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| | Friday, November 5 | |||||||||||||||
COACH AND PROGRAM
KEVIN FREEMAN (6-7, 235 lbs., SR, PF, #15, 12.2 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 0.8 apg, 1.8 tpg, 0.8 spg, 30.4 minutes, .588 FG, .712 FT, Paterson Catholic HS/Springfield, Mass.) Before last season, there were rumors flying all over the place that Freeman was unhappy with his role at Connecticut. That he wanted to transfer to Massachusetts, so that he could play the small forward position and prepare himself for the pros. That he didn't like life in Storrs anymore. So much for all of that. Freeman was a frontcourt stalwart for the Huskies last year and should be even more effective this season, now that there are bound to be more shots available. Freeman may never play the "three" in the NBA (then again, he could have a 10-year career), but by the time he leaves Connecticut, he'll have quite a resume. If all goes well this season, he'll graduate as a 1,500-point, 1,000-rebound man, and that's not bad. Few players in the country have the drive and ability underneath that Freeman has. Although he did expand his shooting range to 10-15 feet last year, he earns his keep by producing inside, where his combination of quick leaping and power make him tough to guard and even tougher to keep off the offensive boards. "All Kevin does is win," Calhoun said. "Scoring 15 points in a winning cause is much different than scoring 15 in another game." Freeman may be quiet, particularly in comparison to the garrulous El-Amin, but his leadership hand is steady and his maturity quite evident in his demeanor. He works well within the framework of an offense that doesn't feature interior players too much, and is content to score as a third or fourth option or by collecting the refuse. Freeman did have three 20-point games last year, including back-to-back 22- and 21-point efforts in the Big East tourney, but don't expect him to become a scoring machine. He'll get about 15 every night, pull down close to 10 boards and lock down the inside. Freeman spent part of the summer as a member of the U.S. team that won a gold medal at the World University Games, scoring 8.0 ppg, grabbing 4.4 rpg and making 59.1 percent of his shots. He didn't get a lot of headlines, but he got the job done anyway. KHALID EL-AMIN (5-10, 203 lbs., JR, PG, #42, 13.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.9 apg, 1.6 spg, 2.6 tpg, 28.6 minutes, .412 FG, .338 3PT, .778 FT, North HS/Minneapolis, Minn.) Take one look at El-Amin, and it makes perfect sense that he's wearing number 42. The guy isn't a point guard. He's a fullback. Calhoun swears that El-Amin's odd physique is not dumpy or doughy, merely solid and not quite what we're used to seeing on the basketball court, where lean and sinewy frames dominate. But who cares if El-Amin is merely an industrial strength point man or a human cement mixer? The guy can play. And talk. And play some more. And talk. You get the picture. There may not be another player in college basketball today with as much confidence as El-Amin, and that's saying something given the current state of ego-inflation in the game. El-Amin's self-assurance, however, is not the chest-thumping arrogance we often see, but an engaging sort of faith that is contagious to teammates and fans. It helps that there is practically no situation capable of intimidating him. El-Amin is perfect to take over this team, now that Hamilton, Moore and Jones are gone. "He's one of the great ones across America," Calhoun said. "I want him to show what kind of player I know he is. I don't want him to do it here and there or in certain situations, but game after game after game, so people will realize how special he is." If El-Amin does have a fault, it is a lack of consistency. At times, he'll let things run on autopilot until his brand of heroism is needed. Were he to play with the same kind of here-I-come-to-save-the-day ferocity that he reserves for big moments, Calhoun would get his wish and America would understand how great El-Amin can be. A perfect indication of his talent came during last year's postseason. El-Amin warmed up by earning an All-Tournament team appearance in the Big East confab, then carried his big play through the Madness. He scored 21 points and handed out five dimes in the Sweet 16 win over Iowa and then posted a combined 30 points and 10 assists in the wins over Ohio State and Duke Final Four weekend. El-Amin has excellent strength and penetrates without fear. He could finish better, and his outside shot needs a little fine-tuning, but he is capable of a big scoring season this year while still making sure everybody else on the roster is well-fed. El-Amin also led the Huskies in steals last year and is one of the main reasons the team can transition so quickly from defense to offense. Last year wasn't all wine and roses for El-Amin, thanks to a springtime arrest on drug possession. Although the incident didn't seem to indicate any behavioral habits on the player's part, Calhoun was quick to let his star know that big-time athletes are often judged more by what they do off the court than how they perform on it. "I don't condone anything that happened, but Khalid was involved in a sting operation," Calhoun said. "They caught him four blocks after everything had happened. