No. 24 UConn makes quick work of CCSU 99-48
Nov. 10—STORRS — Opening night can be a messy affair, filled with sloppy play due to rust and overhyped players dealing with first-game jitters.
No. 24 UConn never showed any of those signs on Tuesday night.
The Huskies played with poise, confidence and intensity from start to finish, executing on both ends of the court while running over an overmatched Central Connecticut, 99-48, before a sold out crowd at Gampel Pavilion.
They fired out of the gates and never let up, jumping out to a 52-23 edge at halftime.
"The only fear coming into it would the guys be too amped up or be really jittery," coach Dan Hurley said. "But I thought minus the turnovers and some lapses on defense, I'm pretty happy with the way the guys hit the ground running. We were able to play two halves where the intensity really didn't wane too much in the second half."
UConn did everything well.
The Huskies showed off their depth with eight players scoring at least eight points. Sophomore Adama Sanogo, whom Hurley frequently called UConn's best player during pre-season, led the way, finishing with a career-high 20 points.
Graduate guard R.J. Cole (15 points), senior Tyrese Martin (14), graduate forward Tyler Polley (11) and sophomore Jalen Gaffney (10 points) also scored in double figures while sophomore Andre Jackson finished with a career-high nine points and added six rebounds in a team-high 25 minutes while making the third start of his career.
The Huskies converted a sizzling 61.3 percent from the field. A harassing defense forced 29 turnovers. UConn ended up with 15 steals.
They basically looked the way a veteran team coming off an NCAA tournament season should look against a rebuilding program.
"We're a very talented team and we all know that," Cole said. "It's just a matter of us playing to our identity every day and making sure we come out with the necessary toughness and grit that we have and everything else will fall into place."
CCSU first-year coach Patrick Sellers, a former UConn assistant coach, came away impressed with the Huskies.
"This is one of those teams when I was here back in the early 2000s, with the size and the length and athleticism," Sellers said. "These guys have a chance to be a special team. I tip my hat to coach Hurley and the staff. They've got a really good group of guys here."
From the pre-game introductions, the Huskies were energized by an enthusiastic crowd. It was the first time they played before a sold-out home crowd since March 2020.
The packed student section gave Hurley a loud ovation when he walked onto the court before pre-game introductions.
"When you have a student section like that opening night, it's hard not to perform at a high level," Hurley said. "It was so exciting to see that type of student attendance for the opener."
The Huskies started hot, going 19 for 28 from the field in the first half while building a huge lead.
First, they went to work inside, running the offense through Sanogo who had eight of the team's first 18 points.
Sanogo scored off a smooth move in the lane for the season's first hoop.
After forcing a turnover, Martin slammed home a basket. Sanogo finished off a dribble drive to give the Huskies a quick 6-0 lead.
The Huskies kept attacking.
Jackson, who joined Martin, Sanogo, Isaiah Whaley and Cole in the starting lineup, fed Sanogo inside for another easy basket for UConn's eighth straight field goal and an 18-5 lead at the 15:12 mark.
A force inside all night, Sanogo scored nearly at will, making nine of 11 field goals overall. He also had five rebounds and three blocks.
"I need to be the best I can," Sanogo said. "If I have to score 10 or 15 points for us to win, I will do that."
The Huskies never really cooled off. Ten players scored baskets and 13 saw action.
Freshmen Samson Johnson and Rahsool Diggins made their UConn debuts and both scored their first career basket.
Newcomer Jordan Hawkins sat out the game with an ankle injury that he suffered in practice on Saturday. Considered day-to-day, he has a chance to play Saturday against Coppin State in Hartford, according to Hurley.
Freshman Corey Floyd, Jr. also didn't suit up on Tuesday. When asked about that fact, Hurley said, "We'll have something on Corey tomorrow."
