The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)

MOREHEAD STATE at UCONN

- — David Borges

⏩ When: Thursday, 7 p.m.

⏩ Where: Gampel Pavilion, Storrs

⏩ Records: Morehead State (1-0), UConn (14-18 in 2017-18)

⏩ TV: SNY

⏩ Radio: UConn/IMG Sports Network, 97.9 FM-ESPN Hartford

KEEP AN EYE ON

Yakwe Way: Kassoum Yakwe, who was sidelined for much of the preseason due to foot soreness (he didn’t play in Friday’s exhibition vs. SCSU) should get some playing time on Thursday.

“I’m feeling great,” the 6-foot-7 forward reported. “I’m looking forward to getting on the court and helping the team.”

Yakwe, a grad transfer from St. John’s, was recruited by Dan Hurley to be a shot-blocking force in the middle — something important for a team that figures to apply heavy ball pressure with its guards.

“I’m here to protect the rim,” Yakwe said. “Nothing easy.”

Hurley said Yakwe doesn’t yet have a great grasp on things like ball-screen defense or offensive spacing.

“But, the thing with Kassoum is he has that high level of athletic ability where, if he’s a step or two out of position, he can make up for it, because he’s so explosive,” the coach noted. “He’s had a couple of blocked shots the last couple of days that we really haven’t seen since he’s been out.” Phil Simms unavailabl­e: Morehead State, which may be best known as alma mater of former Giants quarterbac­k Phil Simms, went 8-21 overall last season. The Eagles beat Kentucky Christian 102-82 in their season-opener Tuesday night. They run a heavily ball-screen-oriented offense, can hit 3pointers and grabbed 21 offensive rebounds in their opening win. How Belichick-ian of you: Hurley reveals a lot of informatio­n, but said he subscribes to the “Bill Belichick School of Secrecy” when it comes to announcing injuries and starting lineups. With that in mind, he didn’t reveal who’d start on Thursday.

PROBABLE STARTERS

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