University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Auburn
UConn MBB Challenges Auburn at Battle 4 Atlantis
11/23/2021 12:42:00 AM | Men's Basketball
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas – The UConn men's basketball team leaves its home courts for the first time this season as it journeys to Paradise Island in the Bahamas to compete against an impressive field of teams at the Battle 4 Atlantis.
The No. 22/21 Huskies (4-0) will take on No. 19/22 Auburn (3-0) in the tourney's first round on Wednesday, Nov. 24, at 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) at the hotel's Imperial Arena. The UConn-Auburn game is the second half of the afternoon doubleheader that begins with Michigan State facing Loyola-Chicago (noon).
On Thursday, the two winners will meet in the semifinals (noon), while the two losers clash in the consolation round (2:30 p.m.).
On Friday, the Huskies will face a team from the bottom half of the bracket, which includes Syracuse, Virginia Commonwealth, Arizona State and defending NCAA champion Baylor.
UConn has won its first four games by an average margin of 40.8 points, but clearly the nationally-ranked Tigers will provide a step up in competition. The Huskies have used a balanced offensive attack and a turnover-forcing defense to rack up their four wins.
Five UConn players are averaging in double-figures, led by sophomore forward Adama Sanogo (15.8), and also including senior guard Tyrese Martin (13.5), grad student guard R.J. Cole (11.0), junior guard Jalen Gaffney (10.0) and grad student forward Tyler Polley (10.0). Sophomore Andre Jackson is the team's top rebounder (7.0) and Cole leads in assists (4.5). The Huskies are shooting a solid 50.2 percent overall and 39.3 percent from three-point range. Â
Defensively, UConn is holding opponents to 33.0 percent overall and 24.4 percent from beyond the arc, but the Huskies have also forced 89 turnovers and have scored 122 points off turnovers.
Auburn is known for fielding athletic, high-scoring teams and this edition is in the same mold, with wins over Morehead State, Louisiana-Monroe and South Florida. The Tigers are averaging 76.0 points per game and have taken an average of 27.3 three-pointers per game.
Auburn is led in scoring by sophomore guards Wendell Green Jr. (17.0) and K.D. Johnson (15.0), while 6-10 freshman Jabari Smith not only leads the team in rebounding (9.0), but also in three-point attempts.
UConn's appearance in the 2021 Battle 4 Atlantis is the third for the Huskies at the event. UConn finished third in the 2011 Battle 4 Atlantis, which was the first year of the event, and the Huskies finished fourth in the 2015 tourney. UConn's overall record at the Battle 4 Atlantis is 3-3. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
