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UConn: An SI Breakdown
Sports Illustrated's B.J. Schecter examines the Huskies
Posted: Thursday March 25, 1999 11:17 AM
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Richard Hamilton is a prolific scorer, but his defense will be needed more against Ohio State. AP |
Starting
five
The Huskies have one All-America in swingman Richard Hamilton, who can
score at will. But if UConn is to win its first national title it may be
Hamilton's defense -- on Ohio State's Michael Redd, then Duke's Chris
Carrawell and Corey Maggette -- that will be the difference. Guards
Khalid El-Amin and Ricky Moore both can play the point, but
El-Amin, a sophomore, must be the savvy leader he's been all season. Up front,
Jake Voskuhl is a solid but unspectacular center who has been prone to
commit silly fouls. He needs to stay in the game for the Huskies to make a run
at the title. Likewise, junior power forward Kevin Freeman must be
aggressive offensively to provide the Huskies with another scoring
option.
Bench
This is a strength, as UConn goes 10 deep. Senior guard Rashamel Jones
has experience and a defensive tenacity the Huskies will need to beat Duke.
Edmund Saunders and Souleymane Wane are two big bodies who are
crucial to bolstering UConn's otherwise weak inside game. And sophomore swingman
Albert Mouring, a three-point specialist, is another gun that can beat
you.
Coaching
Jim Calhoun is one of the best in the business and as intense as they
come. He's a whirlwind of emotion and energy; his team feeds off of
that.
Offensive
style
UConn is at its best when it runs and presses. The Huskies are quick and
athletic. Don't try and get into a track meet with them. Few teams can beat
UConn in that type of
game.
Defensive
style
An aggressive man-to-man team which will rarely drop back into a zone. UConn is
quick to help and sag down in the low post and have players athletic enough to
jump out and contest the shot. The Huskies can also press and can quickly take
over a game by doing
so.
How they beat
you
Try and run with them and you're dead. UConn makes you play faster than you want
to and capitalizes on every
mistake.
How they can be
beaten
Force UConn to play a halfcourt game. The Huskies don't like a slower tempo and
lack the inside presence to play this style effectively. Take away fast-break
and transition baskets and UConn is a very beatable
team.
At crunch time,
watch...
Hamilton and El-Amin. The UConn guards are what we call "big-time"
players. They want the ball in their hands in crunch time and aren't afraid to
take the big
shot.
Weak
link
The inside game. Voskuhl does a lot of things, but a scorer is one thing he's
not. He's also prone to foul trouble and if he (or one of UConn's blue-collar
backups) is forced to play a key role the Huskies are in
trouble.
Prediction
The Huskies are good enough to beat Ohio State and advance to the title game,
but will fall just short of knocking off mighty
Duke.
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