Maine event
Adams, UConn men look to continue building momentum
STORRS — Brendan Adams talks to his big brother every day, after practices, after games, but the conversation is changing now.
“Coming into this year, it was mainly about confidence,” Adams said. “When I would go home this summer, I worked out with him and he would play me and preach confidence. He just wanted to make sure I was there. Now that he sees it, we talk more about technical stuff, how to defend, how to read off the pick and roll. That’s the stuff we talk about now that confidence isn’t really the biggest issue anymore.”
Brendan Adams, now a sophomore, has played his way into an important role for the UConn men, coming off the bench to provide 15 points and six rebounds, shaking the Huskies out of a slow start in the season opener against Sacred Heart. He went 5-for-6 to score 20 in 28 minutes in the win over Buffalo Nov. 21 and followed with 13 in the win over Miami last Sunday.
“Brendan’s a more mature person, more self-belief,” coach Dan Hurley said. “He knows it’s a big year for him, so he is making it happen.”
The evolution of Adams and the Huskies (4-2), continues against Maine (2-4) on Sunday at 1 p.m., the Huskies’ season debut at the XL Center.
“It’s a chance for us to build on playing well,” Hurley said.
Jaylen Adams, an honorable mention AP All-American at St. Bonaventure, currently in the G-League with the Bucks’ affiliate in Oshkosh, Wis., has long been his brother’s sounding board, through Brendan’s high school years in Baltimore, his recruiting process, his decision to decommit from Rhode Island and follow Hurley to
UConn.
As the lone true freshman in Hurley’s first season, Brendan looked a bit overwhelmed and his confidence waned through a losing, transitional season. He played 12 minutes a game, shot 30.1 percent from the floor, including12-for-51on 3-pointers. When it was over, there was more work to do.
“Coach knows I’m a worker,” Adams said, “so it was really just, ‘get back to work, stay in the gym,’ and that’s what I did. I knew this was an important year, too. That’s what the work was about. It can’t wait anymore. This year, I’ve got to be able to come in and make an impact, so it was definitely an urgent summer, an urgent offseason for me.”
When he recruited Adams for Rhode Island, Hurley envisioned him as the next great guard in what had become an Atlantic 10 championship program. At 6-foot-4, he brings a lot of versatility to the Huskies as Hurley has been using10 players in rotation. The biggest difference is in is his shooting – 53.1 percent through six games, including 7-for-15 on threes.
“When you’re open, got a good look in rhythm, shoot it,” Hurley said. “He’s one of our better shooters. He’s also athletic, a strong guy, he can play off a shot fake, off a live dribble. He’s guarded people really, really well. He’s playing so hard right now, getting after it so good, he doesn’t really have time to think about himself, and that’s what you want. … When you’re locked in on the defense, playing so hard, only thinking about teammates, you take a lot of pressure off yourself. If you’re self-absorbed and you’re living and dying with every shot you take, worried about your scoring average, you’re going to, one, help your team lose and, two, put a lot of pressure on yourself.”
Jaylen Adams was traveling with the Wisconsin Herd the night of Adams’ breakout game against Buffalo, but he saw highlights afterward and called his brother at 3 a.m. to offer his approval. “He called me right after the Miami game,” Brendan said.
UConn had a week off for Thanksgiving, following the resounding 25-point win over Miami in the consolation game at the Charleston Classic. Freshman James Bouknight debuted during the tournament, with 40 points in three games, and the Huskies generally played solid defense throughout the tournament.
Maine, an America East team, starts a big lineup with a lot of international experience. Andrew Fleming, 6-foot-7, is the leading scorer, but the Black Bears like to milk the clock against high-major competition. At Virginia, the defending national champion, Maine trailed 24-14 at halftime, lost 46-26. UConn’s goal, Hurley said, will be to “impose its athletic advantages,” with no let-up, no reverting back to bad habits.
“Dealing with success, or a good stretch, is not something we’re used to,” Hurley said, “so we got on guys pretty good this week. I think we have a template of how we need to play. We have a deep team, we have to play the right way, guard, take good shots, take care of the ball. Not caring who get credit, not caring whose name is buzzing after a particular game, being excited when a teammate is excelling, getting awards.”