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UConn Basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Huskies

By Thomas Giustino

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 18: Head coach Dan Hurley of the Connecticut Huskies reacts against the Villanova Wildcats during the second half of a college basketball game at Wells Fargo Center on January 18, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Villanova defeated Connecticut 61-55. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 18: Head coach Dan Hurley of the Connecticut Huskies reacts against the Villanova Wildcats during the second half of a college basketball game at Wells Fargo Center on January 18, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Villanova defeated Connecticut 61-55. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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R.J. Cole UConn Basketball (Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images)
R.J. Cole UConn Basketball (Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images) /

Projected starters for UConn Basketball

Guard – RJ Cole (Graduate Student)

RJ Cole is a lock to start and was selected to the Big East’s preseason all-conference second team. I think Cole is poised for a huge season, especially with the absence of Bouknight. Last year, everyone had to take a back seat to Bouk and this often led to a rather stagnant half-court offense.

This season, Cole will be in command and have more freedom to be the aggressor seeking his own shots and getting his teammates involved. In 31.1 minutes a game last year, Cole put up 12.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG, and 4.3 APG. I think that we can expect both his points and assists to go up to closer to 15 and 6 this season. Cole is also a reliable outside shooter, averaging 37.3% from deep in his career. If it isn’t clear yet, I am expecting big things from Cole this year.

Guard – Andre Jackson (Sophomore)

All eyes will be on Andre Jackson as he enters his sophomore campaign. Lucky for him, he is surrounded by a deep and talented roster, so he won’t be asked to do more than he is capable of. As a freshman, Jackson’s development was hampered by COVID and injuries throughout the season, so his stats don’t exactly pop out and are difficult to judge.

I think we will see the real Andre Jackson early and often this season. Rumor has it Jackson has been one of the hardest workers this offseason and he has been working tirelessly to improve his overall game, especially his shooting. If Jackson can develop a respectable jumper, then it is game over for his defender.

If there is one area to watch, it will be Jackson’s defense. Hurley has repeatedly mentioned how he expects Jackson to play elite defense. However, last season, Jackson often struggled with foul trouble, and you can’t play when you foul out. In fact, he averaged 2.8 fouls per game in just 16 minutes of action. That’s 6.8 fouls per 40 minutes… math was never my strong suit, but that’s 4.25 fouls per 25 minutes. That’s too many fouls if he wants to stay on the court for closer to 25 minutes a game this season.

Guard – Tyrese Martin (Senior)

Tyrese Martin was selected to the Big East’s preseason all-conference second team. He showed flashes of excellence last season but was inconsistent game to game and struggled to finish around the rim at times. I think part of his inconsistency can be attributed to his changing role based on James Bouknight’s health and availability. When Bouk was out, Martin was asked to do much more offensively. He then had to take a step back when Bouknight returned. All that said, Martin still had a great overall season for the Huskies.

Martin started in all but one game last season while chipping in 10.3 PPG and a team-high 7.5 RPG in 30.1 minutes of action. If Martin can become a more consistent offensive player that would go a long way for the Huskies. Martin knows his weaknesses and has worked to address them this offseason.

You could tell he rushed some of his finishes and shots last season, perhaps due to the step-up in competition from the A-10 to the Big East. Look for the game to slow down this year for Martin as he will want to end his college career on a high note.

Forward – Isaiah Whaley (Graduate Student)

The Wrench. Isaiah Whaley has improved dramatically each season under Hurley and I expect no different in his 5th and final season. The Co-Big East Defensive Player of the Year returns for a victory lap after getting his first taste of the NCAA tournament and is hungry for more. Whaley does anything and everything the team needs him to do. Gain 20 pounds of muscle and improve your offensive game? Done. Bring the energy on defense and block shots. Done. This season, Hurley has asked that Whaley shoot more threes. Yes, please.

Last year, Whaley averaged 8.0 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 2.61 BPG (14th in the nation) in 27.6 minutes. He also shot 34.8% from deep on 1 attempt per game. Hurley would like to see that increase to ~3 attempts per game and I’m not complaining. Whaley has the athletic ability to be a weapon on offense and I think his confidence has finally caught up with his ability. The frontcourt is packed this season, but I once again expect it will be difficult to keep Whaley off the court because he brings so much to the team. Can he repeat as defensive player of the year in the conference?

Center – Adama Sanogo (Sophomore)

The only other lock as a starter. Sanogo was named as an honorable mention for the Big East’s preseason all-conference selections and it feels like he’s going to make people look foolish for leaving him out. At Big East Media Day, Nate Watson said that Adama Sanogo reminds him of himself. That is high praise, and Sanogo has been working on his jump shot. Imagine Nate Watson with a jumper? Look out.

Keep in mind that Sanogo is young, he reclassified up a year and played significant minutes as a freshman. Sanogo averaged 17 minutes a game while contributing 7.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks a game. Hurley has stated that Sanogo will be a focal point of the offense and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him average close to a double-double; I’m thinking 15 PPG and 10 RPG.

If you think this sounds like too much, in a not-so-secret scrimmage against Harvard, Adama poured in 22 points on 8-13 shooting. Harvard may not have someone to slow Sanogo down, but then again neither does at least half of the Big East.