. UConn is more than just Bouknight and ColIn e.

The Huskies defense is playing at a high level again

During UConn’s struggles in the middle of the season, its defense was nearly as central to the struggles as the offense, despite a large portion of the attention going to that side of the ball. The defense allowed at least 70 points in each of the losses the team suffered without Bouknight, and players did a poor job of playing help defense and regularly limiting layups or foul trouble. Since Bouknight returned however, the Huskies have played much better team defense as a whole and held opponents under 70 points in four straight games. It is defending the rim better and playing stronger help defense while continuing to limit teams from beyond the arc. UConn has returned to being a strong defensive rebounding team after being inconsistent in that area during the middle of the season.

Against Marquette, the UConn defense played one of its best halfs of the season in the opening 20 minutes, holding the Golden Eagles to 21 points. The defense completely shut down the paint and challenged jumpers and threes, and its pressure made it difficult for Marquette to find open shooters and caused costly turnovers the Huskies offense took advantage of. Even when foul trouble early in the second half limited the effectiveness of the defense, UConn forced enough turnovers and limited the Golden Eagles ability to score outside of the paint, squashing any hope of a Marquette comeback.

The Huskies are now first in conference play in points allowed per game (64.9)and blocks (2.8), second in opponent field goal percentage (41.6%)and third in assists allowed per game (11.6). They need to do a better job of avoiding foul trouble, especially against Seton Hall, but at their best UConn can be an elite defensive team. This will allow them to beat any opponent.

Andre Jackson shows off his versatility

After an exciting showing in his first three games back from injury, Jackson hit a little bit of a wall in the three games prior to Saturday’s contest, scoring just four points and grabbing nine rebounds while dealing with foul trouble. The freshman was excellent against Marquette however, recording eight points eight pints and rebounds with two assists in 27 minutes, his second highest total of the season. On offense, Jackson used his speed and athleticism to score effectively at the rim, and handled the ball well after committing three turnovers against Georgetown. Jackson demonstrated his toughness when rebounding in traffic, and used his wingspan to harras ball defenders while doing a better job of avoiding ticky-tack fouls. Overall, Jackson provided much needed defense and rebounding with the bigs being limited.

Saturday’s win did a great job of demonstrating what Jackson can bring to UConn. Yes, he is very raw and a limited shooter, and is prone to lapses on defense. However, it is clear at this point that Jackson will always bring a lot of energy and much-neededd athleticm to the Huskies and can be an effective passer, rebounder and defender. If Jackson is able to stay on the floor, he will be a Swiss Army knife for the team and can make a positive impact even if he is not scoring.

UConn is again hurt by foul trouble

The Huskies defensive approach leaves them vulnerable to foul trouble. They consistently use the hard hedge and focus heavily on limiting the ability for opponents to make threes, and their bigs regularly defend players at the top of the key. While UConn is usually effective on defense overall, this style of play makes it hard for big men to get back and guard the rim, especially slower bigs like Sanogo and Carlton. In addition, Whaley’s physical style of play and habit of constantly trying to block shots regularly puts him in foul trouble even as he makes it hard for players to score. While it seems like Hurley is going to play this style of defense no matter what, the bigs need to be more disciplined, especially in a league like the Big East where the officials call a lot of fouls. Saturday is a great place to start, as Seton Hall has an excellent frontcourt which burned UConn in the team’s first meeting. More than probably any other factor, the defensive play of the big men will decide who wins that game.

Observations on UConn’s win over Marquette: Polley emerges, Whaley steps up, and one of the great combacks I’ve seen

Sitting down to watch UConn’s game against Marquette Tuesday night, I expected an exciting game against a solid team that would likely result in a close win. I was certainly right about the game being exciting. I didn’t expect it to be an 11-point win, however.

I kid, I kid. When we got to halftime with James Bouknight having hurt his elbow and scoring only six points and the Huskies trailing 31-23, I was just happy the game was so close and frustrated with having expereienced one of the worst-shooting halves in recent memory. After the Golden Eagles went on their 10-0 run to start the second half and led by 18 with 15:41 remaining, I was certain UConn would loose and just wanted to end the game playing well and with Bouknight still able to play. I never expected the team would go on a huge comeback run to win, and that it would be led by Tyler Polley. I am extremely happy to have been proven wrong.

Polley, whose shooting stroke had been inconsistent this season after his return from injury, drained a career-high 23 points in the final minutes, as well as five three-pointers. Meanwhile, Isiah Whaley played great on both sides of the ball and was a beast on the boards, finishing with 15 points and 13 rebounds. He even hit a three-pointer! The two seniors would score 74% of UConn’s points on the night. Ultimately, the Huskies would go on a 40-11 run to win 65-54 and improve to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the Big East.

UConn’s defense was outstanding, particularly in the second half. It held Marquette to 38.6% shooting and 5-18 from three. In the final 11:12 of the game, the Golden Eagles scored just eight points. The Huskies did a great job of playing team defense and shutting down the paint, forcing Marquette into tough shots from the premiter.

After looking lousy in the first half, the UConn offense was much more efficient in the second half. The team played with much more urgency after the first timeout and did a great job of playing quicker and moving the ball. Polley’s shooting helped open up the floor for everyone, and while he and Whaley dominated the action, all players were involved. On the boards the Huskies had 15 offensive rebounds, and outrebounded Marquette 42-28 overall.

