UConn men looking for new leaders with loss of Andre Jackson Jr.
STORRS — The 17 points and eight rebounds per game that Adama Sanogo averaged last season could be made up for by Donovan Clingan, with a little help off the bench from Samson Johnson.
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The 3-point threat from all over the floor provided by Jordan Hawkins and Joey Calcaterra, along with Hawkins’ 16 points per game, can likely be replaced by some combination of Alex Karaban, Tristen Newton, Cam Spencer and maybe a freshman or two.
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But how does the UConn men’s basketball team replace the leadership, intensity and drive of Andre Jackson Jr.? Despite his relatively pedestrian stat lines (6.7 points, 28.1 percent 3-point shooting), Jackson’s void may be the toughest of UConn’s key losses from last year’s championship team to replace.
That’s what coach Dan Hurley learned during an otherwise successful and enjoyable trip to Europe last month.
“We need people to step up that way. It was quiet,” Hurley reported. “The locker room was a lot more quiet, the huddle was a lot more quiet. We became much more of a player-led team as the season wore on last year. And you saw the results of that.”
Perhaps all Hurley needed as a reminder was this past weekend, when Jackson, Sanogo and Calcaterra were back on campus for a few days. Jackson and Calcaterra wanted to participate in practice and scrimmages, but with all three players working towards professional careers, Hurley wouldn’t allow it. No sense risking injury.
Still, their presence was felt.
“Just having Dre’s energy back, Joey’s veteran leadership, Adama helping on the sidelines, too. It’s meaningful, especially for the young guys, to see three national champions,” said Karaban. “It was awesome having them back.”
Indeed, while Jackson provided vocal leadership nonpareil as co-captain with Sanogo, the trio of Sanogo, Hawkins and Calcaterra provided leadership and example of their own.
“I learned what great leaders Andre and Adama were, how important Joey’s personality was, Jordan’s confidence and approach,” Hurley said. “We’ve got to kind of replace those tangible and intangible things.”
So who will Hurley turn to? The new “Big Three” of Newton, Karaban and Clingan.
“I told Tristen, ‘this is your team now,’” Hurley said of Newton, who’s entering his fifth year of college ball and second at UConn. “You’ve got to lead the way. You’ve got to communicate to this group what needs to be done on a daily basis. Donovan, Alex, the same thing. Eventually we’ll ask Cam Spencer to do it, too. But he’s still finding his way here.”
Indeed, Spencer will have to ease his way into a leadership role as a grad transfer from Rutgers.
“The…
Read More: UConn men looking for new leaders with loss of Andre Jackson Jr. 2023-09-12 09:04:52