As Expected...So Far

The UConn Huskies have completed their out of conference schedule, and as they prepare themselves to enter Big East play for the final time, the Huskies so far have had the kind of season I expected them to have.

Record: 10-2 isn't bad at all. A win against top 20 ranked Michigan State in Germany to start the year, certainly good. The Huskies lost in the Paradise Jam final to New Mexico, and lost to N.C. State during the Big East/ACC Challenge. Both teams were ranked in the top 20 and both games were single-digit loses, neither a bad loss. Connecticut beat the out of conference teams they were expected to beat, lost to teams they were the underdog in, and scored a top 20 win, again, the record is pretty good.

Team Play: UConn has been playing better than they did all of last year. The necessity to get everyone involved, a new coach, and only themselves to play for (banned from post season play due to academic qualifications not reached), the Huskies have laid the building blocks already for next year. Four players averaging more than 10 points per game (Napier, Boatright, Calhoun, Daniels) this early in the season is translating into success. DeAndre Daniels and Enosch Wolf are playing more minutes than they saw last season, are contributing to the team, and are realizing their potential.

Offense: Going into the season, with the singing of Phil Nolan and the transfer of R.J. Evans, the Huskies had to decide with a new coach how to run their offense. From what has been seen so far, it seems that the Huskies are content running an athletic, fast-paced, but small lineup of four guards and a small forward. R.J. Evans, Omar Calhoun, Ryan Boatright, Shabazz Napier, and DeAndre Daniels has been a dominant lineup for the Huskies offense, but with conference play coming up that may not be the wisest of lineups. The lineup is small and will have a hard time dealing with the size the Big East typically brings. UConn has been out-rebounded in both losses, as well as in seven of their wins (one game out-rebounded by one rebound). Rebounding is a key stat in Big East play, and is parallel to a team's success. The two biggest players on the team need to be more aggressive on the glass and secure more rebounds. Wolf has wanted his time, practiced hard and has earned his shot, Nolan may only be a Freshmen, but he has the size to be the man securing rebounds. Wolf and Nolan sitting at eighth and ninth respectively on the Huskies stat sheet for total rebounds cannot continue.

Streaky Behavior: A trend that has almost cost UConn more than just its two losses, is the habit of going cold during a game. It is unavoidable that a team will go a few minutes without making a basket, no matter who the team is. When this begins to happen, a team must realize that it is happening, remain calm, and make a smart shot. The Huskies have gone on cold streaks that allow an opponent to get back into the game in almost every game this season. This type of trend will be taken advantage of in the Big East, where it, combined with inside presence other teams will have on the small Husky team, could cause the Huskies to feel debilitated. If running the four-guard lineup, Ollie is putting it all on those shooters, conceding the rebounding stat almost entirely. The Huskies still grab rebounds, but in the Big East that lineup will grab far less rebounds.

Know The Killing Blow: A lot of times a killing blow doesn't need to be a 3-pointer or a slam dunk, it doesn't have to be flashy. Staying even with a team for a period of time as they try to climb back into a game is just as effective, and it also uses up the clock. Utilizing the clock, staying with the opponent, and making smart decisions above all else is the way to kill an opponent. I'm all for a showtime dunk on a breakway, go for it if it's open to you, but if a team makes a two, don't think that you need to make a three to compensate.

The Rest of the Season: UConn has 18 games left in their season (9 home, 9 away). This is how I believe their season will shape out:

Jan 1	@Marquette	Win
Jan 8	DePaul	Win
Jan 12	@Notre Dame	Loss
Jan 14	Louisville	Loss
Jan 19	@Pittsburgh	Loss
Jan 27	Rutgers	Win
Jan 31	@Providence	Win
Feb 3	South Florida	Win
Feb 6	@St. John´s (N.Y.)	Win
Feb 10	@Seton Hall	Win
Feb 13	Syracuse	Loss
Feb 16	Villanova	Win
Feb 21	Cincinnati	Win
Feb 23	@DePaul	Win
Feb 27	Georgetown	Loss
Mar 2	@Cincinnati	Loss
Mar 6	@South Florida	Win
Mar 9	Providence	Win

12 wins in 18 games in the Big East would be an amazing accomplishment for this team. The stretch of @ Providence, home against South Florida, @ St. John's, and @ Seton Hall in 11 days is a stretch the Huskies can come away with four wins or at the very least 3-1. If they were to split I would consider the stretch a failure. Anything can happen, and the game isn't settled until the final buzzer sounds, but some games look too impossible to win. Going to South Bend, where the Fighting Irish have lost one game in the last 43 is one of them. If UConn takes that game, it is a monumental win for the program. As would be the case if they were to beat either Lousiville or Syracuse when either of those two visit Storrs. Both of those teams have experience, size, depth, and toughness. Can UConn beat them, of course, will they? Probably not. Cincinnati is another tough team, but I think the Huskies can trade with them on home courts. Ten wins would be an accomplishment as well, spotting the Huskies two bad loses here and there, but I'm hoping the rest of the season goes according to what I've predicted.

Final Thought: So far so good for the Huskies. A Paradise Jam title would've been a great accomplishment for their season, but I can't fault having not lost a bad game yet through nearly half the season. The real season begins now, and it is up to Kevin Ollie and his pack to decide how they will finish out. If everyone returns next season, the Huskies could make a run to the NCAA Tournament when their suspension ends. Until then, Husky Nation will stand by, take it one game at a time, and hope and cheer for the best. GO HUSKY NATION!

Afterthought: Congratulations to Kevin Ollie for receiving a 5-year extension on his contact. I don't know why they did it now of all times (maybe a belated Christmas gift), but this may be the spark the Huskies need. They aren't playing for their coaches job anymore, everyone can relax.