The UConn men’s basketball team may have just been named as the unanimous No. 1 team in the country, but coach Dan Hurley knows that the task ahead, a battle with No. 15 Creighton on the road, won’t be an easy one.
“This rivals Kansas as far as the toughest road game of the year to this point,” remarked Hurley.
Despite being ranked as the top dog in the nation, Connecticut is remaining focused on its upcoming schedule. With games like Marquette on the road and their next matchup against the Blue Jays, the only logical move is to lock in and the advice that UConn’s coaching staff gives to its players is simple.
“Get off the phone, get the dopamine from putting in the great work. It’s a way better feeling to play great together, that feeling post-locker room, than ‘likes’ on posts and getting new followers.”
The Huskies have done well with the challenges they’ve encountered up to this point. Their only two losses have been on the road, and with the gritty nature of a Big East away matchup, this team knows that they have to keep their eyes on the prize. The last matchup between both teams ended with a 62-48 win on $2 beer night in front of a rowdy Gampel Pavilion crowd. This time, Creighton fans will have their opportunity for a revenge game.
Since that January loss to Connecticut, the Blue Jays have still looked like a strong unit, even with two brutal single-digit losses to Providence and Butler. They’ve been able to withstand various tests, including one of the games of the year that ended in a win for Creighton after a triple-overtime blockbuster. Fans need to remember that this team has three players on their roster who are in the top 10 in scoring in the Big East and with the momentum of the home crowd on their side, that’s an extremely scary sight.
At the top of that list stands Baylor Scheierman. His second season has been nothing short of spectacular for Greg McDermott and co., averaging 18.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per contest. He’s continued to improve as a three-point shooter while being effective with attacking the paint consistently. As the top scorer for the Blue Jays, he’s been one of the better options for a bucket from beyond the arc with a 37.1 mark in that department.
As one of the mainstays in Creighton’s starting lineup, Trey Alexander remains one of the most important players on this roster. His playmaking abilities have allowed him to lead his squad in assists, while also notching 1.2 steals per game. That’s without even mentioning the 17.2 points per game he’s secured, good for fourth in the Big East conference.
Yet, everything always goes back to this team’s man in the middle, Ryan Kalkbrenner. He’s been a huge reason why the Blue Jays are the third-best team in the nation in 2-point percentage and is also massive on the defensive end. Like Scheierman, Kalkbrenner has gotten even better than last year, improving as both a rebounder and defender. Notably, his 2.6 blocks per contest rank top five in the nation.
And don’t forget about Steven Ashworth either. The Creighton lead guard led his squad in scoring in the last contest between these two teams. As one of the key playmakers on this team, he’ll look to keep the Blue Jays in rhythm throughout the night.
It will certainly be a tough challenge for Hurley and the Huskies, but if this team continues to play to their standard, they’ll certainly be ready to face the Blue Jays. Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. and can be streamed on Fox Sports 1.