Identity crisis

Big East grind has sapped UConn of its early season swagger

MILWAUKEE — Remember last year’s UConn men’s basketball team?

We don't mean last season's team. We mean the team from November and December, 2022. The swashbuckling crew who traipsed around the country, from Storrs and Hartford to Oregon, Florida and Indiana, dominating every opponent they faced.

Those Huskies were 14-0. They won games by an average margin of 16.1 points per game. And we’re not talking about the low-major, “buy” games. That was UConn’s margin of victories in its eight wins against teams from Power Six conferences.

Where is that team now? Well, it’s in the midst of Big East play. Most recently, on the road in the most hostile of environments. And that’s a whole different world, as the Huskies are finding out the hard way.

Following Wednesday night’s 82-76 loss at Marquette, the Huskies are suddenly 15-3 overall,

just a game over .500 in league play and surely set to drop a few spots from their current No. 6 national ranking on Monday. The swagger of that 14-0 start has been replaced by some frustration, disappointment, “hurt,” after three straight road losses over the past two weeks.

“Everyone’s bothered by it, everyone’s hurt,” said freshman

center Donovan Clingan. “We’ve just got to find our team identity, our individual identity again, and we’ll be good.”

This has been a very difficult stretch for the Huskies, who snuck in a first-ever win over Creighton at home on Saturday between at No. 12 Xavier, No. 19 Providence and No. 25 Marquette. That’s as tough a gauntlet as any team will face in any league this season.

Still, UConn has to be better on the road. The program is now 0-17 in true road games against ranked opponents (0-7 under Hurley), dating back to a January, 2014 win at Memphis. Wins at Butler and Florida, each by more than 20 points, are nice. But at some point, the Huskies need to beat a ranked foe on the road.

And they’re not likely to get another chance this season, unless 9-8 Creighton somehow returns to the AP Top 25 by its Feb. 11 date with UConn in Omaha.

So what gives? Why have the Huskies looked like a different team, literally since New Year’s Eve?

“I feel like the toughness, the atmosphere, we’re going to go to every away game and have their best crowd, their best fanbase,” Clingan said. “Everyone in the Big East is aggressive, attacking the glass, attacking the rim.”

Fellow frosh Alex Karaban, who along with Clingan was one

Patrick McDermott / Getty Images UConn’s Hassan Diarra, right, dribbles the ball against Marquette’s Sean Jones during the second half on Wednesday in Milwaukee.

Morry Gash / Associated Press UConn coach Dan Hurley reacts during the second half against Marquette on Wednesday.