Will We See Some Bouknight?
The Story: The men’s basketball team begins play in the eight-team Charleston Classic tonight when it faces Buffalo at the TD Arena in Charleston, South Carolina (9 p.m., ESPNU).
THE FIELD: After facing Buffalo, UConn will play either Towson or Xavier, a future Big East opponent, on Friday. On the other side of the bracket are Miami, Missouri State, St. Joseph’s and Florida. Yes, it is possible UConn could play St. Joseph’s or Florida again, and we’d certainly like to see it. The Huskies could also see Xavier in the next round, a future Big East foe.
BOUKNIGHT DEBUTS: Freshman James Bouknight is expected to make his debut now that his three-game suspension following his legal troubles has ended. What can Bouknight bring? He’s an athletic wing who will be counted upon to provide a scoring punch. The Huskies have had inconsistent bench scoring from Brendan Adams and Sid Wilson on the wing and freshman Jalen Gaffney hasn’t hit his stride yet. The hope is that Bouknight can provide some relief for Christian Vital.
ABOUT BUFFALO: The Bulls (2-1) may not be a team you expect to be a good mid-major but have managed to win a game in the NCAA Tournament each of the last two seasons. That makes them dangerous for the Huskies, who are coming off a win over Florida. The Bulls are a guard-heavy team led by Jayvon Graves’ 16.3 points per game.
UConn To Say Goodbye to 15 Seniors
The Story: Fifteen players will make their final appearances at Rentschler Field on Saturday when the football team hosts ECU, including Cam DeGeorge and Nino Leone — two starting offensive linemen with eligibility remaining.
UPHEAVAL NEXT SEASON: The Huskies already knew they were going to be without redshirt senior right tackle Matt Peart, who has started every game since the beginning of the 2016 season, but DeGeorge and Leone, redshirt juniors, will also be exiting. DeGeorge has made 32 starts over his career, including nine this season, and Leone was a starting guard all of last season who has started every game at center this season. That means the Huskies will have to replace three offensive linemen in 2020. Because DeGeorge and Leone each have eligibility remaining — and they’re starters — there’s a good chance they’ll look to play elsewhere next season as graduate transfers.
WHO ELSE IS LEAVING? In addition to DeGeorge and Leone, the Huskies will say goodbye to six additional redshirt juniors, including linebacker Eddie Hahn, who started 10 games last year and has played in all 10 this year, and punter Brett Graham, the starter in 2017 who has been the primary holder. Offensive lineman Noel Brouse, defensive linemen A.J. Garson and Andrew Migliaccio and long snapper Jeff Sidebotham.
Also set to step foot on the grass at Rentschler Field one last time are running back Art Thompkins and wide receiver Ardell Brown, who joined the team this year as graduate transfers; linebacker Eli Thomas, who has not played since a stroke in October 2018; running back Donevin O’Reilly, whose career has been cut short by repeated knee injuries, and offensive lineman Ben Bonvicini and running back Stanley Little.
AND WHO’S RETURNING? Quarterback Mike Beaudry and linebacker D.J. Morgan, graduate transfers who arrived at UConn with two years of eligibility remaining, are planning to be back. Three other redshirt juniors who played large roles this season — cornerback Tahj Herring-Wilson, safety Tyler Coyle and linebacker Ryan Gilmartin — are also planning to return.
Morning Reads
LETTERS RECEIVED: Geno Auriemma has received letters of intent from all five players in the Class of 2020: Paige Bueckers, Nika Muhl, Mir McLean, Piath Gabriel and Aaliyah Edwards. (UConnHuskies.com)
CRIKEY, IT’S IRWIN! After playing 24 minutes and scoring a career-high 13 points in the women’s basketball team’s win against Virginia on Tuesday, senior Kyla Irwin made her case to be considered for a bench role. (Hartford Courant)
WISEMAN WILL PLAY: The nation’s top men’s basketball recruit, James Wiseman, has been suspended 12 games but will be reinstated on Jan. 12, meaning he’ll play twice against UConn this season. (Memphis Commercial Appeal)
