Carlton Gets a Grip on Center Spot
The Story: Josh Carlton has shown flashes of brilliance followed by frustrating disappearing acts, but it is all coming together for the sophomore center. Kasoum Yakwe is out for the year and Eric Cobb remains a defensive liability, leaving the Huskies sorely needing production inside. Dan Hurley‘s been happy with his performance the last two games.
CARLTON TAKES CHARGE: Carlton has started all 17 games for the Huskies and is averaging 7.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game while shooting 76.3 percent from the foul line. Carlton’s last two games have been his most complete performances yet against top competition. He played 29 minutes and scored eight points with seven rebounds in a win over SMU and added a career-high 36 minutes and 10 points, nine rebounds and two blocks on Saturday at Cincinnati.
MOTOR IMPROVING: One of the more strange basketball terms out there is the idea of the motor of a player, referring to his energy and activity level, like RPMs. Carlton’s motor is low. It’s not that he doesn’t play hard — he does, but his activity level and movement have all seemed to come at one speed. Hurley has noticed a difference in Carlton’s energy level the last several games.
“This is really kind of Josh’s freshman year,” Hurley said yesterday. “I know he’s a sophomore, but he didn’t play consistent minutes last year. This is the first time in his college career he is being asked to have the role he’s been asked to have. [It’s] baptism by fire. He’s taken some lumps [and] learned some hard lessons. He’s starting to understand the motor [and] intensity level you have to come out with.”
OUR TAKE: We like how Carlton has played the last two games. For lack of a better word, it’s the motor we are impressed with. Active players can impact the game even when they aren’t scoring. That’s always been the key for Carlton. His low-post game is developing, but in the meantime, he can rebound and protect the rim and be a physical and active presence on offense. He looks a little more athletic out there and is more active.
The next time he plays well will be a step toward consistency. The Huskies need him to get his nine or 10 points and five to seven rebounds every game while anchoring the defense. Cobb plays hard and is a solid reserve, but he leaves a lot to be desired defensively. He is not a rim-protector either, and that makes Carlton the lone player on the team who can provide any semblance of shot-blocking.
The Huskies like to apply major ball pressure and need Carlton in the game to guard the rim on the drive. The Huskies will bring in Akok Akok next year and are targeting other big men such as Qudus Wahab and others. Regardless of who Hurley adds, Carlton is going to remain a major part of the UConn rotation in future years.
Have Reserves Earned Geno’s Trust?
The Story: The decision by Geno Auriemma to bench the starters just 4:36 into the now No.2-ranked Huskies’ win over USF on Sunday not only sent a message to the first unit, but it may have helped the second unit send one to its coach as well.
PLAYING ON RESERVES: Geno acknowledged last week that he needs to find a way to work his bench players into the rotation, though a hockey-style line change in the first quarter of a game was probably not what he had in mind. Indeed, Geno has ridden his starters heavily this season, including a three-game stretch in which seniors Katie Lou Samuelson and Napheesa Collier each played all 40 minutes. Notably, he played only six players in the win at then-No. 1 Notre Dame in early December, with freshman Olivia Nelson-Ododa appearing for five minutes off the bench.
A CONFIDENCE BOOST: One of Geno’s main concerns was that the players’ trust in him was starting to evaporate — indeed, Lexi Gordon decided to transfer last month partly because of her inability to get on the court — and he didn’t want complacency to set in.
While that may be true, there’s no doubt the reserves have been ready. Kyla Irwin made two starts when Megan Walker battled strep throat in December and played well in resounding wins against Saint Louis and Seton Hall. Molly Bent made a pair of 3-pointers and played 21 minutes against USF, earning her time on the court over Christyn Williams. Nelson-Ododa and Batouly Camara have provided valuable pick-me-ups at points this season, and Mikayla Coombs had an efficient six points and four rebounds in 10 minutes against DePaul on Nov. 28.
“It was an opportunity, and I’m glad we made the most of it,” Irwin told reporters after the game. “You have a sense of urgency and realize the first five weren’t getting something done that Coach needed. We just had to go out there and play as hard as we could and show Coach we can do this.”
OUR TAKE: The bench players’ ability to prove their worth against USF will bode well for the Huskies down the stretch. Although Geno knows that they were effective against what was essentially the Bulls’ JV team — USF’s three best players were out injured and they dressed only eight on Sunday — it’s not like the AAC is particularly competitive. UConn has won all 87 regular-season games it has played in the conference and even then has won each by an average of 44.6 points.
Tulane, which looms on Wednesday, has one of the better young teams in the AAC and will probably stay in the game long enough to push the Huskies a little bit. That’s a good enough opportunity for Geno to throw one or two of his bench players in the mix to see how they handle the opportunity.
Remember, Samuelson and Collier are gone next year, and the Huskies only have one player in their incoming class at the moment. Geno needs to find a better way to develop players such as Coombs and Nelson-Ododa, who will be needed heavily in the future, and he has acknowledged that much. But, for a few of them, they’re hoping that Sunday proved the future is now.
Morning Read
ADAMS HONORED: Guard Jalen Adams made the American’s weekly honor roll after he averaged 18.5 points per game in a win over SMU and loss at Cincinnati. (TheAmerican.org)
WAHAB NEARS DECISION: Four-star center Qudus Wahab will announce his college decision on Jan. 30. Wahab, a 6-foot-10 prospect playing at Flint Hill in Oakton, Virginia, will choose between UConn, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Georgetown and Virginia Tech. “[UConn] said that I can come there and make an impact right away and that I could be their next great big man,” Wahab said. “They made that clear right from the beginning.” (Rivals.com)
DEWEAVER PICKS ODU: East Mississippi CC quarterback Messiah deWeaver, who made an official visit to UConn this weekend, committed to Old Dominion. He was a four-star recruit out of high school who left Michigan State after two seasons. (Messiah deWeaver on Twitter)
SCHNEIDER HEADS SOUTH: Former UConn winger and Hartford Wolf Pack captain Cole Schneider was traded by the New York Rangers to the Nashville Predators yesterday evening. (Sportsnet.ca)
SNY’s MARINO JOINS PODCAST: SNY sideline reporter Maria Marino joined Jared Kotler’s podcast this past week (Listen)
