As much excitement as there was in Storrs surrounding UConn’s return to the BIG EAST, there was also a question: Just how would life go for the Huskies in year one back in the conference?
The program entered the season having not appeared in the NCAA Tournament in four years.
Through eight games this season, Dan Hurley’s team looks primed to put that drought to bed, because UConn is 7-1 and picking up steam by the game. Sweeping their first road swing of the season with three wins by an average of 10 points, the Huskies have put together performances while undermanned that they could especially benefit from in the long run. Without sophomore star James Bouknight (20.3 ppg), who has missed the last two games with an elbow injury, the Huskies have picked up the slack with senior wing Tyler Polley and junior wing Tyrese Martin filling the scoring void.
“It stinks for James to be out, but in a different type of scenario, it gives the other players confidence because now they have to step up and play their game,” said Martin, who scored 18 points in Monday’s 60-53 win over DePaul. “I feel like now, when James comes back, I feel like everybody’s going to be rolling, and he’ll be rolling. It’s going to be dangerous for a lot of teams.”
Going back to last year, UConn has won 12 of its last 13 games. Hurley, now in his third season at the helm in Storrs, said Monday that learning how to win was a gradual process through the first two years, but that now “it’s in the bones of the program.”
While the offense has been up and down at times for Connecticut, what makes this team dangerous is they do the two constants that always give you a chance: defend and rebound. The Huskies are first in the BIG EAST in scoring defense, allowing 61.8 points per game and lead the league with a +5.8 rebounding margin. That starts in practice.
“We practice like maniacs,” said Martin. “No one in the country practices like us.”
For the Huskies, who are back in the AP Poll for the first time since 2016, the job has only just begun.
“It just goes to show that UConn Basketball is on the way to what it was,” Martin added. “We are not satisfied at number 25, though. Eventually, we’re going to be one of the top teams in the country.”
The hot sauce is flowing in Storrs.
Meanwhile, Tuesday in the BIG EAST featured four teams who were all in need of a win, and the two home teams came away with victories.
It’s been jarring to see St. John’s at the bottom of the conference allowing 80.8 points per game. The Red Storm flipped that switch on Tuesday in Queens, beating Butler 69-57 for their second conference win.
“We stepped into our identity tonight,” said sophomore Julian Champagnie following the victory. “This is not an offensive team. This is a defensive team.”
Mike Anderson’s “40 minutes of hell” style made an impact in his first season at SJU last year, but defense has not been as consistent for the Red Storm in the 2020-21 campaign. Anderson felt a difference on Tuesday.
“Our DNA is going to be our defense, and if our defense is consistent each and every night, we are going to be in ball games,” said Anderson. “It was good to see our guys take the initiative defensively and say, “We are going to stop Butler tonight, we are going to make it difficult,” and we made some plays to get the win.”
With 9:23 left in regulation, St. John’s lead was cut to 55-51. That’s when the Johnnies sprung off a 10-1 surge, culminating with a Posh Alexander swipe and score, and a Champagnie rejection. Those types of winning plays to produce stops made the difference. Champagnie scored 18 and Alexander delivered 10 points, but it was junior forward Josh Roberts who Champagnie said was the Red Storm’s MVP.
Getting his first start of the season, Roberts scored eight points with three boards and provided a physicality boost in 23 minutes.
“If he didn’t play that game we wouldn’t have won.” Champagnie emphasized. “We’re tired of losing. We’re getting fed up with losing.”
The Red Storm’s urgency showed. They host Marquette Saturday.
Speaking of the Golden Eagles, they snapped a skid of four losses in five games with a 79-69 win over Providence.
While a 16-point lead dwindled to one for Steve Wojciechowski’s team, Marquette closed this time around with a 22-13 run in the final 7:11 of the game.
Following a Jamal Cain second-chance layup, Marquette’s newcomers continued to impress, with Justin Lewis slamming home a putback dunk in emphatic fashion, then hitting a three-pointer after DJ Carton got to the foul line and hit a pair of free throws. When you combine what Lewis and Carton did with BIG EAST Freshman of the Year candidate Dawson Garcia matching his career-high with 20 points to go with six boards, the three-headed monster stepped up to produce the Golden Eagles’ third win.
Senior Koby McEwen also made a huge impact with 17 points, six rebounds and five assists.
“It was the same test as we had last game,” said Garcia, who was referring to last week’s loss to UConn after MU led by 18. “This time, we knew that we had the answers to it and were going to execute.”
“Our guys got off the mat, and we responded. Just a week ago, we didn’t. That’s progress. We need to keep building off those lessons,” said Wojciechowski.
The seventh-year Golden Eagles head coach was pleased with his team’s defense for the most part, and cited the effort against Providence star David Duke. Even though the Friars junior scored 17 points, MU held him to 5-of-18 from the field.
Wojciechowski was also complimentary of the fact that Garcia, Lewis and Carton continue to make progress in adapting to Marquette Basketball.
“The adjustment for those guys, even if we weren’t in a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, it’s a challenge,” said Wojciechowski. “But, not having an offseason, having disruptions early in the season with early-season preparation, they’ve had to learn through the fire. They’ve done some incredible things. DJ’s drives through the second half were huge. He got in the paint and created some good things. He was terrific. Those three guys, we’re asking a lot from all three of them. We have great belief in them that they can deliver. But, there’s a learning curve and it doesn’t mean that every day is going to be easy. But, I think all three of them are getting better and that’s what you want.”
The Golden Eagles are 7-6 overall, and 3-4 in conference play.
Just taking a look at the weekend ahead, keep an eye on the rematch between Seton Hall and Xavier on Saturday at 3:30 ET. First and foremost, it’s the first BIG EAST men’s basketball game to be played at Walsh Gymnasium since March 2, 1985. While the Pirates have played a game or two a season at the historic campus venue, it will be unique seeing a men’s conference game inside the building this weekend.
Back on Dec. 30, The Hall rolled past the Musketeers 85-68. Last year, the Pirates did the same in Cincinnati, but Xavier returned the favor in Newark, so revenge has been served before. The Musketeers are one of the surprises in the conference at 10-2 on the season and 3-2 in league play, coming off a wild win over Providence on Sunday after Colby Jones hit a buzzer-beater triple. Kevin Willard’s team is 6-2 in BIG EAST play and 9-5 overall, and will be coming off a bye. That should be one to watch.