University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
DePaul University
UConn MBB Starts Two-Game Road Swing At DePaul
1/30/2023 10:52:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UConn Athletic Communications / Jan. 30, 2023
CHICAGO – The UConn men's basketball team will end January and begin February on the road.
The Huskies (16-6 overall, 5-6 BIG EAST) open a two-game road swing at DePaul on Tuesday night, Jan. 31, at Wintrust Arena (8 p.m. EST, FS1) and will finish it on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 4, in Washington, D.C., at Capital One Arena against Georgetown.
DePaul is the only team in the BIG EAST that UConn has yet to play. The Blue Demons (9-13, 3-8) will be out to snap a three-game losing streak, but they are 7-4 at home, including a 73-72 win over first-place Xavier, proving they are more than capable of competing with any team in the league.
Grad student guard Umoja Gibson, sixth in the BIG EAST in both scoring (16.2) and assists (4.9), leads a DePaul offensive attack features two other double-figure scorers – grad forward Javon Johnson (14.9) and reserve junior forward Da'Sean Nelson (10.4). Grad forward Eral Penn leads the Blue Demons in rebounding (7.4). Gibson, Johnson and Penn are joined by senior guard Philmon Gebrewhit (6.9 ppg) and grad center Yor Anei (5.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg) in the usual starting lineup.
DePaul averages 71.5 points per game, but has allowed opponents to score 75.6. The Blue Demons are minus-5.8 rebounding and shoot .423 overall and .359 from three-point range. They are outstanding when they get to the foul line, shooting .772 as a team.
UConn, meanwhile, is coming off a tough 82-79 loss to Xavier, in which they cut a 17-point deficit to one on four different occasions in the second half, but could not catch the Musketeers.
The Huskies have been riding the hot shooting hand of sophomore guard Jordan Hawkins. Over UConn's last four games, Hawkins has averaged 23.0 points, 5.3 rebounds per game and is shooting 51.9 percent overall, 42.4 percent from three-point range and 95.7 percent from the foul line. Over his last seven games, Hawkins had made 36-of-37 from the foul line.
Junior Adama Sanogo is still UConn overall scoring (16.9) and rebounding (7.2) leader, with Hawkins close behind (16.1 ppg) and Alex Karaban (9.9 ppg) and Tristen Newton (9.8) on the verge of averaging double figures. Fifth starter Andre Jackson Jr. is the assist leader (4.4).
In Big East games, UConn holds a plus-3.3 points and plus-4.8 rebounding advantages. The Huskies have a .419 field goal percentage and .331 three-point fg percentage, while they allow opponents .430 and .290, respectfully.
UConn owns a 15-1 advantage over DePaul all-time and has won the last 14 meetings between the teams, dating back to 2007. The Huskies are 5-1 against DePaul in Chicago and are 2-0 at Wintrust Arena.
