The UConn Blog - 2022 Men’s NCAA TournamentEscalators are for cowards.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49593/uconn-fav.png2022-03-23T08:31:00-04:00http://www.theuconnblog.com/rss/stream/227408582022-03-23T08:31:00-04:002022-03-23T08:31:00-04:00What went wrong in UConn men’s basketball’s loss to New Mexico State
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament First Round - New Mexico State vs Connecticut" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JNoIv9VKW3iRlNnIXBcVyRJtqzk=/0x0:3976x2651/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70660872/usa_today_17916788.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>After NMSU’s clunker against Arkansas, questions are being asked about UConn’s game-plan for Teddy Allen</p> <p id="jdVEFH">Its time to rip off the <a href="https://www.theuconnblog.com/2022/3/20/22987713/the-uconn-pod-huskies-mens-basketball-basketball-blues">Band-Aid.</a> The UConn men’s basketball team was stunned by <a href="https://www.theuconnblog.com/2022/3/17/22983972/ncaa-tournament-uconn-huskies-mens-basketballs-season-ends-in-loss-to-new-mexico-state">New Mexico State</a> on the first day of the NCAA tournament. The Aggies abruptly halted a Husky team that many saw as a dangerous out and potential second-weekend matchup vs. Gonzaga. It’s been nearly a week, and I finally was comfortable cracking open the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSJA4pFjd8c">extended highlights</a>.</p>
<aside id="BKPAs6"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"NCAA Tournament: UConn men’s basketball’s season ends in loss to New Mexico State","url":"https://www.theuconnblog.com/2022/3/17/22983972/ncaa-tournament-uconn-huskies-mens-basketballs-season-ends-in-loss-to-new-mexico-state"}]}'></div></aside><p id="RnYkHZ"><strong>**Proceed with caution if you have a sensitive stomach.</strong></p>
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<p id="POimiC"><a href="https://www.theuconnblog.com/2022/3/16/22981248/uconn-huskies-mens-basketball-cant-let-new-mexico-state-aggies-teddy-allen-buckets-become-a-thing"><strong>I Told You So</strong></a></p>
<p id="AkIiM5">Husky fans all weekend were left wondering what on earth just happened. Well, Teddy Buckets happened, and some poor scribe has never felt so bad about being so right. </p>
<p id="TkHOGg">Teddy Allen torched UConn for 37 points, went 13-13 from the charity stripe, and hit contested shot after contested shot every time the Huskies made a run.</p>
<p id="BhkCTH">After an 0-6 start in the first half, four out of his next six baskets were off-balance fadeaways. In the second half, UConn’s closeouts were so frenetic that it threw the entirely defense out of sequence and opened up acres of space for the Aggies.</p>
<p id="mZakjE">Hindsight is 20-20, but you can’t help but wonder how Allen would have done if Isaiah Whaley, UConn’s best defender, took some turns on defense. The 6-foot-9 Whaley has three inches on Allen, who is 6-foot-6, and it would at least have made some of those step-backs even harder. </p>
<p id="JOfH7r"><strong>Outliers, Outliers Everywhere</strong></p>
<p id="ZMUqlM">New Mexico State shot an absurd 11-17 from three, 64.7%. For context, the Aggies were 11-25 against Davidson, what then was their best win of the season. Aggies not nicknamed ‘Buckets’ shot seven of 10 from downtown. Sir’Jabari Rice shoots 33.5% from downtown and went three of six. Johnny McCants hit one and is a sub 25% shooter from outside the arc.</p>
<p id="1wQNRe">The Huskies were 10th out of 11 Big East teams in 3-point field goal percentage allowed (36.1%). But New Mexico State wasn’t your prototypical mid-major team that <a href="https://www.theuconnblog.com/2022/3/16/22976658/top-storylines-uconn-huskies-mens-basketball-2022-ncaa-tournament-opener-against-new-mexico-state">shoots the lights out</a>; their three-point percentage for the year was 32.7%, seventh in the WAC. </p>
<p id="i0NWT6"><strong>In-Game Adjustments</strong></p>
<p id="E6kGSV">The most painful part of the whole weekend was the clunker Teddy and company put up against Arkansas. The Aggies shot 6-26 from three, while Allen was held to just 12 points. New Mexico State certainly caught lightning in a bottle against UConn and you can’t “scheme” for that. But, was everything truly done to prevent the chances of a Bucket fest?</p>
<p id="XpWJqE">Check out these <a href="https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401408606">post-game quotes</a> from Razorbacks head coach Eric Musselman about defending Allen. “Musselman referred to the notes he kept when it came to guarding Bryant, the late Los Angeles Lakers star. ‘I didn’t know if a college team was going to be able to do that,” Musselman said.</p>
<p id="5BAqiO">“Tonight’s scheme was a little bit more complicated than we’ve had,” he added. “I was worried about it today at the team meal even as late as 4 p.m. Did we try to squeeze too much in? When you demand a lot, it’s amazing what people can retain.” The Razorbacks pressured Allen each time he got the ball, and then kept him guessing as to when they would send the double-team.</p>
