University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
DePaul University
Final Home Game Pits #14 Huskies Against DePaul
2/28/2023 9:22:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UConn Athletic Communications / Feb. 28, 2023
HARTFORD, Conn. – The UConn men's basketball team will be looking for a final boost from the home crowd on Wednesday when the #14/#18 Huskies play host to DePaul in their last home game of the season at the XL Center in Hartford (7 p.m., CBS SN).
That's not altogether true, since the Huskies are hoping their home crowd follows them to New York City for the Big East Tournament next week, but Wednesday is UConn's final game on one of their two home floors, where they have put together a 14-2 record this season (6-1 at the XL Center).
"This really starts for us in June, so it's like nine months long," UConn coach Dan Hurley said, "but it does fly by. It's surprising that it got here so quick. It's been a roller coaster ride – November and December was a joy ride, January was really tough, February was a great month for us and now we're excited about March."
UConn (22-7 overall, 11-7 BIG EAST) is one of the hottest teams in the BIG EAST as the regular season begins its final week. The Huskies have won three straight games and six of their last seven. DePaul (9-20, 3-15), on the other hand, is struggling, and will be out to break a 10-game losing streak.
But the Blue Demons have been playing a tougher brand of basketball lately, helped by the return of 6-11 senior center Nick Ongenda, who has blocked 23 shots in just four games.
"The rim protection and mobility … " Hurley said. "Adama (Sanogo) has seen him and knows how talented he is and how mobile he is and how good he is in the ball-screen game. They shoot the ball really well. Their guards – (Umoja) Gibson is a tremendous shooter, one of the best scoring guards in the league. (Javan) Johnson really hurt us in the first game. And their fours and fives are all athletic and tough. This league is really hard, that's why their record is what it is, but they have a lot of talented players."
UConn defeated DePaul, 90-76, on Jan. 31 in Chicago, as the scoring trio of Jordan Hawkins (26), Adama Sanogo (25) and Tristen Newton (21) combined for 72 points.
That game was the beginning of the Huskies' resurgence. UConn is playing as well now as its did on its 14-0 start and a lot of it has to do the shooting of Hawkins (16.6 ppg) and the inside strength of Sanogo (16.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg).
"Adama has figured out how to be effective and productive offensively without just getting low post catches," Hurley explained. "He's much improved in the ball screen game. He's much improved on the offensive glass. And he's much improved as a passer, which has opened up things for him and for us."
The Huskies are also getting improved offensive play from junior Andre Jackson Jr., averaging 11.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game and shooting .631 overall in UConn's last three games.
"Andre is much better at finding the spots on the floor where he can be most effective," Hurley said.
Following Wednesday's game, UConn will play its regular-season finale at Villanova on Saturday at Wells Fargo Center (7:30 p.m., FOX).Then, it will be on to the BIG EAST Tournament.
