Thundering Bowl Challenge for Underdog Huskies
The Story: It’s been seven long years since UConn played football in December, but that will change today when the Huskies take the field against Marshall in the Myrtle Beach Bowl in Conway, S.C. (2:30 p.m., ESPN).
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: UConn (6-6) is listed as an 11-point underdog against Marshall (8-4), but the Huskies are quite used to the underdog status and have thrived in that role. Two of their most significant victories came against Fresno State and then-No. 19 Liberty, who were favored by 23.5 and 13.5 points, respectively.
WHAT’S AT STAKE: Along with winning a bowl game for the first time since 2009, UConn is also vying for its first winning record since 2010.
• While those achievements alone are much to be proud of, Jim Mora has made it well known that he will not settle for six- and seven-win seasons on his watch and that this season is a mere prelude to better seasons ahead.
WHO IS MARSHALL? The Thundering Herd has been just that, thundering, and is entering the game on a four-game win streak under second-year head coach Charles Huff.
• Marshall features a run-heavy attack led by junior running back Khalan Laborn, who is 12th in the nation with 1,423 yards and tied for seventh with 16 touchdowns. He has rushed for more than 100 yards nine times, including a 163-yard effort in the Herd’s Week 2 upset of then-No. 8 Notre Dame.
STOUT AGAINST THE RUN: While stopping Laborn and versatile quarterback Cam Fancher will be the focus of stellar linebacker Jackson Mitchell and company on defense, it will be strength against strength on the other side of the ball.
• The UConn offense, with the nation’s 32nd-best run attack, will try to move a Marshall run defense that is fifth against the run at 88.8 yards per game and has only allowed one 100-yard rusher all season.
BATTLE IN THE TRENCHES: There’s no question that the game will be won or lost on the line of scrimmage. Most of the Huskies’ offensive identity is tied to its ground game, with Victor Rosa and Devontae Houston running behind a line led by All-America guard Christian Haynes.
• If Marshall proves to be immovable upfront, the onus will fall on quarterback Zion Turner to make big plays with his arm downfield if UConn is able to leave Brooks Stadium with a victory.
AVOID THIRD DOWN: The UConn O-line will face its biggest challenge trying to protect Turner on third down; Marshall’s third-down conversion rate of 23.5% is No. 1 in the nation. A big reason has been the play of edge rusher Owen Porter, the Sun Belt’s Defensive Player of the Year, who has 9.5 sacks.
HELP ON THE WAY: A huge benefit of having one month between games is that more healthy bodies will be available. UConn is expected to welcome back wide receivers Cam Ross and Keelan Marion, along with running back Brian Brewton, and they will be needed to help spark the Huskies’ attack.
THEY SAID IT: “We either have a winning season or a losing season,” Turner Turner told CT Insider. “There is no in-between in this game. This is the exclamation point of our season. We want to finish. We don’t do anything halfway.”
SOME PEP IN THEIR STEP: A contingent of nearly 1,000 UConn fans who made the trip to South Carolina showed their “overwhelming” support for Mora and the Huskies by giving them a pep rally yesterday afternoon.
QUITE A CAREER: Linebacker Brandon Bouyer-Randle‘s seven-year football odyssey comes to an end today.
No Slowing Down the UConn Train
The Story: The No. 3-ranked men’s basketball team’s dominance early in the season has extended into Big East play as the Huskies, behind 25 points and 14 rebounds from Adama Sanogo, blasted Butler 68-46 on Saturday.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Sanogo is not just a favorite for Big East Player of the Year. He’s one of the leading candidates for national player of the year after his dominant performance inside.
• UConn held a 54-30 advantage on the boards and despite shooting less than 40 percent dominated physically. It turned a four-point second-half lead into a 22-point thrashing.
• UConn had 36 points in the paint and 14 second-chance points on 18 offensive rebounds.
WHAT DID DAN HURLEY SAY? “Adama is going to have to do this for us at times. That’s the responsibility of one of the best players in the country. When we have a number of people struggling offensively, we’re going to need him to take over.”
DOMINANT UCONN: UConn is likely to go up to at least No. 2 in the AP poll after Virginia’s loss, but there hasn’t been a team as dominant as the Huskies are 12-0, are beating teams by an average of 26.2 points per game and have not trailed in the second half in any game this season.
• UConn is ranked No. 3 in adjusted defense per KenPom and No. 7 in adjusted offense. It’s the only team that is in the top 10 in both.
• UConn is one of five teams that’s still undefeated. The others are No. 1 Purdue, Mississippi State, Utah State and New Mexico.
• The Huskies are favored in every game left on their schedule with various stat models having their record ranging from 28-3 to 30-1 in the regular season. Team Rankings gives the Huskies a 9 percent chance to run the table in the regular season.
GOING NINE DEEP: Nahiem Alleyne, a scoring guard out of the rotation for a bit, had his first productive game in a couple of weeks as he scored nine points. Jordan Hawkins added 12 points.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE: We love how the Huskies move the ball. They had 20 assists on 28 baskets and made 10 3-poiners. The offensive rebounds made up for a poor shooting night, however, as UConn had 17 more field goal attempts than Butler.
CASE FOR NO. 1: We think UConn should be No. 2 anyway, but with No. 2 Virginia going down, will those first-place votes go to No. 1 Purdue, which squeaked by Davidson, or to the Huskies?
UP NEXT: Georgetown is next on tap tomorrow at Gampel Pavilion.
No Geno, No Problem
The Story: Geno Auriemma missed yesterday’s game with an illness but Nika Muhl and Dorka Juhasz returned in a 85-77 win over Florida State in the Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase at Mohegan Sun Arena.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Auriemma wasn’t feeling well and missed the game, with associate head coach Chris Dailey taking over the coaching reins. Aaliyah Edwards scored 26 points and Lou Lopez Senechal added 23 in the effort.
• UConn’s turnover issues are still as they finished with 20, but Muhl’s return had the offense back in gear as she had six points and 12 assists.
• Juhasz’s return was sorely needed as the senior center added 15 points, nine rebounds and five blocks.
• UConn led by as many as 23 before Florida State cut the lead to four in the third quarter, but the Huskies held on.
WHAT DID CHRIS SAY? “This is kind of the story of our season. This situation, [Geno] didn’t feel well after shootaround and so it wasn’t like you had a week to prepare or two days to prepare. So, there’s emotion involved and it’s been a draining couple of weeks for us … but our players have been very resilient.”
HOW IS GENO? Geno didn’t feel well in the morning shootaround and out of an abundance of caution he returned home. Dailey said he was feeling better later in the day but was experiencing flu-like symptoms.
• Dailey is the greatest sub in the history of basketball as she’s a perfect 14-0 when she takes over for Geno.
UP NEXT: The Huskies host Seton Hall on Wednesday.
Morning Reads
• Former UConn running back Nate Carter, who entered the transfer portal earlier this month, is headed to Michigan State. (MLive.com)
Top photo: Jim Mora has the Huskies ready to play in the Myrtle Beach Bowl this afternoon. (Ian Bethune for The UConn Daily)