<p id="y9W5Es">It’s not like Arkansas had the better personnel to defend Allen either. Tyrese Martin and Andre Jackson played good, if not great, defense. You can’t fault Hurley’s staff in betting on that matchup. But to be truly elite in win-or-go-home situations, there has to be a contingency plan in place that isn’t simply “defend harder.”</p>
<p id="yJSBgp">Maybe you roll with Martin and Jackson on Allen to start the game and see how the matchup goes. But then you see all these ridiculous shots he’s hitting and have to think of something different to prevent the ball from getting into his hands. Coming out of the second half, you throw double-teams at him, deny him, and do anything to let anyone else beat you but Teddy Buckets. </p>
<p id="7K8jzk">Instead, it seemed like UConn was expecting its defensive identity to eventually take control of the matchup and a few of those circus shots to eventually clang out.</p>
<p id="7SSORw">But you can’t risk a season on an in-game regression to the mean. You have to adapt when things hit the fan. That sort of in-game adjustment has evaded the Dan Hurley era in Storrs. That’s certainly not an indictment on his program-building, the culture he’s created, or his recruiting efforts. However, evidence is mounting that it could be what’s preventing a good program from returning to blue-blood status. </p>
<p id="Zk6965"><strong>Adama’s Next Step</strong></p>
<p id="SJZsww">Adama Sanogo has to make some strides next year as a rim protector. All of the emphasis earlier in the season about staying out of foul trouble has dulled his decision making and aggressiveness on defense. He got lost on a few backscreens and clearouts in the lane, and still seems unsure on his positioning when a big man steps out of the paint. </p>
<p id="GzYJca">Without defensive savant Whaley, Sanogo will need either to be paired with a shot-blocking presence (Akok Akok anyone?), or work on his side-to-side mobility to better patrol the paint. But remember; he’s supposed to only be a freshman at this point in terms of his age, and his work ethic is critically acclaimed by the coaching staff. He’ll figure it out. </p>
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https://www.theuconnblog.com/2022/3/23/22989036/what-went-wrong-in-uconn-huskies-mens-basketballs-loss-to-new-mexico-state-aggiesPatrickMartin2022-03-17T21:32:05-04:002022-03-17T21:32:05-04:00NCAA Tournament: UConn men’s basketball’s season ends in loss to New Mexico State
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<img alt="New Mexico State v UConn" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rkH1OivrbKZlhVnn92gWLHRUsuM=/0x0:5400x3600/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70638837/1386085990.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Elsa/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Huskies couldn’t dig themselves out of a 14-point hole in the second half.</p> <p id="kXbC0T">UConn men’s basketball has had its season ended in the first round of the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season, as No. 12 New Mexico State upset the No. 5 Huskies 70-63 in Buffalo.</p>
<p id="z6hwAX">RJ Cole led the way for UConn with 20 points, while Adama Sanogo had 10 points and eight rebounds.</p>
<p id="xbRZsG">Both offenses were brutal to start. At the under-12 minute media timeout, UConn was 3-11 from the field and New Mexico State was 2-14, which resulted in a 6-5 scoreline.</p>
<p id="gBRxo1">While the Huskies were struggling to make shots, their defense was smothering. Teddy Allen, New Mexico State’s do-it-all guard, was 0-6 during this stretch and the Aggies were unable to get anything going, taking forced shots at the end of the shot clock.</p>
<p id="v8lbu6">However, the 6-foot-6 junior woke up. </p>
<p id="1KTmLm">Allen got onto the scoresheet with 9:41 to go, then he hit another on New Mexico State’s ensuing possession. That was all he needed as he converted on five straight baskets to end the first 20 minutes, finishing the half with 14 points, four rebounds and two assists — all of which were team highs.</p>
<p id="KrYLSE">“We wanted him to take tough shots,” Tyrese Martin said. “He just happened to take more tough shots than he missed tonight.”</p>
<p id="6FMmjx">On the other side, the Huskies didn’t have anyone to match Allen’s performance. Tyler Polley hit a pair of 3-pointers but Sanogo, Cole and Martin were a combined 3-13 from the field, including a scoreless half from Martin. UConn had seven assists in the first half, but it was on only nine field goals.</p>
<p id="FDaCyf">New Mexico State finished on a 12-2 run to end the first half which put UConn in trouble, trailing 32-22 heading into the break. The Huskies, one of the country’s elite rebounding teams, were beat 17-11 on the boards with only one offensive rebound in the opening 20 minutes.</p>
<p id="57MxWj">The Huskies got the ball to start the second half after losing the opening tip-off and Sanogo hit a floater in the lane but after back-to-back 3-pointers from the Aggies, Hurley took a timeout with 18:12 to go in the half and his team trailing by 14.</p>
<p id="EMvGRv">UConn got the message as Cole and Isaiah Whaley each hit long shots of their own to bring it back to eight. Allen’s streak of consecutive makes snapped at seven and after Martin got on the scoresheet with a free-throw, the Huskies’ deficit was back to seven on a 9-2 run.</p>
