NCAA Tournament 2023: Ranking the starting lineups of each Sweet 16 team

5. Connecticut (4-seed)

Jordan Hawkins (Sophomore – Guard)

Hawkins’ development this season has been a major part of the Huskies’ success, averaging 15.8 points and 3.9 rebounds after decent contributions as a freshman. He was named First Team All-Big East for his remarkable rise and is one of the best shooters in the conference, hitting 37% of his 3-pointers. He’s had numerous scoring splurges, with a 31-point outing against St. John’s back in January, but stunned with his four second-half 3-pointers in the Huskies’ second-round win against Saint Mary’s.

Andre Jackson Jr. (Junior – Guard)

A talented part of this backcourt, Jackson averages 6.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists and plays an underrated role for the Huskies. His numbers don’t jump off the screen but he’s been an effective weapon, scoring 10 points in their opening-round win over Iona and totaling 7 assists in both Tournament games, continuing to play his role in this offense.

Alex Karaban (Freshman – Forward)

After redshirting last season, Karaban has really come into his own in Connecticut’s backcourt, exceeding expectations in his freshman year. He averages 9.4 points and 4.3 rebounds per game and was named to the Big East All-Freshman team as a result. He’s a solid defender who takes up space and has had some real standout performances this season, even if he’s not putting up those same numbers in the postseason.

Tristen Newton (Senior – Guard)

Newton transferred to the Huskies after three years at East Carolina and is the point guard Connecticut needs this season. His numbers are slightly down, averaging 10.0 points and 4.7 assists with the Huskies, but his impact is bigger than ever as both an effective shooter and ball distributor for this team. Some of his best performances came earlier in the year, but no one’s complaining about 13 points and 5 assists in their win against Saint Mary’s in the second round.

Adama Sanogo (Junior – Forward)

Another fantastic season for the big man earned Sanogo First Team All-Big East honors again while leading the conference in field goals and a few other metrics. He averages 17.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game and is a very good defensive threat as well, even if his block numbers are down this season. Sanogo has brought out his best for the Big Dance, with 28 points and 13 rebounds against Iona before a 24-point, 8-rebound performance against Saint Mary’s.