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time, doing the wrong things. I told him, 'When somebody hands you something that you know you shouldn't have, say no.'" JAKE VOSKUHL (6-11, 245 lbs., SR, C, #43, 5.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.8 tpg, 0.6 spg, 1.2 bpg, 21.4 minutes, .512 FG, .621 FT, Strake Jesuit HS/Katy, Tex.) Calhoun always said it takes a while for UConn pivotmen to mature into true factors, and Voskuhl is testing that theory. The senior has yet to show any inclination toward scoring on a regular basis, despite annual promises that he will become more aggressive. So we accept him for what he is, and that's enough for the Huskies. Voskuhl is a superior position defender, an improving shot-blocker and a strong rebounder who seems to increase his production in more important games. That doesn't mean Calhoun isn't looking for more. He fights the constant fight to get the pivot more interested in scoring and demanding the ball in the low post. It's proof positive that coaches are as much psychologists as they are tacticians. Calhoun is hoping the presence of freshman Justin Brown and the continued improvement of Souleymane Wane will help push Voskuhl to assert himself, if only out of self-preservation. "Jake has a pro body; now he needs a pro game," Calhoun said. "He rebounds. He sets screens. He's a great defender. He needs to score more. I've told him that if he does more for Jake, he'll do more for UConn." Voskuhl had six double-figure rebound games last year, but only scored 10 or more points on five occasions. His best overall statistical output was a 14-point, 12-rebound game against Pittsburgh. ALBERT MOURING (6-3, 185 lbs., JR, SG, #23, 7.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.0 tpg, 0.6 spg, 18.9 minutes, .439 FG, .376 3PT, .745 FT, Colonel Richardson HS/Preston, Md.) Here he is, ladies and gentlemen, the heir apparent to the high-powered scoring wing position at Connecticut. Mouring joins an impressive list that includes Hamilton and Allen, and he will be counted on immediately to score 20-plus per night. Not quite. Mouring will see an immediate increase in his numbers, thanks to increased minutes and shots, but don't expect him to be a huge scorer in the Hamilton/Allen line. He doesn't have to be. Look around the lineup. El-Amin will score. So will Freeman. Calhoun is praying that Voskuhl decides he enjoys putting the ball in the hoop. Or at least trying. And the new guys have potential to burn. In many ways, this is a perfect opportunity for Mouring. He gets the marquee job without the marquee pressure. Sort of. "Clearly, we expect him to get double figures," Calhoun said. Mouring showed some of that over the summer by averaging 17.0 ppg as part of the People-to-People Tour to Greece. He made close to 50 percent of his three-point tries and displayed the scorer's mentality and production the Huskies will need. He did that last year, too, scoring in double figures 11 times and hitting Pitt for 18 points. When Hamilton missed the game against Stanford because of injury, Mouring stepped up and scored 15 in 35 minutes. Quick, able to get to the basket and capable of firing away from long range, Mouring has the tools to be a successful shooting guard. Now, he has the opportunity. EDMUND SAUNDERS (6-8, 220 lbs., JR, PF, #51, 6.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 0.7 apg, 1.4 tpg, 0.8 spg, 17.7 minutes, .562 FG, .603 FT, Holy Cross HS/Waterbury, Conn.) After spending one year as the Huskies' top frontcourt reserve, Saunders ought to move into the starting lineup this year unless super soph Ajou Ajou Deng shows himself to be something of a prodigy and can't be kept on the bench. For now it's Saunders, and that's good news for Huskies fans, who saw him provide strength underneath and demonstrate the ability to work hard on the glass. Saunders showed on more than one occasion that he was capable of posting impressive numbers. He had three double-doubles last year and scored 15 points vs. Wagner and 14 more against three other opponents. Saunders is not going to wow too many people with an arsenal of offensive moves, but he does produce. In the Huskies' guard-oriented offense, there may not be a lot of room for him at the offensive end, particularly with Freeman at the other forward, but that's not likely to be a problem. Saunders will work hard for 20-25 minutes per night and take his payment in wins, not points scored.KEY RESERVES SOULEYMANE WANE (6-11, 240 lbs., SR, F-C, #34, 2.