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UConn's Sanogo searching for better passing touch

Nov. 30—STORRS — Dan Hurley agrees that Adama Sanogo is not the best passer out of the post.

But the UConn coach isn't exactly desperate for his sophomore center to improve in that area.

"You said that. I want him to score like Shaq," Hurley deadpanned after practice Monday.

OK, so Sanogo's primary instructions from the Husky coaching staff remains simple: put the ball in the basket from close range.

But the Huskies begrudgingly admit that there will probably come a time or two when the big man from Mali might have to kick it out to an open shooter on occasion.

The No. 17 Huskies (6-1), who host Maryland-Eastern Shore tonight in Hartford, are fresh off a trip to the Bahamas in which they won two of their three games. And although Sanogo had a 30-point game and was dominant at times in the Battle 4 Atlantis, he watched film of himself and was a bit critical.

"After watching the games, I think I have to work some on my game a little bit, especially on my passing," Sanogo said Monday. "I saw a double team a lot there were some places I could pass the ball but I didn't. I'm going to work on that stuff going forward."

Hurley's jokes aside, he knows Sanogo may have to show some development with his passing ability. And Sanogo's lack of passes isn't exactly a selfish trait, it's about having the knack for it.

"Adama's a guy that's still developing his dribbling and passing skills. He's obviously a tremendous low post player and he does it at a very high level," Hurley said. "He's got to get better at recognizing the help defense and the double teams. Sometimes he struggles to throw it out of the post because he still has to develop the mechanics of passing the ball."

Sanogo actually had three assists in UConn's win over VCU Friday — though those were on ball screen handoffs on the perimeter that led to teammates' jump shots — but it was the 18 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocked shots he averaged last week that led him to be honored by the Big East Monday. Sanogo was named the league's player of the week, something he was rather proud of.

"Yes. Big East player of the week is good. If I keep doing what I'm doing, I'll get more of that. It's exciting," Sanogo said.

Much more important to the Huskies than Sanogo's passing from the post, however, are the Huskies' passes under duress in the backcourt. Their trip to the tropics exposed a bit of an Achilles heel for the Huskies.

UConn had a great deal of problems breaking through full-court pressure, though some of those issues were exacerbated by the particular skillset of a team like Auburn.

"We've obviously got areas we have to get better, most importantly taking care of the ball," Hurley said. "To have the two turnover games we had out there, it makes it challenging to win."

UConn had 24 turnovers against Auburn and 22 against VCU in the Bahamas, though the Huskies won both games in the end.

"We've got to play better against pressure, guards have to handle the ball better. We just have to be better organized that way," Hurley said.

Though Hurley pointed out his team didn't have much time to practice between games in the Caribbean, now that it's back home it can work on more strategies and spacing for press-breakers.

Some of the Huskies' limitations are based on the way their team is built, of course.

"We are playing bigger. We don't have a lot of like natural, gifted dribblers and ball-handlers and passers," Hurley said.

PRODUCTION LACKING: Hurley made it clear that he expects more from junior forward Akok Akok than what he showed on the recent road trip.

The 6-foot-9 standout from Manchester, New Hampshire, did not score in any of the Huskies' three games.

"He's got to find a way to be more productive," Hurley said. "I think 30 minutes overall on the trip and didn't score. And didn't have much impact defensively or on the backboards."

Akok started against Michigan State when Isaiah Whaley was sidelined and came off the bench in the Huskies' other two games in the Bahamas.

"We need more out of Akok," Hurley said. "We need more out of whoever we're going to bring in behind Isaiah and Adama."

Of course, Hurley pointed out that perhaps it was the setting that didn't agree with Akok.

"I think he went to the Bahamas in high school, a high school tournament when he was at Putnam, I think he played really horrible," Hurley said. "And then he played really horrible on (this) trip. Maybe he should just never go back to the Bahamas."

SLEEPING DOGS: Whaley was held out of the Michigan State game after he passed out just after UConn's double-overtime win over Auburn the day before. He returned to play against VCU but admits he was exhausted upon returning to Connecticut on Saturday.

"It was some of the best sleep I had once I finally got back to my apartment," Whaley said.

Neill covers UConn men's basketball and UConn football teams, and he keeps a finger on the pulse of Connecticut sports. For live game updates, and more insight into UConn athletics, player transfers, and team changes, follow Neill on Twitter: @NeillOstrout, Facebook: JINeillO, and Instagram: @NeillOstrout.