For Wilson, it’s a start
Redshirt freshman calls his UConn debut the ‘best feeling’
Storrs — Sidney Wilson called his debut earlier this week the best feeling that he's had so far at UConn.
Wilson, a redshirt freshman swingman, hopes that it is just the start of a promising college basketball career in Storrs.
Following Friday's practice, Wilson spoke to the media for first time since returning from serving a suspension from game competition. He played five minutes in Tuesday's rout of UMass Lowell, finishing with three rebounds and a turnover while missing two shots.
"It was very exciting to finally get an opportunity to help my team," Wilson said.
It will likely be awhile before Wilson fully shakes off his rust. He sat out as a redshirt last season after transferring from St. John's, where he took summer classes but never played.
Then Wilson watched UConn's first six games from bench as a punishment for unspecified violation of university policy that happened during last season. He did practice during that time. It was a helpless feeling. "It was very difficult not being able to help your team and not competing with those guys out there," Wilson said. "But I was trying my best to help them get ready for games in practice. Now that I'm back, I'm just trying to do best and earn my minutes."
Sitting out as a redshirt and only being able to practice had a positive impact on Wilson, who grew up and matured from the experience.
"You learn a lot," Wilson said. "You become more mature as a person and as a player, so that's all I've been doing for the past year and a half and it's really helped me a lot. That being taken away, just basketball in general, makes you hungry and makes you more humble."
With the schedule stiffening, the Huskies could use a versatile player with Wilson's skills in the rotation. They host Arizona (5-2) Sunday afternoon at the XL Center in Hartford.
Wilson will be ready to contribute Sunday if called upon. He'll try to bring the energy and effort that head coach Dan Hurley demands.
"That's up to coach, that's not up to
to me," Wilson said. "I'm just trying to earn my minutes in practice and do what I have to do. If he feels like I'm ready to play in the game on Sunday, I'll play. If not, then I'll just cheer my teammates on."
Hurley has seen Wilson pick up his play in practice this week. What happens in the future will be up to the redshirt freshman.
"Sid's a talented guy," Hurley said. "But he's got to now practice at such a high level that he can climb over people that are ahead of him on the depth chart. He took a good step toward that today in the second half of practice. He's just got to keep going."
Hurley vs. Miller
• Hurley has competed against Arizona's Sean Miller both as a coach and player.
Miller usually had the upper hand on those occasions.
While coaching at Rhode Island, Hurley's Rams were manhandled at No. 5 ranked Arizona 87-59 in November of 2013.
"They beat us up pretty good," Hurley said. "That was year two at Rhode Island in the Preseason NIT . ... I had babies and they were loaded. That first experience in Tuscon wasn't a great one."
Hurley and Miller, former guards at Seton Hall and Pittsburgh, respectively met in Big East action twice during the 1991-92 season. The teams split.
Forgiving schedule
UConn has benefited from a forgiving schedule early on.
The Huskies have taken advantage of weaker foes, posting double-digit wins over Morehead State, Missouri-Kansas City, Cornell, New Hampshire and UMass Lowell.
They also played two challenging teams in Syracuse and nationally-ranked Iowa at Madison Square Garden, earning a split by beating the Orange.
At 6-1, the Huskies are about where Hurley thought they'd be through seven games.
"My expectation when I came to UConn was that we weren't going to struggle a lot and we were going to have a chance to win games early," Hurley said. "The schedule set up well for us. Now we've got a good chance for a fun game on Sunday."
Only about 1,000 tickets remained as of Friday afternoon for Sunday's showdown. Hurley is hoping for the second home sellout of the season. UConn played before a full house in its season opener against Morehead State on Nov. 8.
"For us, when you get sellout crowds and they're enthusiastic and they're energized, you run through the tunnel, that's a huge, huge boost," Hurley said. "Teams that play the best at home usually have great crowds at home and they use that to spur on the energy."
The Huskies are 5-0 at home so far. g.keefe@theday.com