Huskies Need More Time
by Zach Smart
STORRS, Conn. – It was quite evident even during their first ten games, when the UConn Huskies ate up a weak schedule in shark-size bites. Jim Calhoun’s youth center, which consists of just three sophomores (two of whom played significant roles last season) and a bevy of highly-touted freshman poised to make a big splash in the Big East, still needs time to mesh as a unit.
The Huskies faced no litmus tests, no barometer games which would make evident their wherewithal in the world of college basketball. The potent nucleus of young guns was instead blessed with an early ranking as they worked the kinks out en route to earning their first 10 victories. Teams that have never garnered any ilk of national recognition – Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart, Albany, and Pepperdine, to name a few – were invited up to Connecticut for guarantee games as the callow but talent-laced bunch attempted to gel.
Though the Huskies won their first ten games, problems emerged. It was indicative that the road to success wouldn’t be easy after an uneasy season-opener. A 53-46 outlasting of a Quinnipiac team which took a free-fall towards the lowly Northeast Conference’s dungeon certainly demonstrated the Huskies’ inexperience and weaknesses.
Calhoun didn’t seem to have the most confidence after that victory, which of course was not treated like a victory.
“We can’t make a foul shot,” an irate Calhoun told Connecticut reporters after watching his team connect on a woeful 15-of-34 (44%) from the charity stripe. “We don’t play the way we practice. It’s going straight backward right now and I have no idea for it.”
Even as UConn began routing teams, certain trends were noticeable. Point guard A.J. Price, fending off rust after missing his first two years due to health and legal troubles, wasn’t exactly co-existing with guard Jerome Dyson. Whenever Dyson, who quickly became a leading scorer, was out of the game, Price would try and take over on offense. It seemed playing a selfless and mindful brand of basketball wasn’t of highest order to the fresh-faced horde.
Hasheem Thabeet, the Huskies’ 7-foot-3 behemoth, has altered and swatted shots out of the arena but he’s had trouble absorbing on the offensive end. His ability to become a presence and make free throws became a challenge. Thabeet was 4-for-10 from the line in the Big East-opening loss to West Virginia.
Doug Wiggins, an undersized guard out of nearby East Hartford where he surpassed the 1,700 point plateau, has been an energizer off the bench. Wiggins, who struggled to establish himself in the Huskies’ first few games, has shot the ball at a high percentage. He comes off curls and screens always ready to shoot the rock or attack the bucket. In order for the Huskies to reach their full potential, however, all of the rookies must adapt as Wiggins has over the next few games.
Their growing pains were most obvious during their victory over South Florida, one of the two Big East teams they’ve defeated thus far. The first half of the game featured a “pukonn” team that’s haunted Calhoun and threatened the program’s golden legacy.
Thabeet blew an easy shot underneath the basket on his first attempt. He was immediately yanked to the bench and replaced by 6-11 freshman Jonathon Mandeldove, who had seen limited action prior to this. Price forced shots. Craig Austrie made an errant pass. Jeff Adrien threw the ball to the guards like it was a hot potato. Curtis Kelly, who the skeptics believed should have started to weigh his transfer options before the big man from New York showed up as of late, got beat defensively.
The growing pains continued. A wide-open Austrie, who has earned the distinction as UConn’s marksman, watched as Mandeldove traveled in the lane. The 6-11 string bean is still a little rough around the edges.
UConn looked much-improved after last Saturday’s victory over St. John’s at Madison Square Garden. Their improvement steps, however, will dictate their fate in the toughest conference in college hoops. They lost their two games this week, so the progress was a little muted.
Calhoun is a firm believer in self-fulfilling prophecy. If you tell someone they’re good, soon enough they’ll become good. But the philosophy tends to work in both ways.
He needs to give the youth club more time before his expectations become a bit too far-fetched.