As of Wednesday night, UConn is ranked 25th in Ken Pomeroy’s rankings, with the nation’s 33rd-ranked offense and 32nd-rated defense. It’s averages of 15.8 offensive rebounds per game is third in the country, 42 rebounds is 28th in the country, and 63.5 points allowed is 46th. In conference play, the Huskies lead all teams in offensive rebounds per game (15), three-pointers allowed (5.3), three-point percentage allowed (25.8), and points allowed (63.7).

Below are five observations on the phenomenol win against Marquette:

Tyler Polley becomes a sharpshooter again

It has been a long road back for Polley, who missed the second half of last season after tearing his ACL. In the first five games, he looked tenative shooting the ball and did not display the same athleticism or three-point shooting ability he has shown throughout his career. After scoring 15 points in the season oepener against Central Connecticut, Polley scored only five points over three games, and missed the Creighton matchup due to his COVID-19 test results not being in before the game. Polley had only shot 3-11 from three before Tuesday’s game.

Polley went scoreless in the first half and was largely invisible. But after he made a 3 to cut Marquette’s lead to 43-31 with 14:37 remaining, a light switched on for Polley, and by extension his teammates. Polley went 5-6 on threes the remainder of the second half, and would shoot 8-12 for the game and make three free throws to finish with a career-high 23 points.

As UConn’s ball movement improved in the second half, Polley made shots both when covered and wide open, and by extension opened the floor for the rest of his teammates. As it became clear Polley was in the zone, he was very agressive and showed no hesitation. In addition to his offense Polley provided solid defense, using his “6-9” frame to help shut off the paint against defenders. It was a wonderful performance and arguably the signature game, of Polley’s UConn career so far.

As I have hit on in previous articles, Polley coming back to form is essential for this team to be successful. He should be UConn’s most reliable 3-point shooter and provide the team tought defense if he is healthy. I feel the Marquette win will give Polley a lot of confidence and encourage him to be aggressive. The win also shows how important Polley is to the Huskies as a leader. I can’t wait to see how Polley will look like in the next few games.

Isiah Whaley, the man teammates feed off of

In the days leaeding up to the Marquette game, Dan Hurley called on Whaley to provide the attitude and energy he showed at the end of last season that myself and other fans had fallen in love with. Whaley took his message to heart and played like a monster from the opening tip.

The senior helped carry UConn in the first half and the beginning of the second as Bouknight struggled and other teammates hadn’t begun getting going yet. He was constantly attacking on both ends, protecting the rim on defense and scoring there on offense, as well as doing an outstanding job grabbing rebounds. Whaley did an especially good job at hedging when defending Golden Eagle players. He also showed the ability to step out and make shots on the premiter, including his first career 3-pointer. Most importantly to myself, Whaley successfully played aggressive defense without fouling, particularly on screens, an issue that has plagued Whaley all season. He must continue to do this for the Huskies to be at their most efficient on both ends.

Whaley showed off all the abilities that can make him such a special player on Tuesday. Just as important, however, he displayed the intangibles that he provides UConn. The energy he showed on the floor and bench when interacting with teammates visibly inspired them and helped lead the team’s comeback. Whaley’s leadership is sorely needed on this squad, and I know he and Polley can help teammates improve both in practice and games. Whaley won’t put up statistics this good in every game, but if he brings the same energy and leadership, the Huskies will reach their potential.

The advantage of depth

Coming into the season, it was clear that UConn would have a lot of depth, especially when Akok Akok came back (we’re almost there guys)! But through six games, it is evident that depth is the Huskies biggest strength. While Bouknight can always be relied on as the team’s top offensive player and star (even when he was injured and couldn’t shoot effectively on Tuesday, using him as a decoy confused the defense and got players open), at least one other player has stepped up to help lead the team in each game on both ends of the floor. Outside of Polley against Marquette, Whaley played well in multiple games, including the huge win against USC, Josh Carlton was great against USC and DePaul, and Tyrese Martin has immediately established himself as an excellent rebounder and a valuable contributer.

The depth has especially been valuable on defense and in rebounding. UConn has multiple quality defenders, particularly in the frontcourt, and plays good defense as a team. While R.J. Cole has struggled on offense, he immediately showed he is an excellent defender and can shut down quality guards. The Huskies have excellent rebounders throughout their roster, and this allows them to have an advantage on the boards even when players struggle with foul trouble.

For UConn to reach their full potential, it would be ideal if a player could clearly be a Robin to Bouknight’s Batman. Even if this does not necessarily happen, however, the team’s depth will make them tough to beat in the Big East and when they play teams unfamiliar with them in the NCAA tournament.

This win can be a significant stepping stone goes ing forward

As important as beating a very good USC team on Dec. 3rd was the team’s resume and various rankings, beating Marquette was more significant. It was UConn’s first road win in the Big East in more than six years, and first road win overall since last season’s finale against Tulane. It came against a good team and program which defeated excellent Wisconsin and Creighton teams earlier this season. Most important, it showed that this year’s squad can keep their heads and come together to rally when they are struggling against a good team.

Beating Marquette showed a toughness and maturity the Huskies will need to be successful. Bouknight gets most of the attention from the national media, but the win showed that he does not define the team and UConn can win even when Bouknight struggles. I’ll be honest: If you had told me he would only score six points and get injured during the game, I would have told you the Huskies would lose by 10 to 15 points. Thank you, Huskies, for showing I am a fool.