The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Sellout crowd awaits Huskies in Big East opener
STORRS — UConn’s last Big East game played before a crowd was on March 9, 2013.
A sellout crowd assembled at Gampel Pavilion to watch the Huskies’ final game in the league it had helped make great, but was now being torn asunder by conference realignment.
As if the basketball gods wanted to put off the inevitable at least five more minutes, the game went into overtime, where UConn won 63-59.
The Huskies’ opponent? Providence, their regional rival.
On Saturday, UConn will play its first Big East game in front of a crowd since that March day. A sellout will jam the XL Center at 5 p.m. (FOX), and the atmosphere will be electric.
The 20th-ranked Huskies’ opponent? Providence, again.
“It’s exciting, this is what it’s all about,” coach Dan Hurley said on Friday. “You can’t wait to get to game night, get to the arena, play against a Top 25-level opponent — whether Providence is ranked or not, they should be ranked, based on what they’ve done to this point. Two top teams in a wild environment.”
“It’s honestly going to be crazy,” added junior guard Jalen Gaffney. “We haven’t played in front of a sold-out crowd at the XL Center in a while, not since ... the Memphis game? And that game was insane.”
Indeed, the last time the Huskies (9-2) played before a sellout in Hartford was Feb. 16, 2020 — an emotional, 64-61 victory. A lot has changed since then.
Akok Akok tore his left Achilles tendon a minute into that game, underwent surgery, barely played last season and is just starting to round back into his old self. On the heels of a 12-point, three-block effort in UConn’s win over St. Bonaventure a week ago, the 6-foot-9 forward could play a key role in helping to neutralize Nate Watson, PC’s 6-10 center and one of the best big men in the country.
And, of course, that Memphis game was one of the last the Huskies played in the American Athletic Conference. UConn returned to the Big East last season, but because of COVID-19, all of its home games and just about all its road games were played before no paying fans.
That all changes on Saturday afternoon.
“It’s gonna be fun,” grad forward Isaiah Whaley promised. “Everybody on the team is really excited for it.”
UConn could be buoyed by the return of one (or both) of its injured standout players. Senior wing Tyrese Martin appears likely to play after missing the last four games with a sprain and avulsion fracture in his wrist. He may be on a minutes limitation for endurance reasons.
“Tyrese is a very tough player and a key piece to our team in the long run,” Gaffney noted. “Having him back, his toughness, rebounding being able to score the ball, defense, too — it definitely helps.”
Adama Sanogo’s return after missing the last three games with an abdominal injury appears less likely, according to Hurley, though it’s possible the sophomore center could play some “spot minutes.”
Sanogo or no-go, UConn wants to kick off its Big East schedule the right way. The league is as strong as ever this year, with four teams currently in the AP Top 25 and 10-1 Providence on the periphery.
“It’s gonna be a battle each game,” Whaley said. “Lucky for us, we’ve had a lot of tough games so far with Auburn, Michigan State and a couple more of those teams. We’re battletested, and we’re excited for the rest of the Big East. We
know each game is gonna be huge for us.”
Sellout crowd. Big East opener. It all starts Saturday afternoon.
RIM RATTLINGS
⏩ Since the first Big East season in 1979-80, UConn is 18-24 in conference openers. The Huskies are 17-18 in the Big East and were 1-6 in the American.
There have been some clunkers: giving up 41 points to Steve Novak at Marquette on Jan. 3, 2005; losing in overtime at Marquette on New Year’s Day, 2013; getting popped by a bad Houston team in their AAC debut nearly a year later on New Year’s Eve.
Last season, James Bouknight dropped 40 on Creighton, but the Huskies lost in overtime.
⏩ COVID-19 is rearing its ugly head once again this week. Numerous NFL and NBA players have tested positive and several college basketball games have been cancelled, including Seton Hall’s slated bout with St. John’s on Monday. Per Big East policy, Seton Hall has forfeited the game and will be assigned a loss in the league standings.
“We’re aware of the NFL, the college cancellations,” said Hurley. “We’re fullyvaccinated, a number of us have had the booster. We’re so grateful to have a chance to play on Saturday, that’s all we’re thinking about.”