PROVIDENCE – The UConn men’s basketball team appears to be rounding into form at the best possible time.
Nothing else matters once the calendar turns to March, and this year’s team – however disappointing its season has been at times – is tapping into the program’s resounding past success in the month for confidence. Only losing one game in the month of madness over the past two national championship seasons, the Huskies started it off on the right foot with a 75-63 win at Providence on Saturday, their second decisive victory in a row.
“I think we really have a great chance of raising our ceiling,” said captain Alex Karaban, the only returning starter from both championship teams. “The past is the past and we can’t let previous losses affect us or previous wins define us. We’ve got to continue to gain momentum and really, as long as you’re playing your best basketball in March and April, then anything can happen.”
Tarris Reed Jr.’s dominant double-double leads UConn men’s basketball to 75-63 road win at Providence
Karaban had 17 points in a steady effort Saturday, making two of his four shots from beyond the arc and a number of additional winning plays as he finished plus-15 for the game. Tarris Reed Jr. recorded career highs in points (24), rebounds (18) and blocks (6) as he paced the team to its decisive victory.
Just two weeks removed from an embarrassing loss at Seton Hall, the Huskies looked and sounded like a team ready to go on a run Saturday.
“We’ve seen crazier things happen in college basketball. You’ve got a little bit of swagger at UConn when you play in March, so I think our best basketball is yet to come,” Karaban said.
Coach Dan Hurley has said that this team is only going to go as far as Karaban takes it.
“If your best players don’t play well for you or if your best players are hurt, you’re cooked,” Hurley said. “Alex, I think he’s convinced that March is a special time for UConn and he’s about to get hot.”
UConn was projected by most major “bracketologists” to get a No. 8 or a No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament come Selection Sunday March 16.
“We’ve been successful in March and you can see it in guys like me, Alex, Samson (Johnson), Solo (Ball), we’ve got that swagger,” point guard Hassan Diarra said. “It’s here, let’s go.”
Sanogo-esque performance from Reed
Reed has watched film of 2023 Final Four Most Outstanding Player Adama Sanogo to improve and simplify his game for some time now. His dominant performance on Saturday reflected the automatic nature of the former UConn great.
“You definitely saw flashes of Adama for sure,” Karaban said. “Offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, the tough finishes, being physical and then the blocked shots – I think that’s always something underrated about ‘Dama. But yeah, there was definitely some ‘Dama in there. Minus the 3s, we’re not letting Tarris shoot 3s yet. Not yet.”
Quick hits
Abdou Toure, a class of 2026 prospect from Notre Dame West Haven, was in attendance on Saturday. He holds scholarship offers from both UConn and Providence. … Boston Celtics guard Derrick White was also in the building, sitting along the baseline. He has a connection with Providence coach Kim English from their respective years at Colorado. … Saturday’s 14-point performance from Solo Ball marked his 20th game this season with at least three 3-pointers made. … Liam McNeeley has recorded double-figure points (14 on Saturday) in all seven games since he returned from his high ankle sprain. … UConn swept its regular season series with Providence for the second year in a row.
