With just a third of last season’s minutes returning, UConn men’s basketball is establishing a new identity heading into this year.
These changes go beyond the unfamiliar faces on the roster. The Huskies have adopted a different attitude on the court, and it all starts in practice.
Despite being just seven points shy of a national championship last season, head coach Dan Hurley frequently expressed his frustration with the team’s lack of “killer instinct,” something he believes is critical to compete at the highest level. He referred to them as “a bunch of nice guys.”
With 10 newcomers joining the program, the mentality seems to be changing.
Braylon Mullins, one of the few returning players from last year’s roster, has noticed a shift in the team’s competitiveness. Mullins described this group as having this year’s group of having a level of “nastiness,” something that wasn’t present a season ago.
Hurley attributed the newfound edge to the competition taking place in practice. With all these new faces jockeying for position in the rotation, every practice represents an opportunity for players to establish themselves and earn more minutes.
For sophomore transfer Na’jai Hines, that mentality has become essential in the team’s preparation.
“The way we practice, the way we come in every day and have a certain mindset, is to play hard,” Hines said. “Play hard against any of our opponents.”
The new competitive attitude has been accompanied by a noticeable increase in size on the roster. Hines and Oskar Giltay will anchor the frontcourt, along with 6-foot-8 transfer Nik Khamenia. Freshmen Colben Landrew and Junior County bolster UConn’s size in the back court at 6-foot-6 and 6-foot-5, respectively.
Hurley credited the team’s off-season strength training for helping them become more physically imposing.
“I think J-Mac’s done a great job in the summer and in the preseason with these guys, getting these guys stronger,” Hurley said.
That physicality was on display in Tuesday night’s scrimmage against Syracuse, where UConn came out on top 72-52.
The Huskies overwhelmed the Orange on defense, forcing 16 turnovers and taking 9 steals. UConn dominated the glass, turning 14 offensive rebounds into 18 second-chance points.
“I think our team defensively, this could be one of our best defensive teams,” Hurley said. “I think we have great defensive potential.
He pointed to the team’s versatility on defense.
“Silas may be the best ball-hawking point guard in the country,” Hurley said. “The centers are both big, physical strong and athletic.”
Despite the offense struggling in the first half, Hurley was pleased with the effort on defense.
“Defense is ahead of offense this time of year,” Hurley said. “I just think that we showed a high level of defensive potential.”
Tuesday’s exhibition also provided another opportunity for the newcomers to make an impression.
With Mullins sidelined by an undisclosed lower body injury, minutes were left on the table for the players competing to establish themselves in the rotation.
Hines delivered the most dominant performance of the night, finishing with a game-high 17 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in just 19 minutes of run.
Khamenia also impressed with his unofficial UConn debut. The Duke transfer finished with 12 points and eight rebounds while knocking down three three-pointers. Khamenia credited Hurley’s confidence in him to helping him adjust to the program.
“Having trust from coach, I mean, that means a lot,” Khamenia said. “He let me mess up a lot when I first got here, like a lot.”
County contributed nine points and seven rebounds in 17 minutes, while also knocking down three shots from beyond the arc. These performances offered an early look at UConn’s depth with newcomers making their case for their spot in the rotation.
While the team is still developing its chemistry, Hurley believes the team’s youth means that there is still more to unlock on the horizon.
“It’s a young team, but it’s a talented team and we will keep getting better,” Hurley said.
After a season where UConn came within one victory of a seventh national championship, the team’s new identity is coming into form through competition and physicality.