MEN’S BASKETBALL GAMEDAY
GEORGETOWN at No. 20 UCONN
When: Tuesday, 8:30 p.m.
Where: Gampel Pavilion
Records: Georgetown 6-10 (0-5 Big East), UConn 13-4 (4-2 Big East)
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: UConn Sports Network, 97.9 FMESPN Hartford, Sirius-137, XM-206, SXM App-965, WAVZ-New Haven (1300 AM), WGCH- Greenwich (1490 AM), WATR-Waterbury (1320 AM), WILI-Willimantic (WILI 1400 AM)
KEEP AN EYE ON
Let the Big Dog eat: Adama Sanogo has been a dominating force inside the paint lately, averaging 18 points and 14.5 rebounds over the past four games, including three triple-doubles.
No one has been consistently getting the ball inside to Sanogo more than Andre Jackson, the 6-foot-6 wing who occasionally also runs point.
“Andre is one of the most unselfish people you’ll ever come in contact with,” UConn assistant coach Luke Murray said on the UConn Report podcast. “He would much rather assist on a basket than score a basket. He knows that Adama is the go-to guy for us. He knows how capable Adama is around the basket. So, he always has his eyes out for him. Andre has the unique ability to find passing windows and deliver passes on-time for baskets. Andre’s always looking for Adama, and Adama is acutely aware of it. Adama knows which guys do the best job of finding him. So, he’s pretty nice to Andre in practices and games.”
Added head coach Dan Hurley: “These guys basically live in the facility, so they’ve got a very similar makeup. And they’re both desperate to win. With Andre’s ability to facilitate, and Adama’s ability to finish, it makes sense. Andre’s been our best passer in ball-screen this year, obviously with R.J. (Cole) as well.”
Akok OK? Akok Akok played just three minutes in Thursday’s win at Butler. While his playing time has been spotty throughout the season, that was his season-low.
“When you go in a game in those first 2, 3 minutes and you’re active blocking shots with your length, and you shoot a clean 3, maybe you run up the court and get a lob dunk and you’re doing things that make me want to keep you on the court, you’re gonna end up staying on that court,” Hurley explained. “Akok’s got to get on the defensive glass, block a shot, do things to impact winning.”
The coach added that, with Sanogo and Isaiah Whaley playing well that night, and with Butler going to a four-guard lineup for long stretches, it made it even tougher for Akok to see the floor.
“But even if it’s a tough matchup for him, I want to be able to play him more than that,” Hurley said. “But he’s got to impact things more.”
Defense and rebounding: For all of Georgetown’s woes, the Hoyas lead the Big East in offensive rebounding in conference play (UConn is second). Freshman Aminu Mohammed, a 6-foot-5 guard, is third in the league in rebounding overall, behind Sanogo and PC’s Noah Horchler.
On Monday, the Huskies ranked 26th nationally in both offensive and defensive efficiencty, per KenPom.com.