UCONN PROBABLE STARTERS
Alterique Gilbert, G, 6-0, So.; Jalen Adams, G, 6-3, Sr.; Brendan Adams, G, 6-5, Fr. Tyler Polley, F, 6-8, F; Eric Cobb, C, 6-9, Sr.
UConn’s offense: The Huskies showed signs of running, getting 42 fast-break points in the exhibition win over Southern. Hurley has vowed to play up-tempo, push the pace. Overall, UConn figures to look better organized. UConn defense: Hurley has coached away from the zone and installed a man-to-man, pressure defense. The Huskies forced 17 turnovers against Southern and will try to do that again. With grad transfer Kassoum Yakwe expected back from his foot injury, the Huskies will have a rim protector to cover when their pressure backfires. Morehead State offense: A small, quick teams that depends on guards Hicks (19.5 points per game) and Walker (14.3). Morehead shoots a lot of threes. Morehead State defense: Opponents shot 46.8 percent against them last year.
UConn key: Rebounding. It was “scary bad” at times vs. SCSU, Hurley said. Player to watch: Alterique Gilbert, back from his third shoulder surgery, appears ready at last to resume his career. He came to UConn as a McDonald’s All-American.
About Morehead State’s coach: Preston Spradlin, a former grad assistant and director of basketball operations at Kentucky, took over as interim head coach nine games into 2016-17 season and became head coach before last season. He is 20-30 as head coach.
Morehead State mascot: Eagles. Famous alums: Former Giants quarterback and Super Bowl XXI MVP Phil Simms (1979).
Quote: “We know we’re going to play really, really hard, we’ve prepared the last several months for this We deserve to go into the game with a much higher level of confidence than maybe these guys have displayed in the past.” — Dan Hurley.