New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Carlton finds role in a challenging season
Josh Carlton is coming down the stretch of his senior season rather quietly, hobbled by an ankle injury, his role reduced by the emergence of a newcomer he took under his wing.
All the talk having to do with the present and future is about Adama Sanogo, the smooth freshman. More playing time is going to Sanogo, built like a mountain. Sanogo, Sanogo, Sanogo — three reasons for UConn fans and coaches to be excited about the Huskies’ frontcourt this postseason and over the next three years.
“Just filling a need, doing my part,” Carlton said. “Whenever I’m called to get in the game, do what coaches ask me to do. Whenever I’m in practice, compete and just help all the younger guys. Any time they need any type of advice or mentorship, just be there to help guide them.”
Given the state of the world and college athletics, Saturday’s Senior Day celebration before the Huskies’ regular-season finale against Georgetown (Noon, CBS) will not resemble what Carlton and his classmates envisioned as incoming players or what they’ve seen play out three times. Gampel Pavilion will be nearly empty, devoid of the noise and pageantry that typically complete such a moment.
For Carlton, the cold reality of what should still be a rewarding moment is that his involvement with a program’s rise — on game days, anyway — has lessened. He is averaging career-lows of 12.2 minutes and 3.6 points, and he has started one game this season after starting all 64 as a sophomore and junior.
Carlton has been, though, at the heart of a program’s turnaround. When asked for his favorite UConn memory, he did not cite any of his eight career doubledoubles or his honor as the American Athletic Conference’s most improved player as a sophomore in 2018-19.
“I think, probably, my favorite moment hasn’t happened yet,” Carlton said. “When our name is called on Selection Sunday and we’re able to play in the tournament, that will probably be my favorite moment, just to experience my first Selection Sunday.”
Carlton has been a good player for a program in transition. He was an occasional force in AAC, averaging 8.1 points and 5.5 rebounds in Hurley’s first season. Last season as a junior, he averaged 7.8 points and a career-high 6.1 rebounds. This season he was key to UConn’s Dec. 3 victory over USC (30 minutes, nine points, 11 rebounds), an important piece of the NCAA resume. He had 11 points and 10 rebounds in a Dec. 30 victory over DePaul.
But 2020-21 has been different — different conference, different challenges, different options on the UConn roster. Up front, Sanogo has been the better player, showing more of his upside with each passing week.
“Josh was raised by an incredible family, in terms of his character and how
he’s handled everything this year,” coach Dan Hurley said. “It’s a tough situation for a guy who has started as many games, and his expectations. He’s battled his tail off every single day. He has fought and pushed Adama and pushed himself to try to regain his spot, or increase his role. He’s been relentless. But by the same token, he’s been an incredible teammate and a mentor for Adama and an incredible teammate for our players.”
Sanogo is averaging 6.7 points and 16.7 minutes, and playing particularly well of late. After posting a career-high 16 points on 7-for-11 shooting Wednesday as UConn all but assured itself an NCAA Tournament appearance with a victory at Seton Hall, he praised Carlton.
“He teaches me a lot of stuff … in basketball, as a person,” Sanogo said. “He’s a good dude. We have a good relationship. He’s kind of like a brother to me.”
Playing time, even for a senior lined up with a freshman, is based on production, not history or romance. Sanogo has earned it more often as UConn has climbed toward the top of the Big East. He has won daily battles, Hurley noted, against a 6-foot-11, proven starting Division I big man. The team is better than it has been in at least five years. Carlton seems to understand that. He is proud of his role in the program’s development.
“Coming into UConn at a time when the program was kind of down (and seeing) the change in the program, and seeing the talent we have and seeing us play these games in a new conference,” he said, “it was just really good to be part of.”
Carlton, who intentionally bulked up 260 pounds as a junior and is currently listed at 240, hasn’t disappeared. He has just settled into a secondary role, pushing Sanogo along the way.
“He hasn’t given in as a player, and he hasn’t made it about him,” Hurley said.
“So he’s been all you could ask for.”
Carlton, like every other senior in America, has another year of eligibility remaining. All players, and then Hurley, said each situation would be considered in the offseason. Carlton could look into professional options, return to UConn, play a fifth year at another school. A political science major, Carlton could also chose to leave basketball altogether.
First, there’s a regular season to close, a Big East tournament in New York and an NCAA Tournament in Indiana.
“I would watch the tournament in the years we didn’t make it,” Carlton said. “It was hard, just knowing you won’t be part of it, to watch it and see how electric the environment was and how exciting the games were. Being able to watch that, we had that motivation that’s where we wanted to be at one point.”