University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Seton Hall University
Huskies Take On Seton Hall At Gampel
2/17/2023 1:26:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UConn Athletic Communications / Feb. 17, 2023
STORRS, Conn. – Of the seven losses incurred by the UConn men's basketball team this season, certainly one of the most heartbreaking was a 67-66 defeat at the hand of the Seton Hall Pirates (Jan. 18), on a putback by the Hall's KC Ndefo with 1 second left on the clock.
"That game was really, really tough on everybody," said UConn Coach Dan Hurley, who missed the first matchup, as did associate head coach Kimani Young, because of Covid.
The #20/#23 Huskies (19-7 overall, 8-7 BIG EAST) get a chance to even the score on Saturday, when Seton Hall (16-11, 9-7) invades Gampel Pavilion for the return match (noon, FOX).
The two teams are currently locked in a battle for fifth place in the BIG EAST, both seeking a bye through the first round of the conference tournament, which is awarded to the top five teams in the league standings. Seton Hall currently has a half-game lead over UConn.
The Pirates have come on during the second half of the BIG EAST schedule, winning four of their last six games. Seton Hall hangs it hat on defense, leading the BIG EAST in scoring defense (64.4) and field goal percentage defense (40.9 pct.) and ranking second in three-point defense (30.5 percent).
"They have really good overall size," Hurley said of the Pirates' staunch defense. "It really fits into Big East basketball. They are really physical. We have to be really physical as well. We can't have live ball turnovers, we can't be weak on the backboards, we can't be weak at any point of contact, whether it be screening, blockouts ... because they play reallyl, really hard."Â
Leading Seton Hall's balanced offense is senior guard Al-Amir Dawes (12.6 ppg), with senior forward Tyrese Samuel (10.7) and junior guard Kadary Richmond (10.5) also in double figures. Samuel, who is coming off back-to-back double-doubles, is the leading rebounder (5.9) and Richmond hands out the most assists (4.2).
UConn is coming off another tough loss, 56-53, at Creighton last Saturday, which snapped the Huskies' three-game winning streak. The Huskies have had a week off since then.
"I think hopefully it was a chance to recharge the batteries," Hurley said, "and just get excited about trying to create some momentum during these last five games of the season."
Junior Adama Sanogo, who led the Huskies with 16 points in the first game against Seton Hall, continues to be UConn's top scorer (17.2) and rebounder (7.3). Sophomore Jordan Hawkins (16.2) and senior Tristen Newton (10.2) also average in double figures for the Huskies, and Newton hands out the most assists (4.3). In all games, Sanogo is the top scorer in the BIG EAST, while Hawkins ranks fourth and Hawkins tops the league in three-pointers made per game (2.9).
UConn owns a 12-2 record at home this season, 6-1 at Gampel. Seton Hall, 2-10 all-time at Gampel, is 5-5 in true road games this season. It's been 30 years (1992-93) since the Pirates have swept a season series from UConn.
Both head coaches, UConn's Hurley and Seton Hall's Shaheen Holloway, are Seton Hall graduates, and each scored more than 1,000 points during their Seton Hall playing careers.
