MEN’S BASKETBALL GAMEDAY
KEEP AN EYE ON
Rebound that basketball!: Despite a significant size advantage, UConn only outrebounded Morehead State by a 41- 36 margin in Thursday’s season- opener. Dan Hurley labeled the team’s boardwork “at times infuriating,” no more so than in the waning seconds of the first half, when the Huskies allowed an offensive board off a missed free throw that led to a buzzer- beating 3- pointer by the Eagles. That effort must be better Sunday against the Kangaroos, who boast more size than Morehead State and were nearly even with Iowa ( 38- 36) in a loss on Thursday night.
Road warrior ‘ Roos: UMKC has started its season with road games at Loyola- Chicago, which went to the Final Four last season, and Iowa, one of the better teams in the Big 10. The Roos were blown out by Loyola but played Iowa close in an eventual 77- 64 loss. Still, Hurley is more worried about his own team right now than any opponent.
“They’ve played two brutal road games. Obviously, they’re pretty battle- tested coming in here,” the coach noted. “But we had an hour on the court ( Friday) that was brisk and business- like. We self- corrected our own stuff from ( Thursday). Now, we’re locked in on them. We want to be much better than we were on Thursday.”
Whaley ailing: Sophomore forward Isaiah Whaley sprained his ankle in the first half of Thursday’s seasonopening win over Morehead State and didn’t return to the game. He was limited in practice on Friday and is day- today. Even if Whaley can’t play on Sunday, however, Hurley doesn’t believe the injury will linger much longer beyond that.