<p id="okGmjY">The Huskies continued to look better offensively and got within four points after a second flop warning resulting in a technical free throw with 12:28 remaining. That would be the closest Hurley’s team would come to re-taking the lead, which they last held at 16-15, until RJ Cole converted on a 3-pointer from the wing with 8:04 left, bringing his team back to within one.</p>
<p id="7Kxdug">Cole rebounded well from a first half that left a lot to be desired, grabbing 18 points on 6-11 shooting.</p>
<p id="Nxz6pY">The 14-point comeback was completed with 5:08 to go, as Martin hit a pair of free-throws to tie the game, the first time proceedings were even since it was a 20-20 ballgame.</p>
<p id="qMVcHL">“We fight. I wouldn’t want to go to war without any one of those guys that were out there with me today, even the ones that didn’t get in the game,” Martin said.</p>
<p id="FDAThx">However, the Huskies were never able to take the lead. UConn tied it a second time with 2:06 remaining, but Allen took over. The Aggies’ star had 15 of his 37 points in the final five minutes of the game, hitting nine free-throws and converting on both of his field-goal attempts.</p>
<p id="QP8vtu">UConn finishes with a 23-10 record, including 13-6 in Big East play, making consecutive conference tournament semifinals. The Huskies also made it to the NCAA Tournament for two straight years for the first time since 2011 and 2012.</p>
https://www.theuconnblog.com/2022/3/17/22983972/ncaa-tournament-uconn-huskies-mens-basketballs-season-ends-in-loss-to-new-mexico-stateShawn McGrath2022-03-16T19:15:00-04:002022-03-16T19:15:00-04:00NCAA Tournament First Round Preview: UConn men’s basketball vs. New Mexico State | 6:50 p.m. ET, TNT
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<img alt="Syndication: Las Cruces Sun-News" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kBM1MScDtSX1m1bq4N7YGak4Y2U=/0x0:4732x3155/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70633029/usa_today_17701942.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Nathan J. Fish/Sun News / USA TODAY NETWORK</figcaption>
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<p>Dan Hurley is in search of his first NCAA Tournament win as head coach of the Huskies.</p> <p id="muqRT1">Last year, Dan Hurley’s rebuild of the <a href="https://www.theuconnblog.com">UConn</a> men’s basketball program took a step forward as the Huskies returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five seasons. UConn earned a No. 7 seed but fell to No. 10 seed Maryland in <a href="https://www.theuconnblog.com/2021/3/20/22342413/ncaa-tournament-first-round-recap-uconn-huskies-mens-basketball-dropped-by-maryland-63-54">an underwhelming performance</a>. </p>
<p id="a4LEcg">This year, the Huskies are back with a higher seed and poised to win at least one game, maybe more.</p>
<p id="ijkycK">UConn’s No. 5 seed is the highest the Huskies have had since claiming their third national title in 2011. They’ll kick off their 2022 NCAA Tournament against a No. 12 New Mexico State team that boasts an elite scorer in Teddy Allen and comparable size to the Huskies. </p>
<p id="dBmYWh">While reaching the NCAA Tournament two years in a row is an achievement in itself, Hurley and his team knows that at UConn, that isn’t enough. With so much of last year’s team back this season, the Huskies are looking to make their mark.</p>
<p id="OSJnj5">“We aren’t just happy to be there,” Huskies guard R.J. Cole told the <a href="https://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-mens-basketball/hc-sp-uconn-men-seniors-moment-20220315-20220315-72olpmgcwjeffkizhvwpffbmra-story.html">Hartford Courant’s Shreyas Laddha</a>. “I think we have a real opportunity to make some noise in the tournament and make a run.”</p>
<aside id="aAFUiI"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"The top storylines for UConn men’s basketball’s NCAA Tournament opener against New Mexico State","url":"https://www.theuconnblog.com/2022/3/16/22976658/top-storylines-uconn-huskies-mens-basketball-ncaa-tournament-opener-against-new-mexico-state"},{"title":"About the Aggies: Taking a look at New Mexico State and their 2021-22 season","url":"https://www.theuconnblog.com/2022/3/14/22976142/ncaa-tournament-preview-new-mexico-state-aggies"},{"title":"NCAA Tournament West Region: UConn’s possible second-round opponents","url":"https://www.theuconnblog.com/2022/3/15/22978176/ncaa-tournament-west-region-uconns-possible-second-round-opponents"}]}'></div></aside><p id="cFXY5Y"><strong>When</strong>: 6:50 p.m. ET</p>
<p id="NQEdvC"><strong>Where</strong>: KeyBank Center — Buffalo, New York</p>
<p id="E4sNZM"><strong>TV</strong>: TNT</p>
<p id="Ap88nT"><strong>Radio</strong>: UConn Sports Network</p>
<p id="M7JfLC"><a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/88670771?category=game-lines&subcategory=game&wpcid=166791&wpcn=Inartcile&wpcrid=CBB&wpsrc=Vox"><strong>DraftKings Odds: </strong>UConn -6.5 (-110), over/under 132 (-110)</a></p>
<p id="KMVbGY"><strong>KenPom Predicted Score</strong>: UConn 70, New Mexico State 64 | 71% chance for UConn to win</p>