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 0.4 apg, 0.7 spg, 10.1 minutes, .385 FG, .423 FT, Redemption Christian Academy, N.Y./Dakar, Senegal) The Connecticut basketball regime has been gushing about Wane ever since the big guy showed up on campus. It's time he delivered. Although Wane has potential to burn, he still struggles with the offensive game and is inconsistent at the other end. Wane has gotten stronger during his time in Storrs, but he is not yet capable of winning a majority of battles underneath, particularly in the Big East, where he averaged only 8.5 minutes last year. Although redshirt frosh Justin Brown is still pretty raw, any improvement made by the Aussie center could cost Wane minutes. Wane needs to shoot the ball better, rebound more effectively, and use his long arms and tall body to block more shots. Even if Wane doesn't score, he could be a valuable component if he plays better defensively. AJOU AJOU DENG (6-11, 210 lbs., SO, F, #4, 22.0 ppg, 12.0 rpg, 7.0 bpg, St. Thomas More Prep, Conn./Aweil, Sudan) Anybody watching Huskies' games last year couldn't have missed Deng on the UConn bench, his long arms and legs serving as reminders that there's even more talent where the '98-99 team came from. A partial qualifier who practiced with the team but could not play, Deng has the talent and potential to be a dominating frontcourt player. "He's 6-10 but has a 7-2 reach," Calhoun said. "He can shoot the 'three' and block shots. He's quick and excellent on the perimeter." Too good to be true? Maybe. But there is no denying Deng's positives. He can and will play any of the three frontcourt spots and will present huge matchup problems for rivals, who'll have to deal with his inside-outside game on offense and then worry about his patrolling the middle of the Connecticut defense, ready to alter and reject any shots close to the hoop. Deng's personal story is almost as compelling as his basketball potential. His father was Minister of Transportation in the Sudan but left the country nine years ago when Deng was 11, because the Sudanese government was overthrown. The family moved first to Egypt and then to London, where it was granted political asylum. Deng came to the U.S. in 1996 and played two seasons at St. Thomas More Prep in Colchcester, Conn., earning third-team Parade All-America honors in '98. His ties to the Huskies are deep. Deng made an oral commitment to the school in the summer of '96, before he even bounced a ball for St. Thomas More, and then signed a letter-of-intent to play in Storrs in the fall of '97. Deng speaks four languages and has 15 siblings. MARCUS COX (6-4, 175 lbs., FR, G, #50, 18.1 ppg, 12.2 rpg, 8.8 apg, 3.0 spg, Kolbe Cathedral HS/Bridgeport, Conn.) Although Cox played both backcourt positions in high school, he will be used primarily as a backup to El-Amin at the point. And don't be surprised if the two end up on the court together. Cox was the 1999 Connecticut prep Player of the Year and was regarded by many as a Top 50 recruit. He helped Kolbe Cathedral (the alma mater of Husky great Chris Smith) to a 26-0 record and the state title, earning fourth-team Parade All-America team honors in the process. In the Bridgeport Schoolboy Classic, which pits Connecticut stars against counterparts from New Jersey, Cox had 26 points and nine assists. He can do just about anything a guard must do and plays well at both ends of the floor. TONY ROBERTSON (6-3, 195 lbs., FR, G, #32, 25.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 5.3 apg, 3.2 spg, St. Andrew's HS/Pawtucket, R.I.) When Calhoun compares somebody to Chris Smith, that player must be good, because Smith is about a miracle away from sainthood in the Church of Husky Hoops. Yet Robertson fits the mold. He slashes to the hoop well, can play both guard positions and has great strength. He finished his career at St. Andrew's with more than 2,400 career points and had his jersey number (32) retired. Robertson was the Rhode Island Player of the Year and led his team to a pair of New England Prep School Athletic Council Class E titles. He had 10 points in Magic's Roundball Classic and 17 more in the ACC-SEC Challenge. "He's explosive," Calhoun said. "He doesn't shoot with great range, but he can defend and is one of those players who can play his way into the rotation. He's a tough, tough kid who wants to play." DOUG WRENN (6-6, 210 lbs., FR, G-F, #55, 22.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 7.3 apg, St. Thomas Aquinas Prep, Conn./Seattle, Wash.) Wrenn didn't play last year at St. Thomas Aquinas, and that's too bad for the school, because he would have stood out. Should he shake off the rust from his inactivity, Wrenn will see plenty of time at small forward this year. "He's one of the most explosive athletes I've ever had here," Calhoun said. How's that for an endorsement? Wrenn gets to the basket well and can finish with authority once there. A superior leaper who can run the floor and defend well in the open court or when things hunker down in the halfcourt, Wrenn has star potential, provided he can improve his jumper. He led O'Dea HS in Seattle to a perfect 29-0 record and a state title as a junior and was the star of a 26-4 team in 1997-98. Washington's Player of the Year that season, Wrenn was rated the fourth-best wing forward in the nation by Recruiting USA as a senior.OTHER RETURNEES None.OTHER NEWCOMERS BEAU ARCHIBALD (6-6, 200 lbs., JR, G-F, #5, 10.