Dan Hurley Anticipates Breakout Season for Junior Guard

Because the No. 5 UConn Huskies will get set for one more recreation at Madison Sq. Backyard, Dan Hurley had some attention-grabbing issues to say. Maybe, as a result of this subsequent matchup is in opposition to the Florida Gators. The Huskies final performed in opposition to the Gators in March, ending in a 75-77 loss for the Huskies. Nevertheless, this time round, the Huskies are transferring in another way and are sitting on an 8-1 report.

And Hurley made it clear that he expects Solo Ball to flip the swap this time. Final season, Ball buried 99 threes and shot over 41 p.c from deep, a breakout that turned him right into a cornerstone of UConn’s perimeter assault.

Nevertheless, this yr, the early numbers haven’t been as type. Ball’s three-point common sits beneath 30 p.c by 9 video games and has made solely 17 threes. That statistical dip that makes the optimism from Hurley all of the extra intriguing and intentional.

As Hurley places it, “I believe if you’re taking a look at three-point numbers, in the event you take a look at Boogie Fland or (Xavian) Lee or Solo Ball, they’re not capturing the three on the stage they’ve all through their careers. You’re simply ready for these numbers to return again nearer to the imply. I’d say for us, relative to Solo, he’s going to finish up having to protect a type of two guys.”

Hurley just isn’t mistaken. Florida’s star gamers, Boogie Fland and Xavian Lee, haven’t hit their profession norms from deep both. Then once more, it is just December. Nevertheless, to make it extra attention-grabbing, Ball will probably be guarding one of many two. Florida’s perimeter play has been quick and relentless, even in a 5–3 begin that’s come in opposition to a brutal schedule.

Fland is averaging 12.5 per recreation, Lee continues to evolve as a creator whereas averaging 8.4 factors and 4.8 rebounds. Collectively, they are going to check UConn’s point-of-attack protection. The Jimmy V Traditional returns UConn to its unofficial second residence, aka Madison Sq. Backyard, the place Hurley is 16–8 total and 6–2 in non-conference regular-season video games.

Moreover, it is a rivalry that carries weight. In reality, Ball himself, not so way back, weighed in too.

“The rematch with Florida is circled on my calendar. I didn’t play the best way I wished to,” he mentioned.

Now, Hurley appears to suppose that Ball is on the verge of residing as much as his phrases.

“I believe Solo goes to get scorching, and his three-point numbers, when it’s all mentioned and carried out, are going to appear to be they did final yr by the tip of the season,” Hurley mentioned. And if he doesn’t, the Huskies should lean on one thing else totally.

Dan Hurley Turns to Silas Demary Jr. and Solo Ball to Anchor UConn’s Defensive Edge

If the offense has taken time to sync, the protection has arrived early.

“The largest space that has allowed our workforce to achieve success this yr is the defensive enchancment of the workforce. Plenty of that has to do with Silas, and lots of that has to do with among the returning guys changing into higher defenders than they had been final yr. They went from not-good defensive gamers to being common, above-average, even fairly good defenders,” Hurley mentioned.

The stats again him up. UConn holds opponents to 60.4 factors per recreation, sits top-20 nationally in field-goal protection at 37.4% and three-point protection is at 26.8%. They pressure practically 14 turnovers per night time.

The Huskies’ assist-to-turnover ratio sits at 1.9, and their scoring margin of +19.7 is constructed on rotations and perimeter strain slightly than pure offensive firepower. Silas Demary Jr. has performed an enormous function in creating these numbers.

Demary Jr. has been the guard who retains UConn’s protection glued collectively. He’s already logged a number of video games with 3+ steals, grabbed 5–10 rebounds in a number of others, and constantly blows up units earlier than they begin. And Hurley just isn’t blind to the numbers or manufacturing of the workforce.

“The distinction with Solo, and the distinction with our workforce, is that we’re bringing a protection to the court docket that may maintain us when we have now off capturing nights. And once we’re enjoying in opposition to one other actually good protection, we are able to win a recreation with our protection. Final yr, we might actually by no means win a recreation with our protection. Right here, our protection reveals up,” Hurley added.

Within the win over East Texas A&M, UConn allowed simply 38.9 p.c from the sphere, turned turnovers into 18 factors, and shredded the paint battle 58–22. Evidently, UConn now not wants Ball to be excellent from deep to win, but when he does warmth up the best way Hurley expects, the Huskies shift from harmful to devastating.

And with Florida ready below the Midtown lights, that shift may arrive proper on time.

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