University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Butler University
Coaches Return As UConn MBB Plays Host To Butler
1/21/2023 4:21:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UConn Athletic Communications / Jan. 21, 2023
HARTFORD, Conn. – As the UConn men's basketball team takes on Butler on Sunday at the XL Center, it will be at full strength in the coaching box.
UConn head coach Dan Hurley and associate head coach Kimani Young, who each missed UConn's last game at Seton Hall after they tested positive for the Covid virus, have completed their isolation periods, have shown to be symptom-free, and will be back coaching the Huskies on Sunday (noon, FOX).
It will be the first of 10 BIG EAST home-and-home series to be completed for UConn (15-5 overall, 4-5 BIG EAST). The Huskies defeated Butler, 68-46, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis back on Dec. 17 in the conference opener for both teams.
Both teams will be trying to get back on track after suffering losses in their last games. Butler (11-9, 3-6) fell at home to Creighton, 73-52, while UConn bowed at Seton Hall, 67-66.
The Bulldogs have a balanced offensive attack that features four players averaging in double figures, but lately the scoring load has been shouldered by sophomore swingman Simas Lukosius. Over Butler's last three games, Lukosius (11.5 ppg) is averaging 20.3 points per game and shooting 67 percent from three-point range, which includes a 28-point effort with 5 three-pointers against Villanova on Jan. 13.
The rest of the Bulldogs' double-figure scorers include graduate center Manny Bates (12.6), junior guard Chuck Harris (12.3), and sophomore guard Jayden Taylor (12.2). Fifth starter Eric Hunter is a notch below double figures at 9.9. Bates is the top rebounder (5.9) and Lukosius hands out the most assists (3.0).
Butler is 2-4 on the road this season, 1-3 in BIG EAST road games.
UConn, meanwhile, is 10-1 at home this season, 4-1 at the XL Center. Much like Butler, the Huskies have been led in scoring (17.2) and rebounding (6.8) by their center, junior Adama Sanogo, but lately sophomore guard Jordan Hawkins his picked up his scoring numbers. Hawkins (15.2 ppg) is averaging 21.0 ppg over his last four games, including a career-high 31-point performance against St. John's on Jan. 15.
The remainder of the regular starting lineup includes freshman forward Alex Karaban (9.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg), senior guard Tristen Newton (9.1 ppg, 4.1 apg) and junior guard Andre Jackson Jr. (6.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 4.6 apg).
UConn, which has never lost (6-0) to Butler, got a huge effort from Sanogo in the first game against the Bulldogs. The big junior poured in 27 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and handed out 3 assists as the Huskies took a 28-20 lead at halftime, then ran away from Butler in the second half for the 22-point victory.
