The UConn football team has its work cut out for them on Thursday when the Huskies host N.C. State. (Ian Bethune for The UConn Daily)
UConn’s Keys to Beat N.C. State
The Story: UConn faces a significant test Thursday as a 15-point underdog against NC State, but Jim Mora’s team has an opportunity to make an early-season statement and send the homefield crowd at Pratt & Whitney Stadium into a frenzy at the same time.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: It’s what all Huskies’ fans want to know – how they can prevail over an opponent that beat them 41-10 last season. If it’s going to happen, here are the keys to victory on both sides of the ball.
OFFENSE
- ESTABLISH THE RUN: A quarterback’s best friend is the running game, and the Huskies need to set up Joe Fagnano for success by relying on their strong interior line, led by All-American guard Christian Haynes, to control the line of scrimmage and open holes for Devontae Houston and Victor Rosa, especially on first down.
- PROTECT THE EDGE: NC State was the ACC’s top scoring defense a year ago, and the Wolfpack returns WLB Payton Wilson (4.5 sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss) and DE Davin Vann (4.5 sacks, 8 TFL). The onus will be on UConn tackles Valentin Senn and Chase Lundt to keep Fagnano upright so he can engineer a passing game that only generated 39 passing yards against NC State last season.
- AVOID WHITE: As in all-ACC cornerback Aydan White. According to Pro Football Focus, White played the most coverage snaps in the nation without allowing a TD and ranked second in the ACC in interceptions (4). While Fagnano has plenty of experienced targets in Brett Buckman, Cam Ross and Geordon Porter, he might not want to test White too often.
DEFENSE
- EARLY STOPS: NC State went for the jugular a year ago, scoring on the first offensive play of the game (a 75-yard TD reception), and then continued the aerial assault to build a 31-3 halftime lead. The Huskies must temper the Wolfpack attack right away to prevent another runaway and build early confidence.
- PRESSURE ARMSTRONG: UConn’s defensive front is its most experienced unit, and the Huskies need to make life uncomfortable for Virginia transfer Brennan Armstrong, especially after allowing 323 passing yards and 4 TD passes a year ago. It’ll be a long night for Armstrong if he sees the likes of Eric Watts (7 sacks, 10 TFL) and Pryce Yates (4.5 sacks, 9 TFL) in his face on every pass play.
- WIN THE TURNOVER BATTLE: Or shall we call this the Jackson Mitchell department? UConn’s best chance of winning is to force mistakes, something the standout linebacker is known to do well. Nothing leads to points quicker than turnovers, and a few momentum-shifting plays from Mitchell and company could be all the Huskies need to secure a season-opening upset.
— David Kull
🏀 MEN’S BASKETBALL
Non-Conference schedule set
The Story: The defending national champion UConn men released their non-conference schedule for 2022-23 starting with Northern Arizona on Nov. 5. The 20-game Big East schedule will be released at a later date.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: UConn has a tremendous non-conference with Indiana, North Carolina, Kansas, Gonzaga and Texas\Louisville on tap. That’s the good news. The bad news? None of them are in Hartford or Storrs. The top non-conference home game is…Arkansas Pine-Bluff?
• This is not a UConn problem, rather, the push nationwide by all college basketball teams to play in the non-conference neutral site games. Why? We actually don’t know. College basketball is better on campus, unless it is a sold-out MSG in our opinion.
• UConn plays at Kansas in the Big East/Big 12 challenge and have three games at MSG. UConn plays in the Empire Classic against Indiana and either Texas/Louisville Nov. 19-20,and is vs. North Carolina in the Jimmy V Classic on Dec. 5.
• The Huskies play at Gonzaga, a team they pummeled 82-58 in the Elite 8 last year on the way to a national title, in their final non-conference game Dec. 15.
• The Huskies have three potential non-conference teams (Texas a possibility) that finished last year in the Top 10 of KenPom (UConn was No. 10 and four teams in the top 30.
UCONN MEN’S BASKETBALL
2023-24 NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Monday, Nov. 6 – Northern Arizona (GP or XL)
Saturday, Nov. 11 – Stonehill (GP or XL)
Tuesday, Nov. 14 – Mississippi Valley State (GP or XL)
Sunday, Nov. 19 – vs. Indiana (Empire Classic, Madison Square Garden)
Monday, Nov. 20 – vs. Texas/Louisville (Empire Classic, Madison Square Garden)
Friday, Nov. 24 – Manhattan (GP or XL)
Monday, Nov. 27 – New Hampshire (GP or XL)
Friday, Dec. 1 – at Kansas (BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle)
Tuesday, Dec. 5 – vs. North Carolina (Jimmy V Classic, Madison Square Garden)
Saturday, Dec. 9 – Arkansas-Pine-Bluff (GP or XL)
Friday, Dec. 15 – vs. Gonzaga (Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle)
— John Silver
📰 MORNING READS
• Former UConn football players had cutdown day with DT Folorunso Fatukasi (Jaguars), OL Ryan Van Denmark (Jaguars), NT Travis Jones (Ravens) and OL Matt Peart (Giants) all making the 53-man teams. It also appears LB Brandon Boyer Randle is going to get a practice squad slot.
• Cut from their teams were FB Robert Burns by Bears despite scoring a TD in preseason finale and C Jake Guidone by the Ravens.
• Other notables who played at UConn before leaving include QB Tim Boyle (cut by Jets but headed to practice squad as the third QB) and LB Darrian Beavers, who played at UConn before transferring to Cincinnati being cut by the Giants.
• First Night for men’s and women’s basketball is Oct. 15, the first chance to see this years team in uniform.
• Here is or things about UConn football. Are the expectations higher for 2023? We say yes. UConn won six games a year ago and brings back 90% of the roster and is a veteran team in the first time in forever. Jim Mora has pressure on him, but we think it is good pressure. If you aren’t expecting a jump from 6-7 a year ago, what are we doing even bothering to watch?
• The men’s hockey team has elevated Tyler Helton to associate head coach of men’s hockey.
