UConn opened its exhibition slate by handling Syracuse 72-52, and the early read is pretty clear: the Huskies’ new frontcourt already looks like a problem.
In a game that started slowly, Dan Hurley’s team shook off the rust and gradually took control in its first of three exhibition games. The roster looks very different from the group that played in the national title game in April, but UConn still did what it needed to do against its rival.
The biggest headline came from Na’jai Hines, the Seton Hall transfer who looked every bit like the latest in UConn’s big-man line. He didn’t start and played just 20 minutes, but he still filled it up with 17 points, eight rebounds, three of them offensive, two blocks and a steal.
Syracuse had no answer for him, even with Sadiq White and Tasman Goodrick in the mix. Hines missed a few easy ones and picked up some unnecessary fouls while setting screens, which is hardly shocking for October.
But the overall package stood out: mobility, vertical pop, touch around the rim, a willingness to chase plays and real polish on the block.
There was another newcomer who made a strong first impression, and it’s probably time to stop trying to force a comparison that doesn’t quite fit. Nik Khamenia looked rushed early, at least in the way a player can look when everyone wants him to be the next Alex Karaban.
By the second half, though, he was doing his own thing. The Duke transfer finished with 12 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals, and he also could have had a few more assists.
He was involved in a little bit of everything, from pick-and-roll work to some sharp reads, including a skip pass off a pindown that led to a County three.
Khamenia’s game looked more like a secondary playmaking hub than a stand-in for Karaban. He had an active dribble, attacked with purpose and held up defensively.
He also showed enough strength to handle different matchups, which matters when UConn plans to use him at the four. With the length around him, he doesn’t have to carry the offense alone.
Junior County also gave UConn a lot to like in his first live action. The freshman came off the summer with plenty of buzz, and he backed up the hype with nine points on three threes and seven rebounds in 17 minutes.
He looked composed running a system that asks a lot from its ball-handlers, and he never seemed sped up despite it being his first college minutes. If there was a critique, it was that he almost looked too comfortable at times and a little passive.
That won’t be enough in tougher league games, but for a first outing, he looked ready to handle the backup point guard role.
Oskar Giltay rounded out the story in the frontcourt. The Stanford transfer started and gave UConn a solid 18-minute stint before fouling out.
He finished with four points, two blocks, two rebounds and a steal, and he looked comfortable hedging out on screens while still protecting the rim and rebounding inside. With foul trouble affecting both him and Hines, that could become something to watch.
Still, for a debut in mid-October, Giltay looked more than capable of backing up Hines and giving UConn useful minutes on both ends.
In Other News...
UConns New-Look Roster Showed Something Big After A Shaky Start
UConns new-look group had to settle in after a shaky opening, but the Huskies found their footing quickly enough to turn the night into a comfortable one at Mohegan Sun Arena. Dan Hurleys team beat Gerry McNamaras Syracuse squad 72-52, and the rotation had a little bit of everything the Huskies will need as the season moves along, from energy off the bench to steady production from the younger pieces trying to carve out roles.
Najai Hines gave UConn a major lift, and Nik Khamenia and Silas Demary Jr. also played important parts in a win that felt useful beyond the final score. It was the kind of early-season test that can sharpen a reshaped roster, and it left both programs talking about the possibility of making this matchup a regular part of the schedule down the road. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Hurley Is Pushing To Bring Back A Rivalry UConn Misses
Dan Hurley is trying to give UConn fans something they have not had in a while, a regular-season meeting with Syracuse that carries the edge and history both programs once took for granted. Hurley and Orange coach Gerry McNamara have both talked up the value of the rivalry, and each has made clear that the matchup still means something beyond nostalgia because of the people on the sidelines and the competitive tone it brings.
The renewed interest is about more than preserving an old Big East feel. Both coaches have praised the other sides staff and the standard that comes with these games, which is why the conversation has moved beyond the usual exhibition-type setting and toward something more permanent. For UConn, the appeal is obvious: a familiar heavyweight opponent, a bigger-stage feel, and a chance to revive a series that still has plenty of life left in it. [Read more 🡒]
UConn Freshmen Just Raised The Stakes In A Key Huskies Question
An exhibition game rarely settles anything on its own, but UConn did get a better look at two freshmen who could end up mattering sooner rather than later. Colben Landrew and Junior County both flashed in a win that was defined by the Huskies defense, with Dan Hurley praising the groups overall potential on that end after UConn forced 16 turnovers and held its opponent to 30.6% shooting.
Landrew drew attention with his activity and edge, while County gave the offense a lift with timely shooting that helped the Huskies separate in the second half. For a team always sorting out how new pieces fit around its established identity, that kind of early production only adds another layer to a key question entering the season. [Read more 🡒]