Vital, Bouknight earn All-AAC hoop honors
Storrs — Freshman James Bouknight raved about his teammate Christian Vital on Tuesday.
Vital did the same thing when talking about his UConn basketball brother.
American Athletic Conference coaches recognized the UConn duo's talents by selecting them to all-conference teams.
Vital earned the first All-AAC first team honor of his career while Bouknight was named to the all-conference third team and all-rookie team.
"Christian, what he's done the last six weeks, he earned that honor," coach Dan Hurley said after practice at the Werth Center. "He's been one of the best players in the conference the last six weeks. The way he's led and the way he's played, he's certainly got what he deserves."
"And then James has been one of the best freshmen guards in the country, especially for this last stretch of games. Once he got his feet under him, especially at the offensive end, he's been sensational. Happy for both guys and they earned it."
Vital and Bouknight fueled the team's torrid regular season finish, helping the Huskies (19-12) win eight of their last 10 games and enter the conversation for post-season consideration. They're the highest scoring duo in the AAC, combining to average 33.2 points per game in league play.
A No. 5 seed, UConn faces No. 12 Tulane at 3 p.m. Thursday in the first round of the AAC tournament at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
Vital, the first UConn player to make the first team since Jalen Adams in 2017, has done it all, leading the team in scoring (16.4) and rebounding (6.3) as well as ranking first in the AAC in steals at 2.5 per game.
The AAC first team also included Cincinnati's Jarron Cumberland and Trevon Scott, Tulsa's Martins Igbanu and Precious Achiuwa of Memphis.
Achiuwa, a freshman, was the only unanimous pick, indicating that he's the leading candidate for the AAC player of the year honor, which will be announced along with the
other individual awards on Wednesday.
Bouknight let it slip Vital, who's averaged 24.6 points during UConn's five-game winning streak, fell short.
"I personally think he should have won player of the year," Bouknight said. "I don't know why he didn't. He's been a great leader. He's been like a big brother to me. We fight all the time. We scream at each other and yell at each other . ... But that's just love. We care so much for each other, it's just great to see him succeed."
Bouknight, who averaged 17.8 points and 5.6 rebounds in the last 10 games, was only one of two true freshmen on the All-AAC first, second and third teams. A unanimous rookie team pick, he is the second leading scorer for the Huskies, averaging 13 points.
"I think he could have got higher, to be honest with you," Vital said of Bouknight's third team selection. "That just shows his talent and the work that he's put in up to this point . ... I'm happy for him and proud of him. But we know we've got a lot more work to do."
Following Vital's lead, Bouknight mentioned his teammates when asked about his honors.
"I have to thank my teammates first," Bouknight said. "Without them, I couldn't have done anything. Having Al (Gilbert) and CV by my side with me through the thick and through the thin. I've been through a lot this season. It's an honor."
News and notes
Defense has been the focus in practice. "We've got to guard the ball a lot better," Hurley said. "If we defend like we did the other day (at Tulane), the lack of urgency that we had, the lack of being able to play chest-to-chest on the ball defense, we won't be in Dallas very long. We've tried to make a point here about our defense needing to improve drastically between now and Thursday . ... While winning the AAC tournament title is their goal, the Huskies are staying locked in on the present. "Right now we're just focused on the next day mentality," Bouknight said . ... With UConn down to eight healthy scholarship players, assistant coach Kimani Young, a former Texas El-Paso standout, is playing with the practice squad. "I was out there with him last year but I had spine surgery," Hurley said. (Associate head coach) Tom (Moore) is in horrible shape, so my options are limited right now." g.keefe@theday.com