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<p id="1UDJI7"><strong>When UConn has the ball</strong></p>
<p id="Znwq1T">NMSU has more size than the typical mid-major team — the Aggies’ average height is just four spots behind UConn’s in KenPom — but the Huskies will still look to run their offense through Adama Sanogo. The sophomore struggled mightily in the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/big-east-basketball-tournament">Big East Tournament</a>, shooting 8-26 from the floor, but still managed to put together 21 points and 24 rebounds in two games.</p>
<p id="4HR25N">Despite his struggles last week at Madison Square Garden, the big man has the trust of his head coach and teammates and should be able to impose his will against the Aggies, whose frontcourt is anchored by sophomore center Will McNair and senior Johnny McCants. The 6-foot-10 McNair will likely be on Sanogo most of the night, with McCants tasked with guarding Isaiah Whaley. Sanogo should be able to use his strength and footwork to move around McNair, while Whaley may have to hit some threes to pull McCants, the team’s best shot blocker, out of the paint. </p>
<p id="cfuOCj">Tyrese Martin is fresh off All-<a href="https://www.bigeastcoastbias.com">Big East</a> Tournament honors and should have plenty of chances to keep his hot scoring streak rolling against the Aggies. While NMSU has done well defending the three this season, Martin’s ability to crash the glass should be able to get him going even if 3-point opportunities are there right away. The Aggies have a sizable backcourt with Jabary Rice and Clayton Henry, both at 6-foot-4, but Martin is bigger and stronger and should be able to post up either guard for some scores.</p>
<p id="5vcFB5">RJ Cole will, like always, be relied on to bail out the Huskies if things get late in the shot clock, but will be challenged by those bigger guards. While Martin has gotten the recognition as of late, Cole has been his usual steady self, scoring 28 points and shooting nearly 40 percent from three in two games at MSG, including an 11-point, 8-rebound, 8-assist game against <a href="https://www.vuhoops.com">Villanova</a>.</p>
<p id="Q0iV7E">Look for Cole, Martin, and Andre Jackson to try and attack Teddy Allen — the heart and soul of the Aggies’ offense — early on to get the senior into foul trouble. NMSU head coach Chris Jans adheres strictly to the two foul rule, with some of the lowest two-foul participation in the sport. If UConn can get Allen into hot water early, it could easily neutralize the Aggies’ best chance at an upset. </p>
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<p id="OB1NOO"><strong>When New Mexico State has the ball</strong></p>
<p id="28Voxw">The Aggies’ offense starts and ends with senior guard Teddy Allen, who ranks 35th in the country in scoring at 19.2 points per game. As an experienced player who has already spent time at West Virginia and Nebraska before coming to NMSU, Allen is familiar with the physicality of top-tier college teams and will be tasked to do everything in his power to keep the Aggies in the game.</p>
<aside id="3T8QJH"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"UConn men’s basketball can’t let “Teddy Buckets” become a thing","url":"https://www.theuconnblog.com/2022/3/16/22981248/uconn-huskies-mens-basketball-cant-let-new-mexico-state-aggies-teddy-allen-buckets-become-a-thing"}]}'></div></aside><p id="EaFRok">At 6-foot-6, he’ll likely be defended by Martin, Jackson, or Tyler Polley for stretches. Allen isn’t exactly an efficient scorer but still gets buckets, especially in the lane. He excels at drawing fouls and getting to the free-throw line, where he’s an 86.5 percent shooter.</p>
<p id="PxvS8c">UConn’s defenders will let Allen stay out deep and shoot, considering he’s shooting just 31.7 percent from three on nearly 200 attempts. If he does get into the lane, he’ll still have to contend with Whaley and Sanogo, likely two of the best shot blockers he’s seen all season.</p>
<p id="653nXj">Aside from Allen, Rice is the only other player that averages double figures (12.2 points per game) and is the main facilitator in the NMSU offense. He’s also the only other player that plays significant minutes on a per-game basis, as Jans likes to use a deep rotation that could stretch to as many as 10 players.</p>
<p id="xOPxYF">The Aggies don’t shoot the ball well from deep — they shoot just over 30 percent as a team — but Henry is a dark horse shooter to keep an eye on. He’s used sparingly on offense, but is shooting 37.5 percent from deep on the season and hit 3-8 3-point attempts in the WAC Tournament. </p>
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https://www.theuconnblog.com/2022/3/16/22980926/ncaa-tournament-first-round-no-5-uconn-huskies-mens-basketball-vs-no-12-new-mexico-state-aggies-tntDan Madigan2022-03-16T18:31:23-04:002022-03-16T18:31:23-04:00The top storylines for UConn men’s basketball’s NCAA Tournament opener against New Mexico State
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<img alt="Syndication: Las Cruces Sun-News" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9KNFg1WzNjD5vJn4PrQmr_BQcT0=/0x0:5472x3648/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70632835/usa_today_17701936.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Nathan J. Fish/Sun News / USA TODAY NETWORK</figcaption>
