University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Oklahoma State (BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle)
No. 8 UConn MBB Meets Oklahoma State In BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle
11/30/2022 9:37:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UConn Athletic Communications / Nov. 30, 2022
STORRS, Conn. – It really hasn't been all that long since the UConn men's basketball team played at Gampel Pavilion, but the Huskies are a very different team than the one that left the Gampel floor on Nov. 18.
UConn returns to its on-campus home on Thursday night as an 8-0 team, with a No. 8 and No. 6 ranking in the national polls, and displaying a trophy as the champion of the Phil Knight Invitational, held over Thanksgiving weekend in Portland, Ore.
Thursday, the new-and-improved Huskies take on another challenge, playing host to Oklahoma State in the BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle at Gampel (6:30 p.m.FS1).
It is the second season in the Battle for UConn, which bowed at West Virginia in its first appearance in the event last year.
The Huskies, off to the program's best start in nine years, made a huge jump in the polls and may have the college world buzzing, but UConn Coach Dan Hurley is not about to let the Huskies get caught up in the hype.
"No one (on the team) is drinking the poison," Hurley said. "No one thought we were any good --- that's out mentality. We have a chip on our should that we'll have all year. This thing could get away from you quickly, too, if you stray from your formula, which is, you do everything right, play elite defense, dominate the backboard, play for each other, play harder than the opponent. That's the script and we stick to that."
The coach will admit, however, that the Huskies have come together as a team and achieved success more quickly than even the coaching staff thought could happen.
"Basically, none of these guys had played together," Hurley said. "And to have freshmen in high-level roles producing. It's just that they have been able to do it so quickly. I mean, you knew the potential was there, but my fear was that maybe we would maybe struggle in some of these bigger non-conference games and then get demoralized going into the Big East.
"But these guys just stepped up and played at a very high level. They handled their business and gained confidence."
The depth of the Huskies has been what has set them apart from their opponents. Nine of the Huskies are averaging at least 15 minutes of playing time per game, and that doesn't include Samson Johnson, who played 16 in Game One and has been out ever since with a foot injury.
UConn is still being led by junior Adama Sanogo, who is tops in scoring (18.5) and rebounding (7.0), but three other Huskies are averaging double figures – senior Tristen Newton (12.6), sophomore Jordan Hawkins (11.2), and redshirt freshman Alex Karaban (10.4). Freshman Donovan Clingan, who was named the MVP of the PKI tournament, is also averaging 9.5 points and 6.9 rebounds.
But the Huskies have also received major contributions from Andre Jackson Jr., Joey Calcaterra, Nahiem Alleyne, and Hassan Diarra, making the UConn bench a major weapon.
Oklahoma State (5-2), meanwhile, is a team with its own chip on its shoulder. The Cowboys are a team on a mission after being suspended from NCAA Tournament play last year.
"Oklahoma State is a quality team, an NCAA Tournament team, a Top 30 type team," Hurley said. "They have a top 25 defense, they present problems on the backboard, and they're deep and physical. It's going to be our toughest game of the year, we know that. We have to be ready to go."
The Cowboys have three double-figure scorers, guard Avery Anderson (12.7), guard Bryce Thompson (11.0) and 7-1 center Moussa Cisse (10.0, 10.6 rebounds). OSU is averaging 75.1 ppg and allowing 62.3. The Cowboys are shooting .463 overall and just .293 from three-point range.
OSU, out of the Big 12 Conference as was UConn's last opponent, Iowa State, will be playing its second road game.
Thursday's game will be the Huskies' ninth game in a crowded span of just 24 days. After Thursday, UConn will be idle until playing its first true road game at Florida on Dec. 7. Â Â
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