UConn men face tough test tonight
The Huskies face a huge challenge to try to stretch their winning streak on Wednesday.
Creighton has given them fits, winning six of seven meetings. UConn won for the first time in the series last January in Storrs by a 6960 margin.
The Bluejays feature one of the most productive trios in the country in Trey Alexander (16.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists), Ryan Kalkbrenner (15.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.5 blocks) and Baylor Scheierman (18 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists).
“They've got three of the best players in the country at their position – center, combo guard and on the wing,” Hurley said.
Kalkbrenner, a 7-foot-1, 270-pound center, is a particularly difficult matchup, especially if Clingan sits out again.
Forced to play a smaller lineup in recent weeks, the Huskies have been beaten up on the boards.
“It looks like a really bad matchup for us with Kalkbrenner because of what's happened around the rim lately…,” Hurley said. “We're vulnerable everywhere the way it's looked on film for us in terms of being able to stop him the way we're currently constituted. We're scrambling and looking at different ways to try to guard centers and some different things to do when the ball goes up on the backboard.”
It certainly would help the Huskies if Clingan can play for the first time since suffering his injury Dec. 20 at Seton Hall.
Even if Clingan returns to action Wednesday, he'll be on a minutes restriction.
“This is the best he's been physically probably since we even started practice and the lightest he's been,” Hurley said.
“(Wednesday) is a big day because he's practiced back to back days. … We'll huddle up with the medical team tomorrow and just see how he's feeling.
“If not tomorrow, I would think that worst case scenario, unless there's a major setback, he's in for the weekend (at Villanova Saturday). Because of the way we performed here and where we're at right now, there certainly doesn't feel like there's any pressure to have him back for this one game.”
There is added pressure for the Huskies being the No. 1 ranked team.
They're taking the program's top ranking for the first time since 2009 in stride.
“It's a great feeling to be No. 1,” senior Hassan Diarra said. “We come in and work regardless of our ranking. We're not really too worried about that. But it is a good feeling.”