It's official - Uconn opens the season Wed Nov 25 vs....

[the Blades]

... Donyell and Central Connecticut at 8pm on FS1 and then play U Hart on Friday Nov 27th at 8pm on CBS Sports Net.. (as always Covid rules exception)

UConn MBB Opens 2020-21 Season Against CCSU, Hartford

Here's a look at Head Coach Marshall's Roster below. "It is the 15th overall meeting between UConn and Central, but their first since Dec. 23, 2015." CCSU had a horrible season last year. But return a bunch of guys who got major PT . Half of CCSU's win's were in the last 5 games. Hope to see plenty of the new Huskies get some needed PT in a game like this.

click image to enlarge:

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

I knew something was coming when they re-set the countdown ticker to 0 this morning. Now the countdown ticker has been re-set and calibrated for tip off Wednesday night!!!!!!!!!!!

 

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[Calhoun_for_President]

At the 8 minute timeout of the first half.
As soon as CCSU went zone UCONN sadly has no answer.
On defense all UCONN tries to do is steal the ball or block the shot.
If they cant do that its a basket for CCSU

Trying to be positive here but this is embarrassing.
CCSU was 4-27 last year..............................

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

That's changed since Sanogo came back in the game as the boards are being controlled and some nasty picks are being set.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

They have to play better defense on the perimeter -54% FGs by CCSU so far

 

[Calhoun_for_President]

UCONN up 7 at half
The game turned when Sanogo got in there.
Looks to be a beast already on the boards. Something UCONN has been missing for years.

The defense was awful
Not one guy can keep their man from driving past them
Hard to tell if its a strategy or not but it needs to stop

Looking forward to a better 20 minutes here

 

[CaNOLEE]

They are over playing the passing lane, which leaves them in poor position to defend one on one. They just need to be Smart and solid defensively in the second half.

and get a playmaker to the foul line against the zone.

 

[Calhoun_for_President]

This ball pressure over play on defense looks to be intentional.
Its not great when you're getting beat constantly off the dribble and the ball gets kicked out for wide open threes. The rotations are not there.

If CCSU can do this surely every team in the Big East can.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

I have seen enough to believe Sanogo should start at the 5 starting the next game.

 

[Calhoun_for_President]

Game 1 in the books
Initial Observations:

Plenty of depth even with 2 rotation guys missing
Plenty of ball handling and perimeter shooting. Things that have been missing from years past.
Defense needs massive improvement. You can wear down CCSU with ball pressure and fresh bodies. That philosophy doesn't fly in Big East play. Need to be able to play 25 seconds of defense, force a contested shot and get stops.

Cole and Bouknight will average 30 minutes.
All other minutes are up for grabs amongst 8 other guys.
They should be rewarded to the boys that want to put the most work in on defense.

The jerseys were sweet.
College Hoops is back
Hopefully UCONN is as well

Go Huskies

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

I think your assessment is on target CFP, but it is a first game and the defensive rotations will hopefully get better. I was not impressed with the defensive play of the guards, none of them were any good at keeping their man from penetrating. I expect Martin to be one of the better defenders/best defender on the team and he was missing last night.

CCSU shot 50% for the game- which should not happen. However UConn won by 27 because they crushed CCSU on the boards and grabbed an impressive 19 offensive rebounds. CCSU lost the game due to the size differential but UConn capitalized on it, something they have not been doing in recent years. Bouknight had 20 points but led the team with 8 rebounds. Whaley, Polley and Sanogo all had 7 each. Another positive was 22 assists as a team and another positive was 15 off the bench by Adams. Finally 10-26 on 3s, 38.6%, and you get the feeling that was or could be the average night shooting 3s which would be an improvement from recent years when the team was a below average 3 point shooting team.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Hurley in his postgame presser pretty much completely blamed the poor D on an inability to do enough defensive drilling in legitimate "hard practices" after the Covid positive test. Hurley is not usually an excuse maker and his words were pointed, so I have to believe he was right that we did not see the guys fully ready to play D as they are supposed to.

 

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[the Blades]

BOX- Central Connecticut State (75) vs UConn (102)