Desperate times for UConn men
Huskies stuck in a rut, winless in AAC
Storrs — UConn is already edging toward desperation territory at this early stage of the conference season.
The Huskies are stuck in a season-high three-game losing rut and still in search of their first American Athletic Conference victory.
Plus, they'll embark on a difficult road trip after hosting Southern Methodist University (10-4, 2-0) on Thursday night at Gampel Pavilion.
Game time is 7 p.m.
They're determined to grab a win and some valuable momentum Thursday before visiting Cincinnati on Saturday and Tulsa on Wednesday.
"That was the main word that we were using today — just desperate, hungry," senior Jalen Adams said after Wednesday's workout. "That's the attitude that we have to have to be able to pull out a
win against a good SMU team.
".... We need this win just to build our confidence. It will be a great way to start this road trip to Cincinnati."
To prevent matching their worst start in conference play, the Huskies (9-6, 0-2) will need to receive contributions from more than just the usual players.
A lack of production from the supporting cast has contributed to UConn's demise. Only three players scored in double figures at South Florida on Wednesday and just two against Central Florida on Saturday. No shocker that they averaged just 60.5 points — well below their season average of 78.5 — in those contests.
In AAC action, junior Christian Vital and redshirt sophomore Alterique Gilbert have been the only consistent scorers, averaging 15.5 points and 15 points, respectively. Adams has faded in and out in the last five games, scoring 25 versus South Florida and 20 versus Drexel but only hitting single digits in the other three games.
Coach Dan Hurley is working on ways to free up Adams.
"The court has been real crowded for him," Hurley said.
"We need other guys to step up and make shots for the court to open up . ... If he had some shooting around him and an inside game, things would be a lot more open for him. He's got a lot on his shoulders because there's not a lot of proven production around him, both at the 3-point line and interior so they're ganging up on him."
UConn's backcourt certainly could use some help. Tyler Polley is mired in a funk, making just 2 of his 15 field goals, while fellow sophomore frontcourt partner Josh Carlton hasn't had more than two points in each of the last three games.
Bench output is down, too, as graduate transfer Tarin Smith, sophomore Sidney Wilson, senior Eric Cobb, freshman Brendan Adams and sophomore Isaiah Whaley all are averaging four points or less and sinking a combined 5-for-19 from the field in league action.
While a small sample size, the ugly statistics are still concerning.
The Huskies aren't a stingy enough defensive team and make too many turnovers to win without piling up points.
"We know we're going to play with a lot of effort every game, but versus these better teams effort is not enough," Adams said.
"You have to have the effort and then you have to execute and then make shots. That's really what we've been working on. We've been getting a lot of extra shots up and working on our offense a lot more. Pretty much just tightening everything up."
SMU is playing about as well as anyone in the AAC right now, winning eight of its last nine games, including four straight. The Mustangs are an offensive force, as four players average in double figures. They've also had consistent bench production during their hot streak.
Senior Jahmal McMurray is the team's most lethal weapon, ranking third in overall scoring in the AAC at 18.9 points per game. UConn's defense is in for a stiff test. "SMU, offensively, is one of the most efficient teams that we'll play this year," Hurley said. "Just a really mature offensive team in the half-court where they can make you look really bad defensively because of how good and mature they are at that end and how well-rounded they are."
Hurley's focus has been as much inward as outward in recent weeks, continuing to work on polishing his team's rough edges as well as building the proper mindset.
An inspired home win Thursday would serve as a huge lift.
"We've spent a lot of time on the psyche and letting them know that this is a game tomorrow at home that we've got to come in with the mindset that it's one that you've got to expect to win," Hurley said. "We learned some lessons last week.
“... The way we've all handled the failure of last week has been a really positive step. I'm hopeful that you're going to see a really good performance from (Adams) tomorrow and a really hungry and desperate team." g.keefe@theday.com