4 Takeaways From No. 5 UConn's 71-63 Win Over Texas

[ad_1] The No. 5 UConn Huskies completed their non-conference slate with a 71-63 win over Texas in Friday night time's sport on FOX.

UConn added one other high quality win to its resume, whereas the Longhorns misplaced their second contest within the final three. Ahead Alex Karaban led the Huskies with 18 factors, giving the redshirt senior his fourth sport this season of 18-plus factors, whereas heart Tarris Reed Jr. returned from a two-game absence and contributed throughout the board.

Listed here are 4 takeaways from UConn's sixth-straight win:

1. Tarris Reed Jr. is the Huskies' MVP

Reed did all of it for UConn on Friday, fulfilling the duties of a steadying paint presence with put up scoring and rim safety. However what makes him invaluable is his versatility on the 5 spot.

The very best UConn groups have massive males which might be expert passers — a la Donovan Clingan — and Reed showcased that trait, dishing a season-high 5 assists. Having a middle who can quarterback the offense opens up every thing for the Huskies' as a result of their half-court units are predicated on an open paint, and bringing the large out to go from the perimeter creates that area inside.

Reed confirmed there's nothing he cannot do, as he posted 12 factors, 5 assists, six rebounds and 4 blocked pictures.

2. UConn could have a guard-play drawback

The one facet of Friday's sport the place Texas had the benefit was its guard play. Tramon Mark and Jordan Pope had their manner, scoring in any respect three ranges, and Simeon Wilcher impacted the sport off the bench.

UConn's guards, in the meantime, struggled to cease the Longhorns and barely contributed to the sport. Silas Demary Jr. completed with two factors, capturing 1-of-5 from the sector, and dedicated 5 turnovers. Malachi Smith took over for his struggling counterpart down the stretch, ending the sport with 9 assists and simply 4 factors.

Head coach Dan Hurley has talked in regards to the guards having so much on their plate by way of initiating the offense, and needing time to adapt to the scheme in every of their first seasons in Storrs. However we're a 3rd of the way in which via the schedule and there are nonetheless obvious points of their confidence and consistency.

3. UConn has a secret weapon in Braylon Mullins

And he may not be a secret for much longer.

The freshman confirmed he is a tricky shot-taker and a tough-shot maker on his method to scoring 10 factors. He began his first sport of the season on Friday, and tailored to the elevated position with ease. Mullins knocked down every of his first three pictures, all of which got here with a hand squarely in his face, or from a number of toes past the 3-point line.

Mullins, the No. 12 recruit within the nation, missed the primary six video games of the season with an ankle damage. He made a right away affect after returning and starred in UConn's win over Kansas on Dec. 2, scoring 17 factors in 23 minutes.

One other jewel of this star-studded freshman class, Mullins presents a singular means not many gamers — not to mention freshmen — possess. He is an elite motion shooter to the purpose the place he is virtually higher capturing off-balance or with a hand in his face. He is the Jordan Hawkins for these Huskies — a participant who can change the sport at any second together with his shot-making means.

4. UConn's non-conference schedule has set it up for fulfillment

After Friday's win, the Huskies ended non-conference play at 10-1, with 4 wins towards Quad 1 opponents. They performed 5 groups ranked contained in the Related Press Prime 25 over the past month, and did so deliberately, as a result of the Massive East is as weak of a convention because it's ever been this season.

UConn solely has 5 extra alternatives to earn Quad 1 wins, so taking part in a robust non-conference schedule, and dealing with enterprise all through it, will go a good distance in buoying the Huskies' resume.

Final season, three of the 4 No. 1 seeds within the NCAA Match had 30 wins or extra; three of the 4 had eight-plus Quad 1 wins. Every of these benchmarks are realistically achievable given the Huskies' remaining schedule, however they would not have been had they determined to play a cupcake non-conference slate. A one-seed may legitimately be on the horizon as a result of UConn trekked via its non-conference schedule and can now be the favourite in all however perhaps considered one of its Massive East video games.

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