STORRS, Conn. — As January comes to a close, the UConn Huskies, the two-time reigning national champions, are eager to put the month behind them. This January marked a significant turn of events compared to the previous season, as the Huskies not only remained undefeated throughout the month but also never fell behind by ten points in any of their eight contests.
The contrast to last year couldn’t be more pronounced. The team, which saw four of its key starters move on to the 2024 NBA Draft, struggled through a challenging January this season, especially with the notable absence of promising freshman Liam McNeeley due to injury. In a memorable home game against a Butler team that had recorded only a single Big East victory, No. 19 UConn required overtime to secure the win. Just days later, they faced DePaul, a team that had recently ended a staggering 39-game conference regular-season losing streak. The Huskies had to rally from a 14-point deficit before finally clinching an 11-point victory.
This month’s performance highlighted the resilience the Huskies displayed, trailing by double digits in four of those seven meetings. Even their five victories felt like hard-earned battles rather than routine wins.
“It is stressful to play at UConn,” commented head coach Dan Hurley. “Alex (Karaban), Samson (Johnson), Hassan (Diarra), Solo (Ball), Jaylin (Stewart), and Jayden (Ross) are unaccustomed to this level of competition; they’ve known dominance in their previous seasons. The pressure of playing here can be different, even for Tarris (Reed Jr.) and Aidan (Mahaney), who are relatively new to our culture.”
A pivotal moment for UConn appeared during the game against DePaul on Jan. 29, particularly late in both halves. The momentum gained during that game seemed to transform the team, propelling them to perform at a level reminiscent of a national title contender in their subsequent matchup at Marquette.
Ball expressed the importance of this shift, stating, “Working closely as a team changed the dynamics of the game for us. Despite being down 14 points, we managed to flip the script and won by 11. The last 26 minutes were a showcase of true UConn basketball.”
In their subsequent game in February, they showcased more of their trademark style by earning a victory against Marquette, a top-ten team at the time. However, even amidst this triumph, the Huskies’ vulnerabilities were laid bare, as they recorded 25 turnovers and allowed their opponent to claim 17 offensive rebounds. Ball delivered an impressive performance, scoring a career-high 25 points while the team shot remarkably well, finishing at 59% overall and 63% from beyond the arc in a 77-69 victory.
Hurley acknowledged the mixed signals of this performance, noting, “Our shooting was outstanding, but we had periods of the game where we lacked the needed urgency. This has been a recurring issue for us all season. I am proud of our victory but we’re not displaying the tenacity that previous championship teams showed. Thankfully, Solo had a phenomenal shooting night, and Alex came through with a late bucket.”
Reflecting on the departure of notable players such as Stephon Castle, Donovan Clingan, Tristen Newton, and Cam Spencer, Hurley anticipated difficulties ahead but didn’t expect the challenges to be as substantial as they turned out to be.
“The challenge we’re tackling is monumental,” Hurley stated. “Historically, teams returning from national championships return with their star players intact. Our success last year, winning back-to-back titles with only two returning starters, was unprecedented. Now we’re attempting something entirely new, which will undoubtedly be a struggle.”
The return of Liam McNeeley could play a crucial role as UConn prepares for an upcoming home game against No. 12 St. John’s. Hurley expressed optimism about McNeeley’s impact, saying, “When he’s been on the court with us, we’ve played at a top-12 level. His absence has created significant challenges that we’re still trying to navigate. We just need to find a way to keep fighting until we are whole again.”
With several players, including point guard Diarra and McNeeley, having had extra time to recover following their game with Marquette, the Huskies hope to carry forward the momentum of their season. Last year, they faced a similar rocky patch in January but rallied to secure the national title. Time will reveal if they can replicate that success once more.