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<p>New Mexico State is elite at many of UConn’s strengths.</p> <p id="4gUXV2">The 5-seed UConn men’s basketball team will look for its first NCAA tournament win since 2016 tomorrow. Standing in the way are the <a href="https://www.theuconnblog.com/2022/3/13/22975439/uconn-huskies-mens-basketball-5-seed-2022-ncaa-tournament-vs-no-12-new-mexico-state-in-first-round">12-seed New Mexico State Aggies</a>, winners of the Western Athletic Conference.</p>
<p id="SvJRLH">On paper, its a <a href="https://www.theuconnblog.com/2022/3/14/22976142/ncaa-tournament-preview-new-mexico-state-aggies">favorable matchup</a> for UConn — <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/88670771?category=game-lines&subcategory=game&wpcid=166791&wpcn=Inartcile&wpcrid=CBB&wpsrc=Vox">they’re 6.5-point favorites according to DraftKings Sportsbook</a>, and have a 71 percent chance to advance to the second round according to KenPom. But it’s March baby, and anything could happen. <a href="https://www.theuconnblog.com/2022/3/16/22981248/uconn-huskies-mens-basketball-cant-let-new-mexico-state-aggies-teddy-allen-buckets-become-a-thing">We’ve already done a deep dive on Teddy Buckets</a>, but here are a couple other storylines to watch for come Thursday:</p>
<p id="AMGD04"><strong>Six pack of facts</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="Y5wn3w">Last year, the Aggies played their entire season in a resort in Phoenix, Arizona, because the state of New Mexico had banned athletic competition due to pandemic restrictions. Everyone overcame adversity during the Covid bubble era, but that’s a brutal level of isolation. Don’t expect the Aggies to be phased by a cross-country trip to miserable Buffalo.</li>
<li id="8ci3qb">The Aggies’ best alum? Pascal Siakam, NBA Champion and 2020 All-Star for power forward for the Toronto Raptors. </li>
<li id="KNyLTJ">New Mexico State’s top five scorers don’t shoot better than 33% from three. </li>
<li id="NrQUy9">Only one player averages more than one block a game, Johnny McCants. But they still led the WAC in block rate.</li>
<li id="1yGiNh">In the last 3 months, they haven’t faced anyone higher than 90th in NET.</li>
<li id="zASNJz">New Mexico State hasn’t won an NCAA tournament game since 1993.</li>
</ul>
<p id="PPKtjZ"><strong>Dollar store wrench</strong></p>
<p id="gs30uv">McCants is the Aggies’ version of Isaiah Whaley and their best player in Evan Miya’s defensive efficiency metrics. He gives New Mexico State an edge with his energy, deflections, and interior toughness. He’ll do all the dirty work, but if his presence is limited to just that (think how Whaley played against Villanova in the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/big-east-basketball-tournament">Big East tournament</a>), then UConn will be in good shape.</p>
<p id="a9uRNu"><strong>The margin that matters </strong></p>
<p id="WlUUKi">Whereas the rebounding margin was usually the tale of the tape in the <a href="https://www.bigeastcoastbias.com">Big East</a>, the turnover margin will be the battle that wins the game tomorrow. New Mexico State ranked outside the top 300 in the nation in turnover rate, pretty careless for such an experienced team with three fifth-year seniors. The Aggies lost or tied the turnover battle in four of their six losses this season. While the Huskies are no St. John’s, It’s likely New Mexico State hasn’t faced as athletic team as UConn, so Hurley should be dialing up the ball pressure all over the court. </p>
<p id="92ZDup"><strong>Be smart with the bunnies</strong></p>
<p id="bYMlQ9">Inefficiency at the rim could doom Connecticut, as New Mexico State ranks in the top 35 nationally in both 2-point and 3-point percentage allowed.</p>
<p id="X6JZry">Adama Sanogo went 8-27 from the field in the Big East tournament. The sophomore has a tendency to bounce back in a big way after rough stretches, but he’ll need to convert those baby hooks and little floaters at the rim at a much higher clip than he has been doing.</p>
<p id="y8HLFs">It’s not just Sanogo, though. Slashers like Tyrese Martin, RJ Cole, and Andre Jackson will have to be disciplined in avoiding head-down drives into the paint in the hopes of drawing contact and shooting two; the Aggies allowed the lowest free throw rate in the WAC.</p>
<p id="ildeZR"><strong>Hold my beer</strong></p>
<p id="FmFNXU">NMSU is 39th in the country in offensive rebounds and 20th in the country in limiting opponent field goal percentage. The Huskies are first and 25th in those categories, respectively, so this is a true ‘hold my beer’ moment. UConn’s strengths should overshadow New Mexico State’s given the stark difference in schedule. </p>
<p id="thIquZ">If UConn converts its easy looks, turns the Aggies over, and sticks to its strengths, they’ll move on to the second round.</p>
https://www.theuconnblog.com/2022/3/16/22976658/top-storylines-uconn-huskies-mens-basketball-2022-ncaa-tournament-opener-against-new-mexico-stateThe UConn Blog Staff2022-03-16T14:49:40-04:002022-03-16T14:49:40-04:00SBN Reacts: Can New Mexico State pull off the upset against the Huskies?
