Notes & Quotes: UConn over Butler
WATCH MORE POST-GAME INTERVIEWS, INCLUDING AKOK AKOK AFTER HIS SEASON DEBUT, HERE!
James Bouknight wasn't playing but Tyler Polley gave the UConn Huskies a spark off the bench with 19 points as UConn won its third straight game, defeating Butler, 72-60, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
UConn (6-1, 3-1 Big East) controlled the course of play throughout, despite some defensive lapses and turnover problems in the first half. The Huskies arguably should have been leading by more than five at the break given their hot shooting, but they did a great job of coming out strong in the second half to lock up the win. They maintained control in a comfortable victory while getting strong contributions from Isaiah Whaley (9 pts, 3 reb., 3 blk) and Tyrese Martin (15 pts, 7 reb, 3 asst) as well.
The Huskies were also buoyed by the return of Akok Akok from a season-ending injury last February. He only played a few minutes, but his dunk gave the Huskies a jolt of energy right after he checked in. Brendan Adams also earned praise from his head coach for his play on both sides of the court.
It was a strong overall performance for the Huskies, who shot slightly worse than Butler from the field but much better from three and also held a +7% advantage in offensive and defensive rebounding percentage.
"Any time you can play like that on the road and in-conference, is obviously important," head coach Dan Hurley said after the game. He added that with Bouknight out he was pleased to see his team demonstrate a "winning style of basketball" that was indicative of progress for the program.
Here's a closer look at the Huskies' performance.
WHAT WENT WELL
Polley Stays Hot: After leading the Huskies to victory in the comeback win over Marquette, the senior forward hit his first four threes on his way to 19 points as he finished 5-of-8 (53%) from deep. Returning from an injury relatively recently himself, Polley has embraced his role as the instant offense off the bench.
Head coach Dan Hurley: "We had some conversations before and then since he's been back about just, 'You know, you've got the ultimate green light, if you could get it off.' ... If he can get it off, he probably should shoot it."
Tyler Polley: "I've embraced it, I've embraced my role on the team. Just to be that hot hand, just come out firing off the bench. I love it, can't ask for anything more. I feel like it's less pressure on me. I'm just going out there shooting. So, I love my role right now."
Akok Akok Returns: Hurley played coy when asked about the timeline of Akok's return, but the redshirt sophomore made his season debut Saturday. He played just six minutes and scored two points, but it was a welcome sight for Akok, his coaches and teammates, and Husky fans. Hurley said it will be a balancing act to work Akok into the lineup given the available talent in the frontcourt for UConn.
Hurley: "Being welcomed back was was a nice lift for everyone and the dunk that he got there was a play that charged everybody up. ... There's rust there to throw a guy who hasn't played and basically a year, who's recovered from an injury of that magnitude ... we've got a real balancing act right now because we need him on the court more."
Akok Akok: "It was a great moment for my career, a special day I've been waiting for this for a long time. A lot of nerves in the air, first game back." He later added "I feel like I'm 100%, I just gotta get more games under me."
Polley: "It was amazing to see Akok come back. I was so happy for him, he got that dunk, I was lit. ... I just can't wait to continue playing with him."
Whaley the Key Player: After emerging late last season, Isaiah Whaley appears to be a critical piece of the Huskies' success this season. He makes plays all over the court, and everything he does appears to be additive or in the flow of the game -- he's never forcing it. He is also fierce defensively, blocking three shots on Saturday afternoon as well.
Hurley: "The nine points doesn't really tell the story of his impact."
No Bouk, No Problem: One might excuse the Huskies if they stumbled a little bit in this one, it's happened against all kinds of teams already in this weird season. With James Bouknight out due to injury, a number of different guys stepped up to contribute to the victory effort. Tyrese Martin bounced back from a disappointing performance against Marquette to give the Huskies 15 points and seven rebounds.
Hurley: "James is one of the best players in the country... his loss is only gonna be filled... with the strength of who we are, which is we've got depth. We've got a lot of guys that can step up and do it on a given night." Hurley said Tyler Polley and Tyrese Martin shined offensively.
Hurley on Brendan Adams: "Quietly had a good game," later adding "if we don't get that from Brendan today, we don't win ... He was like a mature older player that was opportunistic on offense and just was rock-solid."
Hurley on Martin: "[His performance] shows to me a lot of mental toughness too, because you know he could have went in the tank today, coming off the Marquette game ... He showed that he could be a really important guy in the program."
WHAT NEEDS WORK
Early Turnovers: Ten of the Huskies' 12 turnovers came in the first half. As we have seen for stretches across various games this season, UConn is bound to have its cold streaks, either because shots don't fall or bad ball movement and shot selection. Surely Hurley will be working to fix the latter over the course of the season. Hitting ten three-pointers always helps, but UConn needs to be tighter overall, especially on the boards and defensively, to beat the better teams on the schedule.
MISC. NOTES
Hurley gave no specific timetable for Bouknight's return. ... The Huskies are now ranked 21st in KenPom, and may see itself ranked in the AP and Coaches' polls heading into its next game, for the first time since 2016. ... RJ Cole had a solid performance with 7 points and 7 rebounds on 3-of-9 shooting with 2 assists. ... Freshman Adama Sanogo had a solid 4 points and 4 rebounds in 9 minutes. ... This road game was the Huskies first contest of the season to have fans in the arena. Tyler Polley said it did contribute to a more exciting environment for him and his teammates.
NEXT UP
The Huskies' next scheduled game is on Monday, Jan. 11 at DePaul, the matchup will take place at Wintrust Arena and will be televised on FS1 at 6 p.m. ET.
