Balancing act
Seniors Newton, Spencer perfect fits in Husky backcourt
STORRS — Tristen Newton is a self-described “laid-back” personality, pretty much the antithesis of his head coach.
So when Newton arrived on campus two years ago after transferring from ECU, it wasn’t the smoothest transition playing for Dan Hurley.
“It was a rough start,” Newton confirmed.
Cam Spencer has the same passion and intensity that Hurley possesses and has fit with the head coach perfectly in his one season at UConn.
“Coach Hurley and I are pretty much the same people,” Spencer noted, “just he’s a coach and I’m a player.”
Sunday, noon (CBS)
Perhaps it’s no surprise that Spencer wants to be a coach someday, undoubtedly in the Dan Hurley mold.
Newton and Spencer are tied for the UConn men’s basketball team’s scoring lead at 15.2 points per game (Newton has scored exactly one more point than Spencer). They have both been instrumental to the 25-3 overall and 15-2 Big East records the Huskies bring in to Sunday’s Senior Day bout with Seton Hall at Gampel Pavilion (noon, CBS), as well as at least a share of the league title.
And while there could be a whole host of Huskies playing their final games at Gampel on Sunday, the only two who definitely will be are Newton and Spencer.
“Seems like yesterday I just stepped on campus for my first summer workout,” Newton said following practice on Saturday. “Last game in Gampel is crazy, but I’ve enjoyed my time here.”
Although Newton and Spencer are very different players and personalities, they share one other common trait. Both boast a laser-focus on winning, even if they do so in different ways. And that is what’s made them both such perfect fits for Hurley — though it took a little longer with Newton.
“We had to meet at a certain point,” Newton said. “I had to change for him, I’m sure he’s changed for me, as well. It was a rough start, but we have a great relationship now, I trust him, he trusts me. I feel like throughout the two years I’ve been here, our relationship has grown every day.”
Hurley concurred. “(I’ve learned) an appreciation for personalities that aren’t exactly like yours,” the coach said. “Those are incredible to have on a team, in a locker room. You can’t have 13 fireballs. You need some cool, calm customers in there, too. I’ve learned that from him.”
The feeling-out process took much of last season. Newton