The UConn men’s basketball team celebrated their latest national championship with a banner unveiling before Wednesday night’s game, then opened the season with a strong 92-56 win over Sacred Heart at Gampel Pavilion.
Although the Huskies, ranked No. 3 nationally, have room to grow compared to last season’s title-winning team, they looked impressive on opening night. Junior forward Alex Karaban led the way, scoring a game-high 20 points on 7-for-9 shooting, including 5-of-7 from three-point range. Karaban also set a career-high with seven blocks, crediting his defensive improvement to his former roommate and top defender, Donovan Clingan.
“When you’re roommates with the best defender in the country, you learn a couple things,” Karaban said with a grin. “So, I’m giving him credit for the blocks.”
Freshman Liam McNeeley had a promising debut, scoring 18 points with nine rebounds after returning to practice just days earlier from a calf injury. He knocked down three three-pointers, showing the shooting ability for which he was recruited.
“Basketball’s my joy,” McNeeley shared. “So, when I got to play again, I was just so happy.”
Sophomore Solo Ball, who had impressed in practice but hadn’t showcased his shooting in games, added 16 points, hitting 4 of 7 from beyond the arc. Tarris Reed Jr., a transfer from Michigan, made an immediate impact with a double-double, scoring 15 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in his first game with the Huskies.
However, head coach Dan Hurley admitted he finds season openers nerve-wracking.
“I hate opening nights,” Hurley said candidly. “It’s like the worst day of the year. That’ll be what drives me out of coaching…Happy it’s over.”
While Hurley expressed satisfaction with the team’s 42% three-point shooting and 25 assists on 32 baskets, he expects the Huskies to improve throughout the season.
“We’re gonna get drastically better throughout the year,” Hurley said. “People are imagining what the team looked like last year…It took us a lot to get that good.”
Hurley’s first lineup of the season included Karaban, Ball, McNeeley, Samson Johnson, and Aidan Mahaney, the Saint Mary’s transfer. Graduate senior Hassan Diarra, last season’s Big East Sixth Man Award winner, was first off the bench.
If there’s competition for the starting point guard role, neither Diarra nor Mahaney stood out on Wednesday. Diarra had six assists but three turnovers and shot just 1-for-6. Mahaney went scoreless, missing all three of his shots.
Freshman Ahmad Nowell made the most of his limited time, contributing four points and three assists in eight minutes, showing potential in the point guard rotation.
“That was not reminiscent of what those guys are capable of doing for us,” Hurley commented on the point guards’ performances.
The players know they have work to do, acknowledging the importance of developing winning habits as the season progresses.
“It’s opening night…you don’t win a national championship now,” Karaban reflected. “We’re trying to establish those great habits every war and every battle throughout the game. It’s a great starting point, but there’s so much more to improve on.”
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