Another Dog of a Game
The Story: Forget the outcome of the games. Jim Mora has moved into evaluation mode with the Huskies as they hit the road for a second consecutive week for a game tomorrow at No. 12 NC State (7:30 p.m., YES).
IT’S ABOUT US: The first thing Mora said at his weekly press conference on Tuesday is that “a lot of the improvement is obviously hidden in the scoreboard result,” referring to the 59-0 loss at Michigan three days earlier. If it is, it’s admittedly hard to see.
• The Huskies are so battered — their top quarterback, running back and wide receivers are all out — that the greatest growth is probably among the backups who are appearing in games.
• Mora said he challenged players on Sunday night to continue to improve. When speaking Tuesday, he said the practice earlier in the day, their first since the game, was among the most spirited and lively he’s seen. That’s great, but let’s hope it amounts to something.
DISAPPOINTED, NOT DISCOURAGED: Mora, rightly, conceded Tuesday that he “expected more positives” by this point in the season.
• “There’s been disappointment, but I’m not discouraged at all, and the reason I’m not discouraged is because I get to see these guys sitting in the chairs you’re in and the look on their face,” Mora said. “I get to see them in practice every day and I get to see them around the building. I know their character. I know what they’re made of and I know how they’re weathering this storm.”
• Athletic director Dave Benedict is, as expected, standing by Mora. Benedict said a lot of things, but it boils down to this: “There’s no doubt it’s been different. I think we’re making progress.”
TOUGH TASKS: There’s no reliable way to calculate strength of schedule in college football, especially early in the season, but consider that come Sunday at midnight UConn will have faced Utah State, which was then receiving votes in the poll; Syracuse, which was then receiving votes in the poll; Michigan, which was (and is) No. 4, and NC State, which is No. 12. Not many teams will have that many tough opponents.
• Compounding UConn’s troubles is that those games were early in the season and not later on, when they could have built some momentum against lesser opponents. Their schedule, after tomorrow, in order: Fresno State, FIU, Ball State, Boston College, UMass, Liberty, Army. Those teams are a combined 8-12 to start the season and six of those eight wins were over FCS teams.
• Too much for watching that Utah State game and thinking UConn was going to be something. The Aggies lost 55-0 to Alabama and 35-7 to Weber State.
ABOUT NC STATE: The Wolfpack (3-0) have won their last 12 games at Carter-Finley Stadium and have outscored their opponents by nearly 20 points a game during that streak.
• NC State’s defense is leading the way. It has seven interceptions, the second most in the FBS, and is holding opponents to 68.7 rushing yards a game, good for third. That task will get significantly easier with Nathan Carter out this week, and likely longer, with a separated shoulder.
• The offensive numbers certainly don’t stand out. Quarterback Devin Leary is completing 59.3 percent of his passes for 190 yards a game. Running back Demie Sumo-Karngbaye is rushing for 67.7 yards per game and wide receiver Thayer Thomas is putting up 34 yards a game.
• NC State opened as 38.5-point favorites with an over/under of 50. Do what you may with that information.
Morning Reads
• It is, somehow, already, time to do that hockey. The women’s hockey team will open the regular season with a two-game home series against RIT that begins tonight and continues tomorrow. (UConnHuskies.com)
• The men’s hockey team’s game at Madison Square Garden will take place on Nov. 26 when it faces Cornell for the first time in the fifth annual Frozen Apple game. (UConnHuskies.com)
• A four-game winning streak against ranked opponents will hopefully continue this afternoon as the No. 9-ranked field hockey team hosts No. 16 Liberty, which beat UConn in the Big East championship game a year ago. (UConnHuskies.com)
• The women’s volleyball team (6-5) will begin Big East play this weekend with games at Seton Hall tonight and at St. John’s tomorrow evening. (UConnHuskies.com)
Top photo: Freshman Victor Rosa escapes a tackle in the Huskies’ game against Syracuse. (Ian Bethune for The UConn Daily)
