MEN’S BASKETBALL GAMEDAY

NJIT at UCONN

When: Sunday, 1 p.m. Where: XL Center, Hartford Records: NJIT 3-9, UConn 8-3

TV: SNY

Radio: UConn/IMG Sports Network, 97.9 FM-ESPN Hartford, WAVZ-New Haven (1300 AM), WICC-Brideport (600 AM), WINE-Danbury (940 AM), WGCH- Greenwich (1490 AM)

KEEP AN EYE ON

No more Josh-ing around: Josh Carlton went scoreless in Sunday’s win over New Hampshire and had just six points in a win over Saint Peter’s on Dec. 18. Coach Dan Hurley wants more production from the 6-foot-10 center, and knows NJIT — which often plays five men out of the paint — may not be the ideal opponent to do that against.

“With Josh, you can’t use it as an excuse,” said Hurley. “He’s got to get better at playing defense in space. And I think his pre-catch offense, I have to do a better job of coaching. Last year his pre-catch, post-up game was really, really good. We’ve allowed him to get lazy, where he’s catching the ball too far away from the basket. That’s hurt him. He hasn’t been as efficient this year.”

Too much Cooks: NJIT is led by junior guard Zach Crooks, who averages 23.1 points per game and takes more than 30 percent of the Highlanders’ shots.

“He’s a really exciting player,” Hurley noted. “He’s going to score his points. It’s about your ball-screen defense, it’s about your dribble hand -ff defense. He’s got to see a lot of bodies when he has the ball. You can’t get too spread out.”

Hamden in the house: Hamden’s Byron “Tre” Breland III has cracked NJIT’s starting lineup the past few games and made the most of it, though he may be coming off the bench again if junior San Antonio Brinson returns from injury, as expected.

“Talented player,” Hurley said of Breland, a 6-3 freshman guard who comes from good athletic stock. “Really athletic, really, really attacks. Played well for them in the St. Francis game, really looked athletic and fearless. He’s got good size and is a really good get for them.”