SHOOTING STAR
Hawkins’ dynamic performance in win over Oklahoma State draws comparisons to UConn greats
STORRS — By halftime Thursday night, UConn men's basketball sophomore guard Jordan Hawkins was up to 18 points, two shy of a career high, and his 3-pointer less than a minute into the second half pushed the Huskies' lead over Oklahoma State to 20.
There you had it, all the hype and talent previously bottled up by growing pains and time spent recovering from concussions now funneled forcefully into a game that he took over. The Huskies, however imperfect in some areas, generally stomped the Cowboys, 74-64, riding Hawkins' five 3-pointers and 26 points to another convincing victory.
“That type of firepower on the wing opens up a lot of things,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said.
The No. 8 Huskies are 9-0, and just starting to feel whole. Considering the win-by-committee approach that has vaulted UConn into a national conversation, it might have been easy to forget that the player most capable of changing a game — and a season — in the snap of a finger was slowly easing back toward health and settling into the prominent role carved out for him.
November wasn't the easiest month for Hawkins. He was undercut and flipped onto his head for a concussion in the season's opener, and he spent the past few weeks feeling things out as the Huskies ripped through mid-majors and high-majors alike, at home and on the road.
But it's December now. Hawkins opened the new month by reaching a new level in his college experience, making 6 of 13 shots in 35-plus minutes to the delight of an announced sellout crowd.
“I love playing here with the fans,” said Hawkins, who was coming off one of his worst games, scoring just two points and committing four fouls in only six minutes as