STORRS – Seven months of celebration followed by preparation will finally culminate when the national championship banner for the UConn men’s basketball team is unveiled on Monday, then a new season tips off minutes later against Northern Arizona.
The Huskies have most of their focus set on the latter – getting back on the court before what figures to be a large and excited crowd, and showing off what the new group is capable of.
“The banner, that’s for the students, that’s for our fans, that’s for the families of the players that are here from last year’s team, but this is a whole new team,” head coach Dan Hurley said Sunday. “We’ve had our banner up (in the practice facility), been looking at it the whole time.”
Donovan Clingan, one of eight returners on this year’s roster, has had his championship ring locked up since he wore it out for his First Night introduction. Alex Karaban had possession of his for just a few hours before sending it home with his parents , back to Southborough, Mass. for safe keeping – he doesn’t even know where they put it.
“Seeing the banner come down will be great, something nice for all of the returners and the new guys to see,” Clingan said, “but I can really take a nice heavy look at it after the game tomorrow if we come out with that victory.”
Clingan, the Huskies’ 7-foot-2 center, is ready to become a star in an increased role as a sophomore. He’s had about a week of practice time since he returned from a foot strain that kept him out for about a month. He will be available for Monday’s game, Hurley said, though he wasn’t ready to say whether Clingan will start or if it will be Samson Johnson, the backup who impressed during closed-door scrimmages.
“Just listening to the doctors and you just trust that he feels great, that the foot is a non-issue and now it’s about the cardio and just managing him, making sure he’s able to go,” Hurley said.
“Physically he’s looked great, obviously he’s a game changer. I think something that we’ve struggled with (is) rim defense, both internally and in the closed stuff, so (having him) definitely changes things at that end of the court. Offensively too, he can help you in so many ways. It’s surprising, but the game comes easy to Donovan, it’s just about conditioning and rust.”
What does Hurley want to accomplish Monday?
“Just winning and establishing our identity with this team. And show the work that we’ve put in since June and just how hard we’ve worked, how our focus has been on this opener and playing a good mid-major team with shooting and good frontcourt players,” he said.
Northern Arizona, after going 9-22 in the regular season last year and making a run to the Big Sky tournament championship, was picked to finish eighth in its conference. The Lumberjacks return 6 foot 8 forward Carson Towt, who averaged 10.1 points and 7.8 rebounds last season, and former Central Connecticut State guard Trent McLaughlin, who shot close to 40% from 3-point range a season ago.
Tim Russo, a graduate assistant at UConn last year from New Canaan, has joined the NAU staff as an assistant coach.
“It’s so different when you put on a UConn jersey in front of all the fans, so I think it’s gonna be super important, especially for the new guys, just to see how Gampel is. It’s definitely a whole different experience compared to high school or for Cam (Spencer) too, so I think really just getting the butterflies out and really just getting out there,” Karaban said. “And then the team chemistry, these games officially matter now, so just being locked and super competitive on that end.”
Clingan at quarterback?
Now that he’s healthy, Clingan is set to become the first option in a one-two punch with Samson Johnson. He has made himself known as a lob threat and an elite rim protector, and Hurley expects his role in the offense to be different than Adama Sanogo’s was last year.
“You could use him in the paint as a post-up player, you could also play him out in space like a 7-2 quarterback,” Hurley said. “Because he can really pass and he’s really good in the ball-screen game. And he runs and he rolls, I think he’s a really versatile offensive player.”
Chemistry in the backcourt
Returning point guard Tristen Newton and freshman Stephon Castle have developed a relationship that extends off the court. As Castle, a highly touted freshman and a projected lottery pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, makes his transition from high school to college, it has been helpful that he has fifth-year players like Newton and Spencer alongside him in the backcourt.
“He’s a cool dude, so whenever we’re not in (the practice facility) we’re together outside of the gym too, so on the court is good but off the court is special too. So we’re gonna be good together,” Newton said.
“Just having Cam and Tristen with a freshman is comforting, just to really try to help with the growth and the growing pains,” Hurley added. “Steph’s really talented and those guys are real veterans, so that’s like having a couple big brothers out there with you.”
First 2,500 fans inside Gampel Monday get a FREE rally towel
pic.twitter.com/MUGpPappLQ
— UConn Men's Basketball (@UConnMBB) November 4, 2023
Opening night festivities
The first 2,500 fans inside Gampel Pavilion on Monday will receive a free commemorative national championship banner rally towel. With doors opening at 5 p.m., UConn asks fans to be in their seats by 6 p.m. so they don’t miss the start of the pregame ceremony, when the 2023 banner will be unveiled. There will be a one-of-a-kind, synchronized drone show beginning outside 15 minutes after the final buzzer.
Site: Gampel Pavilion, Storrs
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Series: First ever meeting
TV: FS1/Fox Sports app – John Fanta, Donny Marshall
Streaming: Fox Sports app or foxsports.com
Radio: UConn Sports Network on 97.9 ESPN – Mike Crispino, Wayne Norman
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