UConn head coach Dan Hurley insists he’s not overvaluing Wednesday night’s game between his 25th-ranked Huskies and No. 15 Baylor in Storrs, Conn.
Sure, it comes on the heels of the two-time reigning national champion Huskies (5-3) responding to losing all three games during the Maui Invitational with a blowout victory over Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday.
UConn, which had won 17 consecutive games entering the Maui tournament, fell 23 spots from No. 2 to nearly out of the Associated Press Top 25 poll released Monday.
“I think it’s such a long season and we’re eight games in,” Hurley said when asked about facing the Bears. “Our performance in Maui shocked the college basketball world and the sports world, and obviously a lot went on there.”
“I don’t think it’s a must-win game in Game Nine of the season, but it’s an opportunity to play in Gampel (Pavilion), where we play great and are very comfortable, and we know we’re gonna have a great crowd.”
“We also know we’re playing a top-level team, so it’s a big game for us and it’s a big game for them.”
Wednesday’s game signifies the start of a tough stretch in UConn’s schedule. The Huskies will visit Texas on Sunday and challenge No. 7 Gonzaga in New York on Dec. 14 before beginning Big East play on Dec. 18 against Xavier, which fell from No. 22 to out of the poll on Monday.
But let’s go back to Saturday’s 99-45 dismantling of the Hawks. Jaylin Stewart started in place of the injured Alex Karaban (head) and joined Liam McNeeley by scoring 16 points to put UConn back in the win column.
Solo Ball contributed 12 points, Aidan Mahaney had 11 and Tarris Reed Jr. (10 points, 12 rebounds) and Jayden Ross (10 points, 10 rebounds) each recorded a double-double.
“This experience they’re getting, (Stewart), Jayden Ross, Solo Ball, these guys are going to keep getting better and better,” Hurley said. “Jaylin Stewart has flashed. That Memphis game (in which he scored 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting), he flashed a lot in that one.
“… These sophomores are just going to keep getting better and better. That’s why I do think we do need the grace and support of our people here at UConn. Because they’re going to be such different players in January and February.”
Coming off a split in the Bahamas, Baylor (5-2) bounced back from a 77-62 setback to then-No. 11 Tennessee on Nov. 22 with a decisive 91-60 victory over New Orleans last Wednesday.
“I know we’re all a little tired,” Bears coach Scott Drew said. “Whenever you come back from the Bahamas and a trip like that, the first game, you can be playing in mud. And I think the guys did a pretty good job, for the most part.”
Jayden Nunn drained six of his seven 3-pointers in the first half and finished with a season-high 23 points to power Baylor past the Privateers.
Robert Wright III scored 18 points, Jeremy Roach had 17 and Miami transfer Norchad Omier recorded his third consecutive double-double after finishing with 12 points and a season-high 13 rebounds.
–Field Level Media
