University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Stonehill College
UConn MBB Faces Stonehill In Season Opener
11/6/2022 10:11:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UConn Athletic Communications / Nov. 7, 2022
HARTFORD, Conn. – The UConn men's basketball team, led by BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year Adama Sanogo, begins the 2022-23 season on Monday night, playing host to Stonehill College at the XL Center in Hartford (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports App).
The Huskies, coming off a 23-10 season and a second straight NCAA Tournament appearance in 2021-22, have seven new players, including four experienced transfers, ready to face a 31-game schedule, including 20 BIG EAST contests.
Sanogo (Bamako, Mali), UConn's leading returning scorer (14.8) and rebounder (8.8), figures to be the focal point of the Huskies' offense as they unveil a new alignment that features more outside shooting and more scoring.
Andre Jackson Jr. (who will serve as co-captain of the team along with Sanogo, is the second-leading returning scorer and rebounder, but will miss at least the first few games of the season with a fractured finger.
Sophomore Jordan Hawkins (Gaithersburg, Md.) has raised expectations for a big season with his smooth shooting throughout the spring and summer. The sophomore could be ready for a breakout season as he gets the green light to become the Huskies' top three-point threat.
Transfers Tristen Newton (El Paso, Texas) and Hassan Diarra (Queens, N.Y.) have battled throughout fall practice for the starting point guard spot, with Newton bringing a bit more offense and Diarra the tougher defense. Both figure to play significant minutes.
Transfer Naheim Alleyne (Buford, Ga.) is likely to take a starting role, at least until Jackson returns to the lineup and fourth transfer Joey Calcaterra (Novato, Calif.) will add outside shooting in a reserve role.
The power forward position has shaped up as a competition between sophomore Samson Johnson (Lome, Togo) and redshirt freshmen Alex Karaban (Southborough, Mass.), with Johnson bringing athleticism and Karaban more shooting.
Freshman Donovan Clingan (Bristol, Conn.), a mobile 7-footer, will see time as a backup to Sanogo, while Richie Springs (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Apostolos Roumoglou (Xanthi, Greece) and Yarin Hasson (Gan Yavne, Israel) also give UConn more depth than at any year of the Coach Dan Hurley era.
Stonehill College is a program making the transition to Division I this season, joining the Northeast Conference. The Skyhawks, out of Easton, Mass., return five of their top six scorers from last season's 15-12 team. Forward Andrew Sims is returning after leading the team in scoring (15.2) and rebounding (6.2)Â last season.