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<figcaption>Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Plus, see how voters view UConn’s chances of reaching the Sweet 16</p> <p id="xhUowH"><em>Check out </em><a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/featured?wpcid=163864&wpcn=SBNation&wpcrid=Reacts&wpscn=Social&wpsrc=Vox&category=live-in-game"><em>DraftKings Sportsbook</em></a><em>, the official </em><a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/featured"><em>sportsbook</em></a><em> partner of SB Nation.</em></p>
<p id="erxj8D">There are all sorts of upsets as part of March Madness but perhaps none are as common as the 12-seed over 5-seed upset. Since the tournament expanded in 1985, <a href="https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2022-03-01/history-5-seeds-vs-12-seeds-march-madness">a 12-over-5 upset has occurred in 31 of the 36</a> ensuing NCAA Tournaments — including three 12 seeds winning their first round matchups in 2019. Last season, there was just one 12-over-5 upset, with <a href="https://www.buildingthedam.com">Oregon State</a> defeating Tennessee 70-56. </p>
<p id="w3v0Hs">After polling college basketball fans across the country, SBN Reacts voters took their guess at this year’s 12-over-5 upset. While Indiana came in first at 28%, New Mexico State, <a href="https://www.theuconnblog.com">UConn</a>’s first round opponent, was not far behind at 27%. </p>
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<p id="53X6E5">While more than a quarter of voters think the Aggies have what it takes to pull off the upset, nearly as many think UConn can get to the Sweet 16. No. 4 seed Arkansas is the clear favorite of the voters to likely take on No. 1 overall seed Gonzaga for a trip to the Elite 8, but the Huskies are the clear second-place favorite, coming in at 25 percent while NMSU comes in at just 13 percent.</p>
<p id="Y4fmaV">The Razorbacks may be the higher seed and may be the voters’ favorite to make it past the second round, but their first round opponent, No. 13 Vermont, is a trendy upset pick as well. Should Arkansas get by the Catamounts and UConn survive the Aggies, the second round matchup between the two should be interesting — while the Razorbacks are the higher seed, the Huskies rank two spots higher in KenPom. All in all, it won’t be easy for any of these four teams to get out of the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York with a pair of wins. </p>
<aside id="qkz474"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"NCAA Tournament West Region: UConn’s possible second-round opponents","url":"https://www.theuconnblog.com/2022/3/15/22978176/ncaa-tournament-west-region-uconns-possible-second-round-opponents"}]}'></div></aside> <figure class="e-image">
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<p id="hnhksb">While the Buffalo section of the West region is no joke, Gonzaga is the major reason why voters picked the West region as the hardest tournament path this March. The Bulldogs, led by Drew Timme and Chet Holmgren, currently rank first in KenPom and are looking to avenge their loss in the title game last year. Aside from Gonzaga, the West features four teams in the top 20 of KenPom — <a href="https://www.vivathematadors.com">Texas Tech</a>, Duke, UConn and Arkansas. Nearly one third of voters (31 percent) selected the West as the most competitive region in the 2022 tournament. </p>
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<p id="FyCbSa">If the Huskies do manage to get by NMSU and either Arkansas or Vermont, they’ll have to face one of the toughest opponents they have faced in years in Gonzaga. But if UConn is able to get by the Bulldogs, they’d quickly become one of the favorites to cut down the nets for the fifth time in program history. </p>
<p id="H4yteD"><em>Check out </em><a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/featured?wpcid=163864&wpcn=SBNation&wpcrid=Reacts&wpscn=Social&wpsrc=Vox&category=live-in-game"><em>DraftKings Sportsbook</em></a><em>, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.</em></p>
https://www.theuconnblog.com/2022/3/16/22981396/sbn-reacts-can-new-mexico-state-aggies-pull-off-the-upset-against-the-uconn-huskies-ncaa-tournamentDan Madigan2022-03-16T13:41:36-04:002022-03-16T13:41:36-04:00UConn men’s basketball can’t let “Teddy Buckets” become a thing
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<figcaption>James Snook-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Teddy Allen is the WAC Player of the Year and the Aggies’ best player.</p> <p id="ZEo32n">Every March, college hoops fans unearth an underdog darling, a David that takes down a Goliath. Fans are always on the hunt for the next Cinderella that upends a bracket. On Thursday, the No. 5 seed UConn men’s basketball team must make sure <a href="https://www.theuconnblog.com/2022/3/13/22975439/uconn-huskies-mens-basketball-5-seed-2022-ncaa-tournament-vs-no-12-new-mexico-state-in-first-round">New Mexico State’s</a> Teddy Allen doesn’t join the ranks of RJ Hunter, Ali Farokhmanesh, Clayton Custer, and TJ Sorrentine.</p>
<p id="DpZm86"><strong>Stop trying to make “Teddy Buckets” happen</strong></p>
<p id="9dAJfz">If the Huskies fall victim to the dreaded 12-over-5 curse, it will be because they couldn’t contain Teddy Allen, the WAC Player of the Year that led the conference in KenPom’s offensive efficiency. The 6-foot-6 junior guard was a rotation player for Bob Huggins and West Virginia his freshman year, then the leading scorer for the Nebraska Cornhuskers his sophomore year. Now, he’s on his fourth school in four years (he transferred to Wichita State for the 2018-19 season but sat out). </p>
<p id="axEv6F">Allen is a matchup nightmare and the straw that stirs the drink for New Mexico State. He put up 41 earlier this year against Abilene Christian, and set Nebraska’s single-game scoring record (also 41 points) last year. He has four games this season of 30+ points. The kid is a verified bucket. He also has tourney experience, with 12 minutes in West Virginia’s Sweet 16 matchup back in 2018 and 42 total minutes in the Mountaineers’ first two tournament games. If the game’s on the line, you know it’s going to be him.</p>
