Struggling UConn men playing for pride against Cincinnati

UConn coach Dan Hurley showed his team video of two games since returning early Friday morning from another painful road trip.

First, the Huskies watched their dreadful performance in Thursday's 18-point loss at SMU in Dallas.

Then they saw their inspired effort in a two-point overtime defeat on Jan. 12 at Cincinnati, which visits the XL Center in Hartford today for a 2 p.m. American Athletic Conference basketball game. Quite the contrast. "Watching the Cincinnati game and then the SMU game we almost look like two different teams," Hurley said Saturday. "I would say that the

amount of losses that we've accumulated in a row might have attributed to the weakness we showed mentally and physically the other night.

"As a coach, we've tried to do everything to create the response you need to show when you play in a program like this. (Friday) was trying to correct mistakes. It was obviously not a pleasant video session and then we got on the court and addressed some of the things we didn't do well. Defensively, it was embarrassing.

"Then we turned our attention to Cincinnati. We were still dealing with the aftermath of what was, in my opinion, an unacceptable effort. Then we quickly turned the page to Cincinnati."

It's been a frustrating stretch for the Huskies.

UConn (13-13, 4-9) is sinking fast, losing five of its last six games. The Huskies reside in 10th place in the league. Five regular-season games remain before the conference tourney.

"Obviously, our record is what it is," Hurley said. "We're in a slide. We've lost some key people but we've got to keep fighting. If you're an athlete worth your salt you fight and you compete."

While guard Alterique Gilbert returned against SMU after missing five games with a shoulder injury, he isn't the same player as earlier this season. Leading scorer Jalen Adams remains out. Adams had 16 points in the first game versus Cincinnati and Gilbert also was healthy, finishing with 18.

Cincinnati (22-4, 11-2) is riding some serious momentum from by 10 of its last 11 games. The Bearcats are in the AAC title hunt, sitting just behind first-place Houston. Junior Jarron Cumberland is playing like a conference player of the year candidate.

There's little evidence this season that UConn can beat a quality team like Cincinnati, which has won the last six meetings. The Huskies are winless so far against the top six teams in the AAC.

Hurley ended Saturday's practice on an upbeat note, reminding the Huskies how well and how tough they played against the Bearcats the last time.

"We didn't lose that game because they out-toughed us," Hurley said. "We lost because we couldn't make an extra bucket. We were just as tough as them. After the setback the other night, we have to find a way to re-find that fire."

Maybe having members of the 1999 national championship team on hand for a 20th anniversary celebration will provide a boost. Those Huskies will be honored at halftime.

The 2018-19 Huskies are a long way from the program's glory days.

"Man, I just hope we represent the uniform better than we did (at SMU)," Hurley said. "We have to show some UConn pride."