UConn men begin the long journey home after three straight losses in Hawaii and need to regroup

November 29, 2024, 8:02 p.m. • Last updated: November 29, 2024, 8:03 p.m

UConn center Tarris Reed Jr. (left) is blocked by Memphis center Moussa Cisse during a game at the Maui Invitational on Monday in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Lindsey Wasson/AP Photo)

UConn guard Solo Ball reacts after a basket against Colorado during the second half of play at the Maui Invitational on Tuesday in Lahaina, Hawaii. Colorado won 73-72. (Lindsey Wasson/AP Photo)

UConn returned to campus Thursday night after a long flight from Hawaii still reeling from three straight losses, something not seen since January 2023 at the Maui Invitational.

The Huskies rebounded from the previous mishap that had caused them to lose six of eight games and secure the first of two straight national championships.

You need to get some things in order quickly to avoid falling into a deep crisis in the coming weeks.

They expected some growing pains early in the season after losing four starters to the NBA.

But they never expected to be in this situation.

With an overall score of 4:3, they have already lost as many games as last season (37:3).

“It’s obviously been a humbling journey for a program that has accomplished what we’ve accomplished,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said during his press conference Wednesday after losing to Dayton 85-67 and making the trip to Hawaii without Victory ended. “Right now we are just a shell of what we once were.”

Every solution starts with the team’s weak defense.

All three Maui opponents – Memphis, Colorado and Dayton – shot at least 50% from the field.

This only happened three times in the entire last season, all in defeat.

Given that UConn lost an elite interior defender in Donovan Clingan and an elite perimeter defender in Stephon Castle, both NBA lottery picks, it’s not surprising that there is a decline in this area.

But the Huskies fell far short of the program’s high standards. Especially at the rim, where opposing guards routinely flew past the Huskies.

“We’re a pretty efficient offensive team,” Hurley said. “We missed a lot of free throws. … I think we’ll be fine offensively. Defensively, however, it was a disaster for us here. How many times we just got driven.”

Hurley pointed to a lack of discipline in some of his team’s defensive issues. The Huskies were also prone to fouls. Centers Samson Johnson and Tarris Reed Jr. both fouled out in the first two Maui games.

The Huskies were outscored at the foul line by a total of 38 points in all three games. They were also overtaken by Colorado and Dayton. And it certainly cost them when Hurley lost his temper and received a technical foul in overtime in Monday’s 99-97 loss to Memphis.

Then there’s the matter of the Huskies trying to figure things out on the fly while integrating freshmen and freshmen into the rotation. Roles have changed for everyone on the team and that has been a big change.

“We just looked so young compared to (Dayton),” Hurley said. “Apart from Alex (Karaban) and Samson and Hassan (Diarra), we have a lot of younger players. The older people we’ve brought in, we’re not going to be very successful if we can’t get more out of them.”

Saint Mary’s transfer Aidan Mahaney, who is off to a slow start, has already lost his starting point guard job to Diarra. Reed, a transfer from Michigan, has flashed his potential — 22 points and 11 rebounds against Memphis — but he lacks consistency at this point. He totaled 10 points and 10 rebounds in the next two Maui games.

In terms of good news, Karaban, who went to a Maui hospital for evaluation after sustaining a head injury at the end of the game against Dayton, has been cleared to fly home with his team.

The Huskies have little time to regroup.

Their schedule takes a difficult turn after they host Maryland-Eastern Shore (2-8) at the XL Center in Hartford on Saturday at 7 p.m. Karaban’s playing status is unclear.

They will host Baylor in the Big East-Big 12 Battle in Storrs on Wednesday, visit Texas on December 8th, play Gonzaga at Madison Square Garden in New York on December 14th and then play Xavier in their Big East opener on December 18th entertained in Hartford.

Come Monday, UConn will likely be in free fall out of the Associated Press Top 25 poll after reaching No. 2.

Maybe it’s a good thing UConn got a harsh dose of reality so early in the season.

The Huskies can put aside any talk of a three-peat. They have more pressing challenges to deal with.

“This UConn team that has lost three in a row out here is not the UConn team we were,” Hurley said. “It’s the UConn team we are right now, and I think it’s going to get a lot better. We rely on a lot of young players.

“The burden of wearing the uniform after back-to-back (national championships) seems to be weighing heavily on the group right now. And I think right now we just have to try to focus on becoming a good, tougher team.”

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