University of Connecticut Athletics
Demary Jr. and Reed Jr. On Naismith DPOY Watch List
1/29/2026 1:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ATLANTA – UConn men's basketball standouts Silas Demary Jr. and Tarris Reed Jr. have been named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List, as announced by the Atlanta tipoff club on Thursday (Jan. 29). Connecticut is one of six programs with two members of the 25-man list, while the Husky duo are two of the three BIG EAST players to make the cut.
Demary Jr. serves as the point of attack and Reed Jr. the anchor of one of the nation's top defenses. UConn ranks No. 5 in Kenpom defensive efficiency and is top-15 nationally in a slew of defensive categories. They have been part of a defensive overhaul that has completely flipped a unit which finished No. 75 in defensive efficiency a season and spent much of the year in the 100s.
The Huskies rank 11th in the country in scoring defense, checking in at 64.3 points per game. UConn has allowed 65 points or more in regulation only seven times in 21 regular season games and has held 11 opponents under 40 percent from the field. UConn is fourth in the country in effective field goal percentage against at 44.0 percent, 14th nationally in field goal percentage defense at 39.1 percent and leads the BIG EAST in rebound margin. It has limited some of the nation's top offenses well below their season averages, including clamping the current No. 1 offense in Kenpom (Illinois) to 61 points and sub-32 percent shooting.
Demary Jr. tops the Huskies and is fifth in the BIG EAST with 1.8 steals per game. His perimeter defense and ball pressure have helped UConn limit opponents to 28.5 percent shooting from 3-point range, seventh nationally. He has also helped limit foes to a 44.8 percent assist/field goals made ratio, 24th-best in America.
Reed Jr. is the BIG EAST's third-leading shot blocker and ranks 25th nationally with 2.1 blocks per game. He checks in fifth in the league with 7.9 rebounds per game and has helped the Huskies hold foes to a 44.6 percent two-point field goal percentage, ninth best in the country.
The Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Midseason team will be announced on Feb. 26, finalists on March 25 and winner on April 5.
