Getting to know the balanced UConn Huskies

By Staff     Mar 19, 2016

UConn head coach Kevin Ollie directs his defense during the second half, Thursday, March 17, 2016 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.

The NCAA Tournament is designed to reward the nation’s best teams with an easier path — theoretically, at least — to the Final Four. That at least gives No. 1 seeds a nice little warmup victory in the first round, as we saw Thursday, when Kansas (31-4) cruised past Austin Peay.

Let’s be honest, though. From that point on nothing is going to come easily in March. Any team that’s one of the final 32 alive is going to scrap and claw and play inspired basketball. So expect nothing less out of the South region’s No. 9 seed, Connecticut (25-10), when the Jayhawks and Huskies square off Saturday night in Des Moines, Iowa, with a spot in the Sweet 16 on the line.

Kevin Ollie’s UConn team is one of the most defensively sound in the nation, allowing just 63.1 points per game (12th-best in the country) and holding opponents to 38.2% shooting (3rd).

Offensively, while none of the Huskies boast All-American level numbers, Rodney Purvis, Shonn Miller, Daniel Hamilton and Sterling Gibbs all average 12.0 points per game or more. Miller said their balance makes them a little more tricky to prepare for.

“I definitely think having multiple people that are threats offensively from the floor is an advantage in our favor,” Miller said. “You can’t just say, ‘Oh, we’re gonna stop one person in this game and we’re gonna win.’ You’ve gotta stop us all.”

UConn guard Rodney Purvis pushes the ball ahead to break the Colorado press with seconds remaining during the second half, Thursday, March 17, 2016 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.

UConn’s guards all have the ability to break down defenders one-on-one and get into the paint. And when they blow by their man on the perimeter, that often leads to free throws. The Huskies aren’t just a good free-throw shooting team. They’re the best: 79.3%. So KU will have to realize the foul line is a true source of offense for upset-minded Connecticut.

Laying it on the line: Jayhawks aware of UConn’s free-throw prowess

Not all of UConn’s bigs are as dangerous with the ball in their hands, but the guards know how to set them up for the best possible looks within the perimeter-oriented, drive-heavy offense.

“I think we’re a very balanced team,” Miller said.

Connecticut's Shonn Miller (32) fouls Colorado's Josh Scott (40), with Amida Brimah (35) watching, during a first-round men's college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa, Thursday, March 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

The Huskies will get a chance to prove that to the country Saturday night. Playing in the American Athletic Conference, they might get overlooked sometimes, despite their four national titles since 1999. UConn’s confident core of players understand a victory over top-seeded Kansas would serve as a not-so-subtle reminder of their status as a marquee program.

“We don’t worry about what conference anybody’s in,” Miller said. “We just want to go out there and compete with whoever lines up opposite of us.”

With all of those factors in mind, here are the Huskies the Jayhawks will have to keep in check in order to move on to the Sweet 16 — with a little self-scouting help from Miller.

**UCONN STARTERS**
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*No. 44 — G Rodney Purvis | 6-4, 205, jr.*
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UConn forward Daniel Hamilton lays in a bucket past Colorado forward Wesley Gordon during the first half, Thursday, March 17, 2016 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.

**- Stats:** 12.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 43.3% FGs, 38.9% 3s (68 of 175), 65.3% FTs

**- [hoop-math.com][1] nugget:** Nearly half (48.2%) of Purvis’ shots are 3-pointers; hits 40% on 2-point jumpers (any shot taken away from the rim and inside the arc)

**- Miller’s report:** “He’s a knockdown shooter, as well. His percentage is through the roof. But he can also slash and get to the basket, you know, finish.”

*No. 32 — F Shonn Miller | 6-7, 222, gr.*
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**- Stats:** 12.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 58.3% FGs, 37.5% 3s (9 of 24), 80.2% FTs

UConn defenders Phillip Nolan (0) and Daniel Hamilton defend against a shot from Colorado forward Josh Scott during the first half, Thursday, March 17, 2016 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.

**- hoop-math.com nugget:** converts 70.5% of his shots at the rim; also strong on 2-point jumpers, hitting 48.8% (62 of 127)

**- Miller’s report:** “I feel like I have a pretty well-rounded game.”

*No. 5 — G/F Daniel Hamilton | 6-7, 195, soph.*
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**- Stats:** 12.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.1 steals, 39% FGs, 32.1% 3s (44 of 137), 86% FTs

**- hoop-math.com nugget:** takes more in-between shots than anyone on the team and shoots just 36.8% on 2-point jumpers (60 of 163)

UConn guard Jalen Adams hangs his hand after putting up a shot during the first half, Thursday, March 17, 2016 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.

**- Miller’s report:** “Daniel can do it all. He plays at all there levels: down low, mid-range and three.”

*No. 4 — G Sterling Gibbs | 6-2, 191, gr.*
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**- Stats:** 12.0 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 38.6% FGs, 38.5% 3s (75 of 195), 85.5% FTs

**- hoop-math.com nugget:** Gibbs really camps out behind the 3-point line, taking 62.7% of his shots from downtown; teammates have set him up with assists on 61 of his 75 3s

**- Miller’s report:** “Knockdown shooter. Don’t leave him open.”

*No. 0 — F Phillip Nolan | 6-10, 230, sr.*
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**- Stats:** 1.7 points, 1.5 rebounds, 56.4% FGs, 81.8% FTs (9 of 11) in 10.6 minutes

**- hoop-math.com nugget:** not much of a scorer; has converted 16 of 24 shots at the rim this year

**- Miller’s report:** “Phil’s gonna bang down low and get us buckets… He does a lot of things that doesn’t show up in the stat sheet. His footwork and his defensive ability is the best on the team. He always seems to be in the right position when he needs to be.”

**UCONN BENCH**
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*No. 2 — G Jalen Adams | 6-3, 187*
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**- Stats:** 7.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 43.2% FGs, 25.6% 3s (11 of 43), 86.3% FTs in 23.4 minutes

**- hoop-math.com nugget:** just a 55.1% finisher at the rim, even though 50.4% of his shot attempts come from there

*No. 35 — C Amida Brimah | 7-0, 232, jr.*
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https://twitter.com/CauldronICYMI/status/710540530115944448

**- Stats:** 6.6 points, 4.7 rebounds (1.9 offensive), 2.7 blocks, 65.7% FGs, 82.4% FTs in 21.2 minutes

**- hoop-math.com nugget:** not a big man who takes a lot of shots, but the most effective scorer for the Huskies, shooting 77.6% at the rim, where he takes 76.8% of his shots

*No. 12 — F Kentan Facey | 6-10, 217, jr.*
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**- Stats:** 3.2 points, 3.7 rebounds (1.8 offensive), 57.3% FGs, 65.2% FTs in 12.8 minutes

**- hoop-math.com nugget:** while playing significantly less minutes, tied with Brimah for the UConn lead in put-backs on the offensive glass: 23

[1]: http://hoop-math.com/UConn2016.php

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