UConn Men’s Basketball Team Prepares for Maui Invitational

STORRS – Dan Hurley, head coach of the University of Connecticut‘s men’s basketball team, does not anticipate that his second-ranked team will be fully refined by the time they arrive in Maui this weekend. However, the initial four games, which the Huskies have won by an average margin of 38.7 points, have provided the team with constructive insights.

«I think we’ll be tinkering for a while,» Hurley stated on Monday evening before the team hosted East Texas A&M in their final preparation ahead of the Maui Invitational. «There are many new players. There have been some pleasant surprises, some players we need to motivate, and as a coach, you never really know who will perform until you’re in challenging games.»

Hurley expressed satisfaction with the early schedule, which has been one of the easiest in the nation thus far, ensuring some level of success before more challenging encounters. The Huskies currently stand third in both offensive and defensive efficiency, according to national metrics.

Their opponents, the East Texas A&M Lions, are ranked 352 out of the 364 Division I programs. The Lions, under the guidance of their eighth-year head coach who has prior affiliations with the University of Hartford, commenced their season with setbacks against noteworthy teams such as Iowa and South Dakota.

Addressing the upcoming game strategy, Hurley noted, «This game is unique because they [the Lions] switch both on-ball and off-ball. It’s unconventional, and you need specific preparations for that style of defense.» The Huskies aim to approach each game with a strategy Hurley describes as «bulletproof basketball.»

Looking ahead, the Maui Invitational presents a higher level of competition, beginning with Memphis and potentially including tests against Colorado or Michigan State. Post-event, UConn faces significant challenges including matchups against No. 13 Baylor, Texas, and No. 3 Gonzaga.

Players such as Alex Karaban, a three-year starter for UConn, echoed Hurley’s sentiments on lineup flexibility. «Lineup changes happen. We’ve seen them in the past, and it’s still early. I think there’s always an opportunity to adapt and adjust,» Karaban remarked.

In terms of player development, Hurley highlighted improvements at the center position, where players like Samson and Tarris have shown promise. However, he emphasized the need for better coordination between the guards and center players to maximize scoring opportunities.

«Our biggest concern right now is obtaining quality performance from our primary handlers like Hassan [Diarra] or Aidan [Mahaney],» Hurley noted. Addressing these issues, Hurley dedicated a portion of recent game reviews to enhancing collaboration between guards and centers.

UConn aims to consolidate their performance and further refine strategies as they continue through the season. The game against East Texas A&M, taking place at Gampel Pavilion, marks a step in this continuous development.