The XL Center slate tips off on Saturday, Nov. 9, for the UConn men’s basketball team as they host the University of New Hampshire (1-1).
The Huskies are coming off a dominant season-opening win over Sacred Heart on Wednesday night, with Alex Karaban, who was named to the Wooden Award Watch List on Thursday, leading the way with 20 points on 7-9 shooting with five of those made baskets being from 3-point range. The Southborough, Massachusetts native had a career night outside of scoring 20 points, with seven rebounds and a career-high seven blocks.
In addition to his performance, five-star freshman Liam McNeeley made his collegiate debut and did not disappoint, finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while shooting 6-11 from the field.
The storyline of the second game of the season is sophomore wing Jayden Ross and whether he will be available. The Bristow, Virginia native has been gushed about all offseason. Following Connecticut’s win over Sacred Heart, head coach Dan Hurley revealed that Ross would have started had he not been injured. As of the media availability held on Tuesday afternoon, Ross is listed as “day-to-day.”
The Huskies shot 51.6% from the field in the season opener. The team flowed well offensively, with 25 of the 32 shots made coming off assists.
New Hampshire is ranked 332nd in the country, according to KenPom. Neither efficiency stat, offense or defense, broke the top 300.
The Wildcats are led by guards Anthony McComb III and Sami Pissis, each averaging 16.5 points per game.
On Wednesday night, McComb led the way in a 99-69 win over UMass Boston with 24 points, a career high. Four of the Dayton, Ohio native’s nine baskets were from 3-point range. The only downside McComb had was that he turned the ball over four times. In New Hampshire’s season-opener at UMass Amherst, the junior scored nine points and shot just 4-14 from the field.
Pissis has been more consistent for the Wildcats. Against UMass, the Paris native scored 20 points on 7-13 shooting. His game against UMass Boston may have been better, as the junior nearly recorded a triple-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. But like the past contest, he turned the ball over four times.
New Hampshire, under second-year head coach Nathan Davis, plays a ball screen motion offense. This helped the Wildcats win seven games in conference play. The team produced its best scoring output since the 1995-96 season with 74.1 points per game. In just the two games they have played so far, New Hampshire has averaged 86.5 points per game.
Unfortunately, the Wildcats lost Clarence Daniels due to graduation. Daniels was by far the best player on the team last year, becoming the first Wildcat to be named the America East Player of the Year since 1994.
Because of Daniels departing, along with three other starters from last season, New Hampshire was picked to finish last in the America East Preseason Poll.
New Hampshire’s defense is a serious red flag. On Monday night, the Wildcats allowed former UConn guard Rahsool Diggins to knock down eight 3-pointers and gave up 103 points to UMass. While they only gave up 69 points against UMass Boston, that should not be even close to that much considering UMass Boston is not even a Division I program.
The team tends to take risky opportunities defensively, jumping out to cut off passes. That opens the paint for opponents, shooting 68.2% from inside the arc.
UConn has never lost to New Hampshire, winning all 10 games from 1990 to 2023. Last season, the Huskies stomped the Wildcats to set a new NCAA record for most non-conference victories by double-figures with 24 consecutive wins. In that game, the Huskies thrived in the paint, with big men Donovan Clingan and Samson Johnson combining for 39 points. Overall, the Huskies scored 52 points in the paint to make up for a cold shooting night.
Saturday night’s game will be the first time the Huskies will host New Hampshire at the XL Center since Dec. 22, 2019. UConn averages 84.9 points in the 10 games against the Wildcats.
The XL Center will hold the next two games for Connecticut, as Le Moyne comes to town on Wednesday night.
Fans are expected to get to the XL Center early on Saturday night for the unveiling of the 2024 national championship banner in the Huskies’ off-campus arena.
Tip-off from Hartford is set for 8 p.m. and is available to watch on FS2.