UConn men put on best defensive half of season to roll over Villanova in Big East Tournament quarterfinal
NEW YORK – Dan Hurley’s strategy for roster construction has changed over the last few years. Rather than zeroing in on great defensive recruits, the UConn men’s basketball staff has shifted to more of an offensive focus, relying on its ability to develop capable defenders.
Through much of this season, as the Huskies spent stretches rated as the worst defensive team Hurley’s ever had, that philosophy could’ve been questioned.
But the team defense has shown improvement down the stretch of the season, culminating in the second half of Thursday’s Big East Tournament quarterfinal win over Villanova.
It was the best defensive half of the season for the Huskies as they held Villanova’s veteran group to just 20 points on 5-for-24 (20.8%) shooting from the field and just 3-for-14 from beyond the arc. In stark contrast from the first half, when the Wildcats shot 43.5% from the field, 4 of 7 from 3, and got to the free throw line 16 times, UConn limited its fouls, made fewer mistakes on the best players and had a 17-10 advantage on the glass.
Wooga Poplar, who had 15 of his game-high 25 points in the first half as he carved up the Huskies’ defense, was Villanova’s only player to make multiple shots from the field (3-for-6) after the break.
Outside of Poplar, the Wildcats combined to shoot just 5-for-32 (15.6%) from the field. That is including the nation’s leading scorer, Eric Dixon, who was held to eight points on 2-for-15 shooting. Spending most of the season outside the KenPom top-100 in defensive efficiency, the Huskies are up to No. 87 after Thursday’s performance.
“(Poplar) was sort of controlling the game in a way. (We were) just trying to keep the ball out of his hands, deny him every chance we get. I think that’s what helped a lot, making them beat us with other people,” said sophomore Jaylin Stewart, who scored seven points with three rebounds off the bench. His defensive impact didn’t show on the stat sheet, though the team was plus-18 in his 20 minutes on the court.
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He and Aidan Mahaney – who had seven points, three assists and a steal – each played a critical role.
“With what Tarris Reed Jr. and Samson Johnson can give us at center right now, if we can get Aidan and Jaylin to give us that type of quality minutes off the bench, it changes our whole outlook,” Hurley said. “It obviously makes us even more optimistic. Jaylin helps our defense so much, he’s 6-7, switchable, he made things tough on (Jordan) Longino and Poplar in the second half and he’s starting to come into his own.”
Karaban, Johnson helping each other
Before Alex Karaban’s redshirt freshman season he spent a lot of time going up against Johnson in practice. Johnson ended up winning the starting spot at the four, but he injured his foot in the 2022-23 season-opener and Karaban ran with his opportunity.
The rest was history.
Johnson moved over to center and backed up Donovan Clingan last season before assuming the starting role this year, finding his most effective way to impact the game down the stretch of the season. His chemistry with Karaban was on display Thursday night as the duo combined for 29 points on 10-for-14 shooting. Johnson set the screens that opened the floor for Karaban’s clutch shots down the stretch.
“That’s what we do at UConn, man,” Johnson told The Courant at his locker after the game. “Guys like me, just make sure we put (our shooters) in the right position, set a great screen for them and they’re gonna step up and make shots and we’re gonna go to work.”
Karaban went through the worst shooting slump of his career, lasting for about a month as the Huskies teetered through the middle part of the Big East season. He made 4 of 6 from beyond the arc on Thursday, and has hit at a 57.1% clip since March 1.
“It felt amazing,” he said. “I’ve definitely started to string together a couple games now where I’ve been playing like myself and I’ve just been feeling like myself now. Just having that confidence in myself, having the confidence in my teammates and coaches allows me to keep going.”
Rudy Gay a Big East Legend
The Big East began its “Legends” initiative last season, with each program nominating a former player to be recognized during the conference tournament. Chris Smith, UConn’s all-time leading scorer, was the Huskies’ first honoree and was in attendance Thursday night as Rudy Gay was recognized.
Gay was the Big East’s Co-Rookie of the Year in 2005 (with Georgetown’s Jeff Green) and an all-conference First Team selection in 2005-06, helping UConn to a share of the Big East regular season title in both seasons. He went on to be drafted eighth overall in 2006 and played 17 years in the NBA, officially announcing his retirement in October, 2024.
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