Connecticut Huskies
2018-2019 Overall Rank: #94
Conference Rank: #7 American
After back-to-back seasons finishing below .500, Connecticut and Kevin Ollie elected to part ways after six years together. Dan Hurley will take over head coaching duties after leading Rhode Island to the NCAA Tournament each of the past two years. Hurley will get the Huskies’ top two scorers back, along with a healthy Alterique Gilbert. UConn is a program used to competing for national championships, but Hurley’s main task will be just getting the Huskies back to relevance within the AAC.
2017-18 Record: 14-18
2017-18 Postseason: None
Coach: Dan Hurley
Coach Record: 0-0 at Connecticut, 151-105 overall
Key Departed Players:
Terry Larrier, Forward, 13.9 ppg
Antwoine Anderson, Guard, 7.4 ppg
David Onuorah, Forward, 1.0 ppg
Terry Larrier, Forward, 13.9 ppg
Antwoine Anderson, Guard, 7.4 ppg
David Onuorah, Forward, 1.0 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Jalen Adams, Senior, Guard, 18.1 ppg
Christian Vital, Junior, Guard, 14.9 ppg
Alterique Gilbert, Sophomore, Guard, 9.0 ppg
Josh Carlton, Sophomore, Forward, 4.4 ppg
Mamadou Diarra, Sophomore, Forward, 2.7 ppg
Tyler Polley, Sophomore, Forward, 2.7 ppg
Isaiah Whaley, Sophomore, Forward, 2.6 ppg
Eric Cobb, Senior, Forward, 1.7 ppg
Kwintin Williams, Senior, Forward, 1.4 ppg
Christian Vital, Junior, Guard, 14.9 ppg
Alterique Gilbert, Sophomore, Guard, 9.0 ppg
Josh Carlton, Sophomore, Forward, 4.4 ppg
Mamadou Diarra, Sophomore, Forward, 2.7 ppg
Tyler Polley, Sophomore, Forward, 2.7 ppg
Isaiah Whaley, Sophomore, Forward, 2.6 ppg
Eric Cobb, Senior, Forward, 1.7 ppg
Kwintin Williams, Senior, Forward, 1.4 ppg
Key New Players:
Brendan Adams, Freshman, Guard
Tarin Smith, Senior, Guard, Grad Transfer from Duquesne
Sidney Wilson, Freshman, Guard, Redshirt
Kassoum Yakwe, Senior, Forward, Grad Transfer from St. John’s
Brendan Adams, Freshman, Guard
Tarin Smith, Senior, Guard, Grad Transfer from Duquesne
Sidney Wilson, Freshman, Guard, Redshirt
Kassoum Yakwe, Senior, Forward, Grad Transfer from St. John’s
Projection:
Dan Hurley will retain UConn’s star from last season, Jalen Adams, who is back for his senior year. Adams earned second team All-AAC honors behind 18.1 points, 4.7 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game. Adams’ backcourt partner Christian Vital is also back after scoring 14.9 points per game as a sophomore. Adams and Vital give Hurley an experienced backcourt to work with this season. The wildcard for Connecticut’s success this year could be the health of Alterique Gilbert. Gilbert is a former McDonald’s All-American but has only played in nine games in two seasons at UConn. The Huskies would also benefit from a big step forward from Josh Carlton in his sophomore season. Carlton started 17 games as a freshman, but he averaged just 4.4 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. Roleplayers such as Mamadou Diarra, Tyler Polley and Isaiah Whaley also should improve as sophomores this season. The Huskies only have one freshman in this year’s class, but they add a redshirt freshman along with two grad transfers, including Tarin Smith. Smith averaged 12.4 points last year, has played at Nebraska and Duquesne and gives UConn some additional backcourt experience. Dan Hurley won’t get the Huskies back to national relevance in his first season, but this team has the potential to compete in the AAC and possibly get on the NCAA Tournament bubble.
Projected Postseason Tournament: CBI/CIT
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 68.2 (300th in nation, 9th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 73.1 (194, 10)
Field-Goal Percentage: 41.6 (320, 12)
Field-Goal Defense: 43.3 (138, 8)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 6.7 (268, 8)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 32.6 (297, 10)
Free-Throw Percentage: 74.5 (62, 1)
Rebound Margin: -2.4 (282, 10)
Assists Per Game: 10.4 (342, 12)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.6 (147, 6)
