{"id":29686,"date":"2023-10-23T16:28:06","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T15:28:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.courant.com\/?p=5938253"},"modified":"2023-10-23T18:18:52","modified_gmt":"2023-10-23T17:18:52","slug":"dan-hurley-evaluates-uconn-mens-secret-scrimmage-vs-virginia-as-season-approaches-quickly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gamefootballmobileanimeiphone.com\/index.php\/2023\/10\/23\/dan-hurley-evaluates-uconn-mens-secret-scrimmage-vs-virginia-as-season-approaches-quickly\/","title":{"rendered":"Dan Hurley evaluates UConn men\u2019s \u2018secret scrimmage\u2019 vs. Virginia as season approaches quickly"},"content":{"rendered":"

AVON \u2014 Dan Hurley<\/a>, like he usually does as the weather starts getting colder, had a familiar nervous energy at the Golf Club of Avon on Monday for the annual Connecticut Basketball Coaches Breakfast, hosted by ESPN’s Seth Greenberg to benefit the Jimmy V Foundation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For Hurley the event, like First Night<\/a> and the team’s not-so-secret weekend trip, was another reminder that the start of the season \u2013 and UConn’s incredibly tough nonconference schedule \u2013 is only a few weeks away.<\/p>\n

The Huskies got an early look at how they stack up, even without star center Donovan Clingan<\/a>, when they played Virginia in a closed-door, “secret scrimmage,” on Saturday. While keeping scores and statistics close to the vest, Hurley said redshirt sophomore forward Alex Karaban<\/a> and freshman guard Stephon Castle<\/a> stood out.<\/p>\n

He also noted it was a “really positive performance” from center Samson Johnson<\/a>, who thrived in a scrimmage with Virginia a year ago. Johnson is expected to fill a critical role alongside Clingan to form a new version of the one-two punch that Clingan and Adama Sanogo provided last season.<\/p>\n

“When you’re hoping to have what we had last year in terms of two guys at that position that don’t give the other team a break, two centers that can really maintain an incredibly high level for you, we feel really good about that,” Hurley said. “I think (Johnson) has greater potential to play with Donovan maybe than we had with Adama and Donovan because of the movement and athleticism.”<\/p>\n

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Hobbled Dan Hurley says he’s coaching UConn men’s basketball team as hard as ever<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n