Maryland Basketball: 3 UConn Huskie players to watch in Round of 64 matchup

No. 10 Maryland basketball 16-13 (9-11 Big Ten) is dancing in the NCAA Tournament. Are you excited, Terps fans? The Terps worked extremely hard on the defensive end. Aaron Wiggins, Darryl Morsell, and Eric Ayala led the way offensively and with their leadership.

The No. 7 Connecticut Huskies 15-7 (11-6 Big East) got to the NCAA Tournament because of a five-game winning streak, including its Big East Quarterfinal blowout win against the DePaul Blue Demons 94-60.

The team has been dealing with injuries to two of its best players James Bouknight and RJ Cole.

Bouknight had surgery on his elbow earlier in the season, and it kept him out for a while until the Providence game. He also dealt with cramps later on in the season.

Huskies Head Coach Dan Hurley joked about it and said that he was dramatic; Hurley was serious when he said that Bouknight needs to be more disciplined.

“He’s got to have that personal discipline to hydrate during the game,” Hurley said. “The staff is all over it. We can’t lose a game this time of year and not advance because James didn’t take in enough fluids or have enough potassium, or whatever. That can’t happen. He’s got to be more diligent. That’s all part of his growth as a player.”

The Huskies need him at full strength if they are going to win this game.

Cole is in concussion protocol after his head hit the floor and started bleeding in the Big East Semifinal loss against the Creighton Bluejays. The good news is the concussion is mild, and Hurley believes he has a better chance to play since the game is on Saturday instead of Friday.

Now without further ado, here are the three Huskies to watch for Maryland basketball in the Round of 64 matchup Saturday night.

James Bouknight, Guard, Sophomore

Bouknight is a dynamic scorer for the Connecticut Huskies, averaging 19 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. He can fill it up fast, scoring inside the paint and on the perimeter. He has given the Huskies some highlight-reel dunks also which are always fun to watch. It is more than likely that Morsell will guard Bouknight and welcome the challenge. He does a great job of being that defender that takes a team’s star player out of games.

Do I believe the Terps put up the kind of defensive performance on him that they did against Markus Howard in the Orlando Invitational last year? That’s what they need to do to win, but Bouknight will find a way to make his mark on the game. If he doesn’t score many points, expect him to come up big as a rebounder, facilitator, and defender.

Now, I recognize that he’s not a big number assist guy. The most assists he’s had in a game this year is five against DePaul in the Big East Tournament. He will have to get his teammates involved if the Terps do an excellent job making him uncomfortable.

Isaiah Whaley, Forward, Senior

The 6-foot-9, 230 pounder is a menace in the paint and the heart and soul of this team. Whaley is averaging 8.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game this season, in addition to shooting 48 percent from the field and 38 percent from the perimeter.

What jumped out to me right away when watching film on UConn was his defensive prowess. He stays in front of his man very well.

He has good footwork, body control, and of course, he blocks shots, so he is a rim protector as well. He didn’t earn Big East Defensive Player of the Year for nothing.

He and Galin Smith will battle down in the paint area, which will be a fun matchup to watch. Both of those guys have similar builds, so that may be a physical matchup.

When looking at his highlights from last year, I noticed that he is an excellent midrange shooter. The Terps can’t afford to leave him alone out there, or he will make them pay.

Adama Sanogo, Forward, Freshman

Sanogo was a recruit that the Terps missed on, but he has been a solid addition to the Huskies frontcourt. He has played very well the last four games averaging 13 points and seven rebounds in that span.

His best game was the 16-point and nine-rebound performance against Seton Hall earlier this month. His next best performance came in a loss against the Providence Friars, where he recorded nine points, eight rebounds, and five blocks.

The Huskies have relied on him down the stretch to get the ball inside and make plays. He has a nice touch around the rim, and he’s technically sound. He may be a freshman, but he’s got star potential in the coming years.

Will he be another recruit to have a career game against the Terps defense? We will see.

They can’t afford for all of these guys to have big games. If all of them score in double figures, Maryland basketball will lose. They have to choose wisely who they want to neutralize.

You can see this first-round matchup Saturday at 7:10 p.m. ET on CBS.