Writer’s note: This article was written prior to their contest at Marquette on Wednesday, March 6.
College basketball is a sport like no other, with a uniquely exciting postseason in which fortunes can change in the blink of an eye. Upsets, dramatic moments and Cinderella runs are the norm. Even in an era of such uncertainty, many factors point towards the UConn men’s basketball team cutting down the nets this April in Glendale, Ariz.
Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer are the best backcourt duo in the country
The level of play up to this point from the duo of guards Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer has been nothing short of elite. Newton is amid an All-American-caliber campaign, posting 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists a night in 33 minutes of work. On top of these raw averages, KenPom ranks the El Paso native as the fourth-best player in college basketball based on numerous efficiency statistics.
Spencer is also putting together a great season, averaging just south of 15 points a night. What makes the 6-foot-4 guard’s campaign all the more special is the efficiency with which he does it. Not only is Spencer the most consistent shooter on the Huskies, but also in program history. The grad transfer has a real chance at joining the coveted 50-40-90 club. Spencer owns a FG%, 3P% and FT% of 49.7, 45 and 91.7, respectively. He would join Sue Bird as the only UConn player to achieve such a feat, a testament to the level he is playing at. No backcourt in college basketball can match up to these two. For the upcoming Big East and NCAA tournament, look out for this duo, as the Huskies will need them to be on their A-game. The grad students have been at the forefront of the program’s success, and there is no reason to believe anything will change now that they’re facing the bright lights of March.
Connecticut just keeps getting better and better
While the Huskies never had a significant cold stretch, the program still faced adversity. It seemed like the entire team faced an injury at one point, with Donovan Clingan, Stephon Castle and Alex Karaban each missing time. Despite that, Connecticut powered on, competing with the best. For instance, during the team’s Dec. 1 loss at current No. 14 Kansas, Clingan was not at full health, Spencer got banged up and Castle was out. Yet Dan Hurley’s squad went into arguably the most hostile environment in college basketball and only lost by four. Since getting back up to full speed in the following months, Clingan and Castle have improved on both sides of the ball.
Clingan struggled with foul trouble for a portion of the year, although he has significantly improved in that department. From the start of the season, the Bristol, Conn. native has lost around 10 pounds. Clingan is quicker to the ball and more mobile. His weight loss also puts less stress on his foot, meaning the probability of reaggravating his previous injury has decreased significantly. Since the Bristol native is quicker to the ball, he can move into favorable defensive positions with more ease, not fouling as much — and he hasn’t. Not only has he improved pretty much everywhere statistically, but watching him move around tells the whole story: Clingan is more confident and shuts down the paint.
Castle is similar to Clingan in respect to his growth this season. He’s had a roller-coaster type of year, missing extended time after suffering a knee injury in his second game and slowly getting back up to speed. Not only has Castle put together some highlight-worthy performances lately, but he’s looked more athletic. The 6-foot-6 guard has been more explosive, driving to the rim and finishing with either a highlight slam or a tough layup. He can also shoot the ball at a decent clip, although Newton and Spencer are much more reliable in knocking down jumpers. With every game, Castle keeps improving and Husky fans have no reason to believe that he’ll stop any time soon. There is real potential for the freshman to be a one-and-done player in Storrs as his draft stock rising on the daily. How the guard performs under the bright lights will be watched closely. The upcoming Big East tournament is a good preview of how he performs in a high-pressure, neutral site environment, similar to the task the Huskies will face if they end up in the East Region.
As hard as it is to believe, Selection Sunday is nearly upon us. With Connecticut’s dominance over the rest of the Big East conference and the country, many have them as a Final Four lock. However, even though many experts predict them as the eventual champion, anything can happen in March; just ask Purdue. UConn has played consistent basketball all year against some of the best college basketball has to offer. Despite the significant turnover from last year’s squad, three of UConn’s five starters have been to the big dance before. Hurley is a championship-caliber coach, and the program knows what it takes to finish the job. For those reasons, UConn makes the most compelling case to repeat as champions of college basketball — and at this point, it’s theirs to lose.