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<p id="1H21sd">Priority number one, two, and three is to make sure “Teddy Buckets” doesn’t become a thing in March. Nightmare fuel for the Huskies is Allen getting going early and casuals taking to the underdog with the catchy nickname. </p>
<p id="M75UfA">Watch that video and you’ll see a smooth stroke and NBA size for a guard. He may not be an elite athlete, but he has an uncanny feel for the game. Consider the 1:10 mark where he goes backdoor and uses a herky jerky fake to get his defender in the air. Can you just see Andre Jackson biting on that and picking up his third foul? </p>
<p id="KyFC2R">UConn has the personnel to check Teddy, though. A snarling <a href="https://www.theuconnblog.com/2022/3/13/22975348/uconn-huskies-mens-basketball-tyrese-martin-named-to-big-east-all-tournament-team">Tyrese Martin</a> has the size and Jackson has the athleticism, but both will need to watch the euro steps and slow-mo pump fakes. Running Allen off the 3-point line, where he likes to duck behind screens and pull up, is critical.</p>
<p id="Sl3vAZ">Whaley and Sanogo’s communication on pick and rolls is important, too. The hard hedge from <a href="https://www.theuconnblog.com">UConn’s</a> bigs should help run Allen off the 3-point line and force him into a tough two or a pass. If Teddy Buckets is forced into a distributor role instead of a playmaker, UConn will be in good shape.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Talking about New Mexico St's offense, you have to start with WAC Player of the Year Teddy Allen<br><br>Allen leads the Aggies in minutes, field goal attempts, points and rebounds<br><br>Coach Chris Jans loves to put Allen in Pick and Rolls and allow him to playmake <a href="https://t.co/m6FXSxqvWI">pic.twitter.com/m6FXSxqvWI</a></p>— UConn Film Room (@UConnFilmRoom) <a href="https://twitter.com/UConnFilmRoom/status/1503548311990644741?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2022</a>
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<p id="iZVchC">How do you wear out a guy with a usage rate like Allen’s? You throw multiple looks at him throughout the game, you get physical, and you make him work on defense. Per EvanMiya, Allen’s defensive performance rating is very pedestrian, so the likes of Martin and Jackson should have the greenlight in attacking the matchup. </p>
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https://www.theuconnblog.com/2022/3/16/22981248/uconn-huskies-mens-basketball-cant-let-new-mexico-state-aggies-teddy-allen-buckets-become-a-thingPatrickMartin2022-03-15T16:54:42-04:002022-03-15T16:54:42-04:00NCAA Tournament West Region: UConn’s possible second-round opponents
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<figcaption>Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>UConn will either face Arkansas or Vermont if it can get past New Mexico State.</p> <p id="NslCuh">UConn will face New Mexico State in its opening matchup in Buffalo on Thursday night, hoping to reach the second round of the NCAA tournament for the first time since the 2015-16 season. If they pull it off, the Huskies will either see the No. 4 seeded Arkansas Razorbacks out of the SEC or No. 13 seeded Vermont Catamounts from America East.</p>
<h4 id="bQxTRd"><strong>Vermont Catamounts</strong></h4>
<p id="A7oT4t">Though Arkansas will be favored in this matchup, Vermont has what it takes to pull off the upset. Winners of the America East regular season and tournament championships, Vermont has made the NCAA tournament three out of the past five seasons and fourth time overall under head coach John Becker. They may also have their most complete team in years.</p>
<p id="9Wcsr6">Vermont cruised through its conference tournament, with an average margin-of-victory of 36.7 points. The Catamounts are 21-1 in their last 22 games, winning by double digits in 19 of them. Simply put, the America East was not enough competition for Vermont, and the Catamounts will be a popular upset pick to take down Arkansas in the first round.</p>
<p id="PJhjvK">UConn matches up well against UConn on paper. Both teams are actually similar in terms of roster makeup and style of play. UConn and Vermont are both led by 6’8” big men who generally hang near the rim and use their frames to muscle in tough buckets. Two-time America East player of the year Ryan Davis has also developed into a reliable deep shooting threat during his senior season, hitting 42% from behind the arc. This could make things tough for Sanogo defensively. Vermont will likely try to draw Sanogo away from the paint as much as possible, likely with a high ball screen at the top of the key where Davis will actually pop out for a three instead of rolling to the basket. Communication on defense and early recognition are going to be major keys for the Huskies if they see these looks.</p>
<p id="B0CwOn">Both squads are also led by a senior point guard — RJ Cole for UConn and Ben Shungu for Vermont — who score in bunches and have a great feel for the game. Shungu is more heavily relied on, but both can fill it up and know how to run an efficient, methodical offense. UConn is 291st in adjusted tempo per Kenpom, just three spots below Vermont. </p>
<p id="1UrWJa">Rounding out their starting five is a tough wing/forward hybrid in Isaish Powell who plays closer to the basket than Tyrese Martin, but has a very similar build at 6-6, 220 pounds. Justin Mazzula is a trusty fifth-year senior guard who doesn’t take a lot of shots (5.4 per game) but makes a high percentage (50% FG) and also limits his turnovers. Joining Shungu and Mazzulla in the backcourt is Aaron Deloney, a reliable sidekick to Shungu who provides experience, ball-handling, and solid three-point shooting (41%).</p>
<p id="1lbmlB">Vermont is also a legitimately deep team, with nine guys averaging at least 13 minutes per game, eerily similar to the Huskies’ playing time distribution.</p>
