UConn Overwhelms CCSU In Opener
The Story: The men’s basketball team opened Season 3 under Dan Hurley by overwhelming CCSU with itstalent and athleticism in a 102-75 win at Gampel Pavilion. James Bouknight led the Huskies with a ho-him 20 points and eight rebounds. R.J. Cole added 17 points in his debut.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: The best player was Bouknight, which is no surprise. He didn’t force a ton and took only 12 shots. He only made 1 of 4 3-pointers, but he was in control and didn’t force things. What struck us was ow smooth he looked.
WHAT WE LIKED: The depth. The roster has a ton of talent. Yes, you always think you are going to play all your players, but after Bouknight, the others really are interchangeable. CCSU isn’t a good defensive team, but Cole scored well and Brendan Adams had 15 off the bench. Add Jalen Gaffney and eventually the suspended Tyrese Martin and that’s a crowded and talented backcourt. Inside, the Huskies started Isaiah Whaley, had an impressive debut from Adama Sanogo and barely played senior Josh Carlton and freshman Javonte Brown. Also, Akok Akok is still rehabbing a torn Achilles. UConn has a lot of players, size, shooting and talent. No more playing walk-ons late in the game because everyone is hurt and/or sick.
MARTIN SUSPENDED: Martin was suspended for playing in an unsanctioned summer league game. First off, there was a summer league game? And secondly, why the heck does the NCAA care? Kangaroo Court strikes again.
WHAT DEFENSE? The Huskies had a two-week pause because of COVID-19 and nowhere did that lack of practice show more than on defense. The Huskies, who actually trailed midway through the first half, allowed Central to shoot 50 percent overall and 47.6 percent from 3-point range. CCSU has some good offensive players, but it was also 4-27 a year ago. Don’t mistake the defensive performance as lack of effort; the effort was there. The Huskies weren’t organized and cohesive and that is going to take practice.
MONSTER DEBUT: Sanogo was said to have a college-ready body. That is incorrect. He has an NBA body. The freshman from New Jersey looked huge out there for the Huskies with eight points, seven rebounds and a nice soft touch. He was the most impressive freshman out there. Andre Jackson had a rough debut and was whistled for a technical but redeemed himself with two dunks. Brown and Richie Springs saw scant action.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE: The Huskies scored 48 points in the paint and shot 55.9 percent and made 10 3-pointers. It’s that shooting that is impressive. Cole and Adams had three 3s and Polley had two. UConn scored points on 46 of 72 possessions, which is terrific offensive efficiency.
NEXT UP: The Huskies will play Hartford on Friday at 8 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.
BOTTOM LINE: We got one game in the books and the team is what we expected. It is bigger, stronger, longer and more talented than it was in Hurley’s first two years. The competition isn’t good enough to make any grand pronouncements, but UConn has options and depth, and that should do it well. If you are a UConn fan — and if you aren’t, why are you reading? — there is a lot to get exited about. UConn looks like the kind of team Hurley envisioned when he became the head coach three years ago.
What’s Going On With Hockey East?
The Story: The men’s Hockey East season got thrown for a loop as most of the weekend’s games were postponed due to rising COVID-19 rates in the region.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Maine, Vermont and Northeastern all paused winter sports activities until after the first week of December. That wrecked havoc with the Hockey East schedule as the men’s hockey team had its weekend set with Maine postponed. The next game isn’t until Dec. 11 against Boston College. For the women’s program, its slate with Maine was also postponed. Its next scheduled game is Dec. 4 against BC.
HOCKEY EAST EFFECT: For the men’s programs, the delay wiped out 19 games until Dec. 14. Boston College and UMass will play the lone Hockey East men’s games this weekend. As for the Huskies, it is going to be three weeks in between games with this weekend’s postponement.
Morning Reads
FAKE UCONN MEN’S PROP BETS: What are some prop bets for the Huskies in 2020-21? We could’t find any so folks at the UConn Blog invented their own. (The UConn Blog)
BIG EAST SCOREBOARD: Xavier looked scary, PC was good, Georgetown was sloppy and we don’t know what to think of Butler. (ESPN)
NIGHTMARE BEGINNING OF SEASON: The women’s basketball team didn’t get its first game in before it had to shut it down. (Hartford Courant)
DAIGNEAULT’S FAMILY REMEMBERS RISE: Former UConn manager Mark Daigneault‘s rise to coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder is remarkable. His family was all there for it. (Hearst CT Media
