MEN’S BASKETBALL GAMEDAY
DePaul at No. 14 UConn
When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.
Where: XL Center
Records: DePaul 9-20 (3-15 Big East), UConn 22-7 (11-7 Big East)
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: UConn Sports Network, WAVZ-New Haven (1300 AM), WGCH- Greenwich (1490 AM), WATR-Waterbury (1320 AM), WICH-Norwich (1310 AM, 94.5 FM), WILI-Wilimantic (1400 AM, 95.3 FM), 97.9 FM-ESPN Hartford, SiriusXM-983, SXM App 973
DePaul improving, but not there yet
One of these years, DePaul will take advantage of its rich recruiting grounds and be a competitive program in the Big East.
This is not one of those years.
The Blue Demons hobble into Wednesday’s bout with the UConn men’s basketball team losers of 10 straight games. One of those was a 90-76 loss to the Huskies on Jan. 31 in Chicago that, conversely, kicked off a three-game winning streak for UConn, which has also won six of its last seven.
DePaul has played a little better lately, however, dropping a one-point home contest to Butler on Feb. 22, then losing by just six points to No. 6 Marquette over the weekend.
Part of the Blue Demons’ improved play has been due to the return of Nick Ongenda. The 6-foot-11 senior center missed the Demons’ first 25 games due to injury, but since his return on Feb. 14 against St. John’s has been a true shotblocking force. Ongenda blocked eight shots off the bench in that game and has averaged nearly six blocks per game in the four games since his return.
Ironically, his return coincides with a hamstring injury to 6-10 Yor Anei. Coach Tony Stubblefield imagined a doublebig combo of Anei and Ongenda swatting away shot after shot this season, but the two have played in the same game just once this season. Anei played just seven minutes in that St. John’s game before sustaining his injury.
Jordan Hawkins, Adama Sanogo and Tristen Newton combined for 72 of the Huskies’ 90 points on Jan. 31. Javan Johnson’s 19 led DePaul, which was also playing without guard Philmon Gebrewhit. The Huskies did a good job smothering DePaul leading scorer Umoja Gibson in that one, holding him to eight points in 34 minutes.
The Huskies’ offense has been more well-rounded lately, with Andre Jackson posting career scoring highs of 15 points in two of the past three games and the bench providing huge contributions in Saturday’s win at St. John’s. UConn is 10-0 in games that Nahiem Alleyne has scored eight or more points. Alleyne has scored a combined 17 in the past two games, impressive wins over Providence and St. John’s, and seems to be rounding into form at just the right time. Wednesday’s game will be the final home game for Alleyne, Newton, Joey Calcaterra and Richie Springs.