Huskies know they can count on ‘Joey California’ off the bench

HARTFORD — Maybe all you need to know about the UConn men’s basketball team’s current depth, or lack thereof, is the fact that Joey Calcaterra and Richie Springs were the first two players off the bench on Tuesday night.

Nothing against those two players, who each bring something to the table and appear to be terrific young men. But Calcaterra, a grad transfer from San Diego, was pretty much brought here to be the ninth or 10th man on the roster. And Springs had played a grand total of 41 minutes in his first three years in Storrs before the start of this season.

Yet there was “Joey California” popping off the bench to replace Hassan

Diarra in UConn’s bout with Buffalo. A couple of minutes later, there was Springs checking in at the scorer’s table, as well.

That’s what happens when two of the Huskies’ three best players, along with another key player, are sidelined by injuries.

UConn may be getting some good news on the injury front soon, however. Dan Hurley hinted that either one or both of Andre Jackson, Jr., who’s been out over a month after breaking his right pinky finger, and Jordan Hawkins, who left midway through the first half of the Huskies’ seasonopener after suffering a concussion, could be back for Friday’s game with UNC-Wilmington at Gampel Pavilion (8:30 p.m., FS2).

If not, it would seem that one or both players could be available to play on Sunday in Hartford against Delaware State. No doubt, the Huskies would love to get the two players at least some game action before they head out to Portland, Oregon for the competitive PK85 Invitational over Thanksgiving weekend.

Whenever Jackson and Hawkins return, UConn has learned that it can count on role players like Calcaterra and Springs. In a Nov. 11 win over Boston University, Springs set a new careerhigh in minutes-played in the first half alone (nine)