<p id="XAoUeZ">UConn fans would definitely prefer not to play Arkansas, but this Vermont team has the pedigree, experience, and talent to surprise people. UConn will need to hit the boards and utilize its superior athletic ability to steal some points from the Catamounts in order to advance.</p>
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<h4 id="kxCePQ">Arkansas Razorbacks</h4>
<p id="5T1T40">Out of the two possibilities, the Razorbacks clearly present the tougher matchup for UConn, and an interesting matchup at that. Arkansas plays a much different style than UConn, sitting at 28th in adjusted tempo per Kenpom, which leads to lots of quick buckets.</p>
<p id="dPUDKh">Led by two All-Sec first-teamers in electric guard JD Notae and forward Jaylin Williams, Arkansas loves to run and create havoc on the defensive end. Notae is a shot creator extraordinaire, possessing an innate ability to score in any given situation and no matter the defensive look thrown at him. He finished second overall in the SEC with 18.4 points per game. He’s also an elite defender, leading the conference with 2.2 steals per game. Williams is fourth on the team with 10.5 per game, but first in rebounds (9.6) and third in assists (2.6), proving to be an indispensable centerpiece of Eric Musselman’s team on both ends of the floor. </p>
<p id="tJRhYm">This dynamic team loves to disrupt game flow by deploying a press and getting out on the break. They generally run an eight-man rotation and like to spread out teams as much as possible, with Williams manning the middle. Six different Razorbacks this season averaged over eight points per game. They are a poor three-point shooting team, however, finishing in the bottom three in the SEC at 30.7% from deep. </p>
<p id="HB7P6P">Notae and Williams are the unquestioned leaders of this team, but Arkansas has four other guards who can fill up the stat sheet. Stanley Umude and Au’Diese Toney both stand 6’6” and have each scored over 20 points multiple times this season. Toney is not a three-point threat (8 total made on the season) but chooses to make his living near the rim. He uses his elite athleticism to catch oops and draw fouls close to the basket and has the highest free throw percentage on the team (80.4%) as well as the most makes. Umude is a transfer from South Dakota and former 20+ point per game scorer in the Summit League who is Arkansas’ third option. He is the Razorback’s most consistent three-point shooter at 37.1%.</p>
<p id="GJjado">Along with Umude and Toney, lightning-rod grad transfer Chris Lykes, who spent four seasons in Miami before joining the Muss-bus, helps hold down the Arkansas backcourt. Lykes hasn’t had the impact many thought, but with almost 1500 points under his belt, he is someone that absolutely cannot be overlooked.</p>
<p id="MVoyfz">Arkansas is a team that can really frustrate its opposition and runs with the best of them, evidenced by their wins over Kentucky, Auburn, LSU (twice), and Tennessee. UConn is going to have to slow down this game and not let Arkansas fluster them with their length and dogged on-ball defense. If the Huskies can handle the pressure effectively and not let this game become a turnover fest, they’ll have a chance to win.</p>
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https://www.theuconnblog.com/2022/3/15/22978176/ncaa-tournament-west-region-uconns-possible-second-round-opponentsRyan J. Goodman2022-03-14T10:05:35-04:002022-03-14T10:05:35-04:005-seed UConn men’s basketball to face New Mexico State in NCAA Tournament opener
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<figcaption>Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog</figcaption>
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<p>The Huskies have earned their highest seeding since 2011.</p> <p id="2ZGpoA">UConn men’s basketball is in the NCAA tournament for the second time in a row, earning a 5-seed under head coach Dan Hurley. The Huskies will take on No. 12 New Mexico State in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament’s West Region.</p>
<p id="smMV9L">This is the program’s highest seeding since being a 3-seed in 2011.</p>
<p id="yTHGBs">UConn and the Aggies are set to face off on Thursday in Buffalo, New York, with the winner advancing to take on the winner of No. 4 Arkansas and No. 13 Vermont. The game will take place at 6:50 p.m. ET on TNT, with Brad Nessler, Brendan Haywood and Evan Washburn on the call.</p>
<p id="aTE6ZK">New Mexico State currently ranks 81st in KenPom and went 26-6 this season, winning the Western Athletic Conference championship. The Aggies have six wins against teams in the KenPom top 100 — Davidson, Washington State, and Grand Canyon (x3).</p>
<aside id="mxsgNY"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"About the Aggies: Taking a look at New Mexico State and their 2021-22 season","url":"https://www.theuconnblog.com/2022/3/14/22976142/ncaa-tournament-preview-new-mexico-state-aggies"}]}'></div></aside><p id="Jx0tKA">The West region features No. 1 overall seed Gonzaga at the top and No. 2 Duke at the bottom. Texas Tech is the 3rd seed in the region.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The West Region! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SelectionSunday?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SelectionSunday</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MarchMadness?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MarchMadness</a> <a href="https://t.co/LyHu0R2JMx">pic.twitter.com/LyHu0R2JMx</a></p>— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarchMadnessMBB/status/1503133309802532873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2022</a>
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<p id="IQaWLT"><em>Stay tuned for updates! </em></p>
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https://www.theuconnblog.com/2022/3/13/22975439/uconn-huskies-mens-basketball-5-seed-2022-ncaa-tournament-vs-no-12-new-mexico-state-in-first-roundDan Madigan