Push the pace
The UConn Huskies faced a tall order heading into the 2023-24 season.
After the nets were cut down and confetti was swept away, Dan Hurley and Co. needed to replace the two top scorers from their title-winning team. Adama Sanogo and Jordan Hawkins combined for over 33 points per game last season, earning them both a graduation into the NBA.
So, how in the world are the Huskies one of top offensive teams in the nation once again?
Enter: Cam Spencer. The former Scarlet Knight made the move from Rutgers and immediately made his presence known. The guard ranks second on the team in scoring with 14.9 points per game and shooting an absurd .433 from beyond the arc.
Spencer joined a budding roster that was ready to bloom. Second-year bigs Alex Karaban and Donovan Clingan were poised to build on promising freshman campaigns. Top-ranked freshman Stephon Castle joined the fray looking to establish himself on both ends of the floor. All the while, Tristen Newton was becoming a star.
When you put all this together and stand back, you realize that UConn has quietly put together yet another title contender. The team scores over 81 points per game, and currently ranks 12th in the nation in field goal percentage at .494.
On the fast-break, the Huskies average 12.7 points per game, good enough for third-best in the conference.
Meanwhile, their opponents are looking to rebound from an 88-77 loss on the road to Xavier, the fourth-best fast-break team in the nation. The Musketeers flexed their speed and turned the game into a track meet, outscoring the Red Storm 28-11 in fast-break points en route to the victory.
Now facing a quick turnaround with an early start on Saturday, look for UConn to deploy a similar strategy and push the pace whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Action tips off on Saturday, February 3 at 12:00p.m. ET at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York City, broadcast on FOX.