University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
University of Miami
Huskies Challenge Miami In NCAA National Semifinals
3/31/2023 9:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UConn Athletic Communications / March 31, 2023
HOUSTON, Texas – The UConn men's basketball team would like nothing better than to play together until the last day of the 2022-23 season.
That honor is reserved for the teams that reach the NCAA National Championship game, which is set for Monday night at NRG Stadium in Houston.
But the Huskies have a few obstacles to overcome before they can enjoy that rare honor – one is a sudden illness to starting guard Jordan Hawkins, UConn's second-leading scorer and top three-point threat, the other is the Miami Hurricanes.
UConn (29-8), the West Regional champion, faces Miami (29-7), the champs of the Midwest Regional, in Saturday's NCAA National Semifinals at NRG Stadium (8:49, EDT, CBS). On the line is a berth in Monday's National Championship game against the winner of Saturday's other semifinal between San Diego State and Florida Atlantic.
Hawkins, averaging 17.3 points and shooting .516 from three-point range in the NCAA Tournament, came down with a stomach bug late Thursday night and remained at the team hotel during Friday's practice and media sessions. UConn is hopeful that the illness would pass in time for him to play Saturday night.
"I think we have like three doctors on this trip with us, so you hope that we can navigate it," UConn Coach Dan Hurley said. "We obviously kept him away from the rest of the team, so hopefully it just doesn't continue to spread. And hopefully, Jordan is good to go, or at least give us something."
Whether the smooth-shooting sophomore plays or not, however, UConn still will have to deal with the Hurricanes, who have six of their last seven games and boast NBA talent at their perimeter positions.
"With (Nijel) Pack, (Isaiah) Wong, and (Jordan) Miller, it's the greatest defensive challenge we've had this year," Hurley said, "because it's the best collection of guards we will have faced, with (Wooga) Poplar, who is playing great. And then, the best rebounding physical center (Norchad Omier) that we've seen."
Wong (16.2 ppg), Miller (15.4) and Pack (13.8) can all shoot from longrange and can all take the ball to the rim, while Omier is averaging 10.1 rebounds per game. The Hurricanes average 79.6 ppg, shoot .484 overall, and .369 from beyond the arc.
"Obviously, we've got to force them to beat us more from the perimeter over the top," Hurley said. "We can't allow them to get to the rim. We've got to avoid them gertting to the paint , and to the free throw line. And we've got to keep them out of transition.
"We've got to really shrink the court in places we can shrink the court and be aggressive in places we want to be aggressive."
The Huskies, who have won 10 of their last 11 games, will rely on the inside strength of junior Adama Sanogo (17.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg) and freshman Donovan Clingan, and the perimeter play of Tristen Newton, Andre Jackson, and Hawkins, or if necessary, Joey Calcaterra or Nahiem Alleyne.
"I think their team reflects the Hurley clan philosophy of playing really hard at both ends of the court," said Miami coach Jim Larranaga. "You have to be impressed with their size, their physicality, but also their skill. They have skills at every position. My staff and I have been very, very impressed with them. We know we have a big challenge ahead of us."
UConn owns an all-time record of 4-1 in National Semifinal games and a 17-8 edge over Miami all-time. None of that matters, however, once the ball is tipped.
The last day of the season – and a chance at a National Championship -- awaits the winner.
