FIVE KEYS FOR THE UCONN MEN
For four months this season, the UConn men’s basketball team has been one of the very best teams in the country.
For one month, it was one of the worst teams in the Big East.
Which UConn team will show up for the NCAA Tournament? November/December/February/March UConn? Or January UConn? Or something in between?
Here are five keys to the Huskies not only winning an NCAA tourney game for the first time in seven years, but making a long run.
WHO’S THE MAN?
UConn won 24 games this season. Amazingly, 23 of them were by eight points or more. Their closest win was a six-point triumph at Georgetown.
Conversely, the Huskies’ seven losses came by an average of 6.7 points. Three of them were by three points or less, none by more than 12, and all seven were still winnable within the final few minutes.
Loosely translated, UConn either blew out or beat teams handily this season, or lost close games. Which means it hasn’t really had too many players step up and hit huge, game-winning type shots. The closest was probably in that 68-62 win at lowly Georgetown on Feb. 4, when Alex Karaban hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with about 4½ minutes left, then canned another trey with 27 seconds left to put the Huskies up five.
Otherwise, UConn either didn’t have a need for any clutch shots down the stretch, or didn’t have anyone hit them. And the Huskies aren’t going to play anyone like Georgetown in the NCAA Tournament.
So who do the Huskies go to in a tight game in the dance? Karaban is always an option, as is dumping the ball down low to Adama Sanogo. Nahiem Alleyne hit a game-winner for Virginia Tech in the 2021 NCAA tourney, and Hassan Diarra hit two game-winners last season for Texas A&M.
But it says here that Jordan Hawkins, the Big East’s leading scorer and free throw shooter who’s a likely NBA first-round draft pick in June is UConn’s go-to guy.
POINT GUARD PLAY
UConn is 12-2 in games in which Tristen Newton scores in double figures. In the Huskies’ 24 wins, Newton averages 10.9 points per game. In their seven losses, he averages just 7.1
As Newton goes, so often so goes UConn. When Newton is taking the ball strong to the hole and getting to the foul line (where he shoots 80.9 percent), the Huskies are a better team. But it’s not just scoring. When Newton is distributing like a true point guard and even rebounding and taking charges (team-high 18), the Huskies usually win. Heck, he’s the only player in program history to notch two triple-doubles in one season.
Andre Jackson handles the point as well, as does Hassan Diarra in short stints. Point guard play is so important in March (see: Kemba, Khalid, Shabazz), and for the Huskies to make a run, they must get consistent play from that position.
TURNOVERS
Part and parcel to point guard play is turnovers, perhaps UConn’s biggest bugaboo this season. The Huskies averaged 12.9 points per game overall this season and 12.7 in Big East play, third-worst in the league. It’s just about the only statistic where they don’t rank among the conference leaders.
UConn can get sloppy at times, particularly in transition. At times, Jackson Jr. gets a little too carried away with no-look passes. Maybe all you need to know is that, after UConn utterly dismantled DePaul by 29 points in its home finale on March 1, Hurley was more concerned with his team’s 13 turnovers.
“It’s always got to be something,” the coach rued. “That bothered me.”
And that can’t happen in the tournament.
BENCH PLAY
UConn’s depth was one of its strongest elements while trucking all opponents to a 14-0 start and rising to No. 2 in the nation. Heck, Donovan Clingan, the back-up center who only averages about 12 minutes per game, was the Most Valuable Player in the ultra-competitive PK Invitational.
Once Big East play started, the bench production started to subside. Joey Calcaterra went from shooting 55-percent from 3 to not playing a single second in a win over Seton Hall. Alleyne and Diarra went long stretches without much production, and even Clingan struggled at times.
All four have played much better during the Huskies’ regular season-ending five-game winning streak. That must continue.
RELAX, DON’T DO IT
Hurley knows his team must be loose and as pressure-free as possible in March, yet not too loose. Hurley must maintain that balance, but how?
“I’m working on it,” the coach said with a chuckle. It won’t be a laughing matter if the Huskies are nervous and edgy come NCAA Tournament time.