The UConn men’s basketball team is riding a solid wave of momentum as of late, coming off a massive 70-66 win over Creighton. Not only was this a crucial Quad-1 win, but this was Liam McNeeley’s second game back from injury, and he looks better than ever. The program hopes that their star freshman keeps his scoring prowess up as the Huskies will travel out to take on the Seton Hall Pirates on the road in a crucial weekend matchup.
Connecticut will be lean on redshirt junior Alex Karaban to do most of the scoring, and the program hopes that he can shake off the current shooting funk he is in. Karaban has particularly struggled to shoot the three ball like he is accustomed to, owning a 2/28 slash in his past five contests. Despite this, Dan Hurley expressed confidence in the back-to-back national champion.
“He’s going to find his way out of this,” Hurley told media personnel. “I think he’s going to light up February and March.”
Even if Karaban takes a minute to find his footing again shooting the three ball, it is hard to deny the leadership he brings to this squad and all the other things he does right for UConn. Karaban has been sound defensively, which is much needed for Connecticut, considering how poor the defense has been at times. The forward also excels at leading and executing Connecticut’s complex offense, even if he isn’t the one scoring. Even if the three-ball isn’t falling like he would like, Karaban is still making a mark on the scoreboard thanks to this offensive rebounding ability. However, Karaban wasn’t the only one on the program struggling to hit shots from beyond the arc.
Solo Ball had a rare 0-4 performance from downtown in the Huskies’ win over Creighton, though he finished with 11 points from the field. When Ball is firing on all cylinders, not only does it put more points on the board, but it sets up Connecticut’s entire offense, including the tandem of Samson Johnson and Tarris Reed Jr.
Both Johnson and Reed struggled offensively against Creighton, partly due to fouls but also due to the dominating force that is Ryan Kalkbrenner. Look for the UConn duo to try and assert themselves offensively and stay more disciplined defensively, as the program is better off with one of these big men in the game than out of it.
Another significant storyline heading into this contest surrounds Hassan Diarra. The fifth-year guard has been battling a knee injury and did not play in the second half of Sunday’s contest. Diarra has also played extended mintues up to this point. Hurley offered an update on the New York native’s status heading into Saturday’s contest, noting that he is a game-time decision.
“I do think that Hassan [Diarra] is feeling a little better,” Hurley told the media. “So, we will see whether he can go or how much he can go.”
A player that the Huskies will want to make sure they watch some film on is guard Isaiah Coleman, who has been tearing it up for the Pirates. The sophomore averages 15 points a night on efficient 39.1% shooting from the field. Not only this, but Coleman makes himself a factor on the glass, averaging over five rebounds a night. Considering how shaky the guard defense is, the Huskies must do their best to contain Coleman. Otherwise, it could be a long night.
While the Huskies are expected to cruise to victory in this contest, the program only has seven regular season games left before the Big East Tournament and March Madness. Considering that McNeeley is fresh off his injury and is playing at a high level of basketball, the program will want to keep the momentum going and gel together as much as possible before the competition starts ramping up.