UConn men’s basketball was up by 20 with seven minutes left in the second half on Saturday against No. 7 BYU. Even if the Huskies let it get too close late, they never relinquished the lead. Also, those
33 minutes of heat were a joy to watch.
Dan Hurley’s squad was No. 3 in the AP Poll heading into the week, and while the two teams ahead of them are still undefeated and also have a good win, there’s no doubt UConn made a statement in its fourth game.
It’s early in the season, but the schedule is relentless. The Huskies face No. 5 Arizona on Wednesday and still have stuff to clean up, with No. 14 Illinois, No. 25 Kansas, and No. 10 Florida on the horizon. They’re also still looking to get healthier, with some guys returning from injury and one key player still on the mend.
Here’s what has stood out about the Huskies through four games, including their first big test:
The Jayden Ross Emergence
Ross is giving you everything UConn fans want from a 3-D guy off the bench: Hitting open threes, an Andre Jackson-esque baseline dunk, and a tough contested fadeaway, all with level-raising energy.
Fouling out obviously cannot continue, but he is in a position to be a fixture in the rotation. We know Dan Hurley is happy to see this. He loves this movie.
They Can Make Stops
UConn’s defense looked to be improved compared to last season, but the Huskies hadn’t played a team that could really stress them. BYU had some dudes, and while the Cougars mounted a second-half surge, the Huskies held strong.
Silas Demary Jr. was an absolute menace on the perimeter with two steals and countless deflections, and Jaylin Stewart forced AJ Dybantsa into numerous tough shots. Tarris Reed Jr. protected the interior, and Malachi Smith brought defensive intensity off the bench.
It’s not ideal that UConn gave up 52 points in the second half, but that’s more of a credit to BYU — Dybantsa in particular — making a lot of difficult shots on the perimeter and in the paint. He’s one of the best individual players they’ll see this season. There is still room for improvement defensively, but the talent is there, and UConn’s ranking of 15th nationally in defensive efficiency feels legit.
Bearris Dominating
Dan Hurley and UConn realized quickly that BYU had no answer for Tarris Reed and wasted no time exploiting that weakness. Reed posted 21 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks in 33 minutes. Reed’s skill, strength and size allowed him to finish with ease around the rim against an undersized Cougar squad, especially after Keba Keita was forced out due to injury.
The numbers and the eye test show that Reed is making the vaunted “second year leap” in Hurley’s system. He’s averaging 20 points and over eight rebounds per game, and looks unstoppable for stretches offensively. Defensively, he’s toned down the foul troubles that have plagued him in the past, and does a better job using his athleticism to recover on ball screens. He also remains one of the best rebounders in the country.
Right now, Reed is the most important player on this UConn team. While Alex Karaban has been excellent, Reed’s presence down low has added more depth to an already talented offense. The Michigan transfer did play through a late ankle injury in the win over BYU, but has a few days to recover before UConn takes on Arizona at home. The Huskies will need Reed at full strength to have a shot at beating the Wildcats in what should be a top-five showdown at Gampel Pavilion.
Silas “The Virus” Demary (Credit: Jon Rothstein)
He’s infecting college basketball!
In more serious notes, the Georgia transfer came up huge in his first opportunity against major competition. We knew he was no stranger to good opposition coming from the SEC, but to perform like this on a new team so early is impressive for everyone involved. His two-way prowess, size, and strength are exactly what the Huskies were lacking last year from the guard position.
