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UConn Basketball: 2018-19 keys for the Huskies vs. Wichita State

By Jason Burgess

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: Head coach Dan Hurley of the Connecticut Huskies is ejected from the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the championship game of the 2K Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: Head coach Dan Hurley of the Connecticut Huskies is ejected from the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the championship game of the 2K Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 15: NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 15: Alterique Gilbert #3 of the Connecticut Huskies talks with Christian Vital after Vail injures his eye in the first half of the game against Syracuse Orange during the 2k Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 15, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 15: NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 15: Alterique Gilbert #3 of the Connecticut Huskies talks with Christian Vital after Vail injures his eye in the first half of the game against Syracuse Orange during the 2k Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 15, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

UConn Basketball got off to a hot start, but sit at just 2-4 in league play. Looking to turn things around, they host Wichita State on Saturday. Here are some keys to victory.

After an offseason of turmoil that saw UConn Basketball (11-8, 2-4) relieve coach Kevin Ollie of his duties amid allegations of wrongdoing in the program, allegations that led to self-imposed penalties. New head coach Dan Hurley, who the Huskies lured away from Rhode Island, looked to change the culture in Storrs, and things looked to be heading in that direction to begin the year after a 3-0 start including a win over former Big East rival Syracuse. In fact, the Huskies began the year 6-1, but since then, they have gone just 5-7, and enter Saturday night’s contest with Wichita State (8-10,1-5) at 11-8 and just 2-4 in the American Athletic Conference.

Since their hot start, the team’s only wins have come against, Lafayette, Manhattan, and Drexel, three teams that have combined for just 19 wins on the season, and in league play, SMU and last-place Tulane. UConn averages 79 points per game and has three players averaging at least 13 points per game but, since beating Drexel on Dec. 18 they have gone just 2-5, scoring just over 60 points per game. The three leading scorers, guards Jalen Adams, Alterique Gilbert, and Christian Vital have combined to score 44.8 points per game this season, and since the beginning of league play the trio has averaged over 51 points per game.

The problem for the Huskies has come on the defensive end where they have allowed over 73 points per game in league play so far. Facing the Shockers gives Hurley and crew a chance to get things moving in the right direction again. Here are some keys to Connecticut coming out on top in this one.