University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
University of Florida
UConn MBB Challenges Florida On The Road
12/6/2022 11:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UConn Athletic Communications / Dec. 6, 2022
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – So far, in the early part of the 2022-23 season, the UConn men's basketball team has found success at home and at neutral sites. Now, the Huskies will try to do the same on the road.
The #5/#5 Huskies (9-0), riding a nine-game winning streak, will play their first true road game at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, challenging the University of Florida (6-3) on Wednesday night (9 p.m., ESPN2).
It will be the first test of playing in front of a hostile crowd for the Huskies, especially freshmen Alex Karaban and Donovan Clingan.
"You just try to get it into their heads what the game is about," UConn Coach Dan Hurley said. "It's about playing to our identity and executing the game plan. Really just having poise because you trust the preparation. You try not to make it bigger than that. We want to go out and do what we do and do it really well. And we try to not let them go on any big runs or dunks that will excite the crowd."
In order to do that, the Huskies will have to concentrate defensively on the Gators' 6-11, 250-pound man in the middle, Colin Castleton, who leads the team in scoring (16.6) and rebounding (7.4), as well as the outside shooting of guard Will Richard (13.6 ppg, .607 fg percentage, .586 3-point fg percentage).
"Castleton has mobility, face-up skills and he's a tremendous passer out of the post if you try to trap him," Hurley said. "He's got guard-type moves off the dribble. Guys like him, at his age, are usually not still in college."
"It's a scary talented group," Hurley added. "They have a lot of depth, a lot of really talented pieces -- several NBA-level players."
Florida, 4-1 at home, is averaging 81.0 points per game and only allowing 69.0. The Gators are an impressive shooting group, with a team field goal percentage of .476.
UConn, however, has some impressive numbers of its own, shooting .475 as a team and allowing opponents to shoot .385. The Huskies average 82.9 points per game and are allowing only 58.7.
UConn junior Adama Sanogo also leads his team in scoring (18.7) and rebounding (6.9), while sophomore shooter Jordan Hawkins (13.3) and senior Tristen Newton (11.4) are also averaging double figures.
UConn's 9-0 start is the program's best start since the 2013-14 team also began the season at 9-0.
