UConn Basketball: 3 keys to taking down Kansas Jayhawks
By John Makuch
2. Show up early, do not let Kansas get out to an early lead
Even Eastern Illinois was able to keep things close against the Jayhawks, so UConn needs to make sure they are always in this game. Great teams like Kansas will take advantage when you give them an early lead, so the Huskies have to start out strong.
Bill Self will do the great work he’s done his whole career and make sure his group of guys want to prove themselves and silence the critics from last game. But UConn is not Eastern Illinois, they are the defending National Champions, and the Huskies will need to play as well as they did during that tournament run
Kansas has let several teams hang around beside Eastern Illinois, and it all comes down to how well you come running out the gate. This is where you go to a guy like Clingan, win the jump ball, run a play to get him the basketball, and get a great inside bucket to start the game off.
What this will also do is ease up the environment of Allen Fieldhouse, one of the best home advantages in the nation. If Kansas gets out running early, with the way that building rocks it will be tough to find your way back into the game like you would in other arenas.
This will most likely be a close game no matter how you think up the script, but UConn needs to give themselves an early advantage. The Jayhawks are also familiar with Big East Basketball this season, losing to Marquette during Feast. The Golden Eagles did what UConn will need to do, and won the first half 38-28.
While the location is not some beautiful island getaway, the results on the court need to be similar in that first half if the Huskies want to win this one.