The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Huskies looking for ‘respect’
PHILADELPHIA — Respect. Villanova has earned it in recent years as much as any program in America. The Wildcats won national championships in 2016 and 2018, coach Jay Wright was recently named the Associated Press’s “Coach of the Decade,” and Villanova has been the bellwether program of the Big East.
UConn used to occupy such lofty real estate, regularly winning Big East titles and national championships. Villanova has essentially taken over the role UConn used to own, even trouncing the Huskies in the first two games of a three-game series between the schools the prior two seasons.
“I’m not sure if, after the last two years we’ve played them, how much respect they have for our team,” UConn coach Dan Hurley noted. “We lost by 43 points in two games the last two years.”
The third and final game of the series — before the programs become Big East rivals again next season — unfolds on Saturday at Wells Fargo Center (noon, Fox Sports 1). If UConn (10-6) wants to give 14th-ranked Villanova (13-3) a taste of what they used to be, and of what Hurley intends the program to be in the very near future, this will be as good a chance as any to deliver.
“We’re gonna have to get out there early in the game,” Hurley said, “and earn their respect.”
Added junior center Josh Carlton: “Hopefully, we’ve got the mindset to come in and have something to prove.”
It’s symbolic that UConn’s last win over Villanova came in the second round of the 2014 NCAA tournament. The Huskies, of course, went on to win their fourth — and final — national title. It’s largely been downhill since.
The teams resumed their series in January, 2018, and the Wildcats rolled to an 81-61 victory in Hartford en route to their second national title in three years. Last season at Madison Square Garden, Villanova rolled to an
81-58 victory.
“They have the identity that UConn had, and we’re starting over to rebuild ours,” Hurley said. “They have the identity that Coach (Jim) Calhoun and Kevin (Ollie) had in the program, and Coach Geno (Auriemma) has on the women’s side. We lost ours, we’re rebuilding ours. Watching them play is humbling on film, where we’re at in that process compared to where they are.”
Villanova has been a bit up-and-down this season, getting trounced at Ohio State in mid-November, decisively beaten by Baylor a couple of weeks later and at Marquette on Jan. 4. But the Wildcats are 4-1 and perched at their usual spot near the top of the Big East standings, coming off an overtime win over gritty DePaul on Tuesday.
“They’ve been in every game,” Wright said of the Huskies. “Their last game against Wichita State was a great example of their incredible competitiveness, toughness, scrappiness — much like all of Dan Hurley’s good teams.”
Villanova has won three straight.
“We’re getting better, kind of like UConn,” Wright said. “We’re fitting guys in, still growing. We haven’t had the consistency I’d like yet.”
Hearing the future Hall of Fame coach compare his team to UConn might sound flattering. But Hurley knows the truth.
“We have a long way to go.”
RIM RATTLINGS
⏩ Junior forward Tyler Polley underwent successful surgery on Friday in Connecticut. The team visited Polley at his hotel, near the hospital, before their trip to Philadelphia.
Polley is out for the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee in practice on Jan. 10.
“He’s in good spirits,” Hurley reported. “Surgery went well. He’s with his family so he’s in good spirits. He’s got the perfect disposition to handle the rigors of rehab and recovery.”
⏩ In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s memory, every team in the Big East will be sporting the phrase “We Cannot Walk Alone” on their warm-up jerseys this weekend. The phrase comes from Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech of 1963.
As a reminder that UConn is returning to the league next season, the Huskies will be sporting the phrase on their warmups on Saturday — at the behest of the Big East.