As the losses pile up for two-time defending national champion UConn, its flaws have become more evident, most of them pointing to ineffective play on the perimeter.
The Huskies defend 3-pointers (35.9 percent) worse than they shoot them (35 percent). In Big East games, they’ve committed more turnovers (195) than they’ve forced (154).
These numbers are far from typical for UConn (18-9, 10-6 Big East), but they’re the reality as the Huskies try to find something to build on as the postseason approaches.
The search continues Wednesday at home in Hartford against Georgetown (16-11, 7-9), which announced on Tuesday that freshman standout Thomas Sorber is out for the rest of the year with a foot injury.
No team has exposed UConn’s weaknesses more than Big East leader St. John’s, which handed the Huskies an 89-75 defeat on Sunday afternoon.
In sweeping two games from the Huskies for the first time in 25 years, the Red Storm forced 40 turnovers while committing just 19. They also harassed the Huskies into 14 of 52 accuracy from 3-point range (26.9 percent).
“Unlike our past teams, where there were literally no bad matchups for us, there are some teams that just are not great for you,” Huskies coach Dan Hurley said. “We have the obvious issue with people that can handle and create and break down pressure.”
The return of UConn’s top scorer Liam McNeeley (15.3 points), who missed eight games with an ankle injury, hasn’t been the remedy the Huskies had hoped. They’re 2-3 with McNeeley back as he has shot just 27.3 percent from 3-point range.
Also struggling is Alex Karaban (14.2 points), who has made just 9 of 53 attempts from deep (17 percent) over UConn’s last 10 games.
Georgetown will counter on Wednesday with Micah Peavy, who is averaging 24.0 points over the last five games, along with 7.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 3.6 steals.
The loss of Sorber, who averaged 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds and was projected as a lottery pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, leaves the Hoyas thin in the frontcourt.
They have lost nine of their last 13, including an 80-69 defeat Sunday at Creighton, despite 22 points from Jayden Epps.
Including a 68-60 win on Jan. 11 in Washington, UConn has captured the last nine meetings with Georgetown to pull ahead in the series 39-36.
–Field Level Media
