University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Providence College
UConn MBB Faces Top 25 Matchup On Senior Night
2/21/2023 10:34:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UConn Athletic Communications / Feb. 21, 2023
STORRS, Conn. – As the UConn men's basketball team begins its final push toward the postseason and faces its third ranked opponent in its last four games and plays its final game of the season at its on-campus arena, it will take time out to honor its seniors.
The #18/#23 Huskies (20-7 overall, 9-7 BIG EAST) will celebrate Senior Night on Wednesday before they take on #20/#18 Providence (20-7, 12-4) at Gampel Pavilion (6:30 p.m., FS1). Senior Night ceremonies will begin at about 6:10 p.m.
Graduate student Joey Calcaterra, seniors Tristen Newton and Nahiem Alleyne, and redshirt junior Richie Springs, as well as four-year team manager Nick DeMarco, will be honored  before the game.
Although Calcaterra, Newton and Alleyne joined the program just this season, all three have had an impact and helped the Huskies reach 20 wins and remain in the Top 25 poll for 15 consecutive weeks.
"To be in the position we're in, win as many games as we have, to be ranked for as long as we have, and to have the resume that we have, these guys had to hit the ground running at a place with very, very high standards," UConn Coach Dan Hurley said. "It's a unique experience to play here – to play in such big games early. Now we have to have them use everything they've learned to help us make a push down the stretch. We win when Nahiem plays well. We win when Tristen plays well."
Newton has started every game for the Huskies this season, one of only two Huskies to do so (Adama Sanogo is the other), and is averaging double figures and leads the team in assists.
"I feel like I've grown up a lot this season," Newton said.
The Huskies will have to be at their best to challenge Providence, a team that defeated UConn, 73-61, in Providence earlier this year. The Friars come to Storrs on a two-game winning streak and battling for first place in the BIG EAST. The Friars are led by conference Player of the Year candidate Bryce Hopkins (16.9 ppg, 9.3 rpg) and Defensive Player of the Year candidate Devin Carter. Both are sophomore transfers, from Kentucky and South Carolina, respectively.
"Hopkins is just an outstanding player and he's played great," Hurley said, "and Carter is just a great defender. He will be trying to really crowd Jordan (Hawkins). We just hope Jordan will be allowed some freedom of movement."
Hawkins is UConn's hottest scorer of late, averaging 19.9 points and 4.8 rebounds over UConn's last nine games. Junior Adama Sanogo is still the Huskies' overall scoring (16.9) and rebounding (7.3) leader, with Hawkins (16.4 ppg) and Newton (10.0) also in double figures. Alex Karaban (9.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg) and Andre Jackson Jr. (6.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 4.1 apg) complete the starting lineup.
The game, a "white-out game" for UConn, will mark the final game of the season at Gampel Pavilion, but not the Huskies' last home game. That will occur on March 1 when they meet DePaul at the XL Center in Hartford.
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