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 4.7 apg, Utah Valley State JC, Washington State & Timpview HS/Provo, Ut.) Visitors to the "open gym" games in Storrs during the fall saw two Beau Archibalds. One was the all-around marvel, capable of drilling three-pointers, handling any open-court assignments and scoring inside off the dribble. The other was sitting in the bleachers, ice packs strapped to each knee, hoping and praying that the pain would someday abate. Because Archibald's knees continue to haunt him he had off-season surgery on both he can't be considered a reliable member of the rotation. That doesn't mean he lacks the talent to play. If healthy, he'll be on the court without a doubt. While at Washington State, his second-to-last stop before Connecticut, Archibald averaged 6.1 ppg and made 36.4 percent of his three-point attempts. Archibald's story is a sad one and was recounted in last year's Blue Ribbon. His father, Lynn, was a former Brigham Young assistant who lost a long bout to prostate cancer in 1997. Soon thereafter, Archibald needed surgery on both knees. If anybody deserves some good luck, it's Archibald. Let's hope he gets it. JUSTIN BROWN (7-0, 230 lbs., FR, C, #20, 12.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg, Australian Institute/Perth, Australia) An alumnus of the same school that produced Luc Longley, Brown redshirted last year to gain weight and acclimate himself to the American game and lifestyle. Although he made progress in all areas, he remains something of a project. Brown added 15 pounds of muscle to his frame during his year off "Every time Jake beat him up at practice last year, Justin ran to the weight room," Calhoun said and showed at times the kind of open-court game that attracted Calhoun in the first place. But with Voskuhl, Wane and Deng in the pivot, there may not be many minutes for Brown. That's fine, because he can use the practice time to continue his development into what Calhoun eventually believes will be a valuable interior contributor. Brown shoots well and earned some valuable international experience as a member of the Australian junior national team.STARTERS NOT RETURNING RICKY MOORE (6-2, SG, 6.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.2 spg, 31.3 minutes, .423 FG, .353 3PT, .814 FT) The unsung hero of the Huskies, Moore did not grouse or complain when El-Amin took over the featured role in the backcourt. Nope, he just continued to play great defense, handle the ball and step up in big situations. All players should study Moore's behavior and attitude and act the same way. Not that Moore couldn't deliver when needed. When El-Amin went down with foul trouble in last year's Great Eight matchup with Washington and Hamilton was struggling toward a 7-for-21, five-turnover performance, Moore was the steady hand, scoring some, rebounding plenty, playing great defense and generally preventing Connecticut from self-destructing. When Calhoun talks about whether this year's players can handle filling their respective roles, he's probably thinking about Moore, who played the second-most minutes on the team last year but never tried to crowd his way into the spotlight, even though some thought he should have done so. A three-time co-captain, Moore was a valuable cog in the title machine. RICHARD HAMILTON (6-6, SF, 21.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.2 spg, 32.1 minutes, .443 FG, .347 3PT, .833 FT) Hamilton finished his career as the Huskies' second all-time leading scorer, eclipsing even Ray Allen, but not surpassing Chris Smith albeit by only 109 points. Wafer-thin, Hamilton excelled at navigating the maze of screens set for him in the Huskies' halfcourt offense and could fire away from mid- and long-range with equal success. He was the only person in UConn history to score at least 700 points twice in his career and 500 in three different seasons. Hamilton was a two-time All-America and first-team All-Big East selection who clearly made a good move by returning for his junior year in Storrs. Though some thought he would be an NBA lottery pick after the 1997-98 season, Hamilton solidified his status by adding 10 pounds of muscle and coming up strong in UConn's drive to the '99 national title. He averaged 24.2 ppg in the NCAA tourney and scored 27 points in the championship game. Washington selected Hamilton with the seventh overall pick in the '99 NBA draft, even though the Wizards planned to (and subsequently did) re-sign Mitch Richmond. Expect to see both guards in the game at the same time this year, with Richmond spending more time at the 'three' spot and Hamilton playing the 'two.' Should he succeed in adding 15-20 pounds to his frame over the next few years, stardom could await.OTHERS NOT RETURNING RASHAMEL JONES (6-5, G-F, 3.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.8 apg, 0.9 spg, 10.1 minutes, .516 FG, .111 3PT, .621 FT) After Jones' sophomore season, it looked as if he was headed for big things. But along came El-Amin, Hamilton developed into a star and the swingman went from someone who averaged 13.0 ppg as a soph to a role player. He did, however, conclude his career with the school record for most NCAA Tourney games played (13). A slasher who struggled with his long-range shot, Jones was good at getting to the basket. He served as a co-captain for three years and was a member of the 1998 Big East All-Tournament team, thanks to his 17 points and nine boards against Syracuse. E.J. HARRISON (6-1, G, 1.9 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 0.8 apg, 0.6 spg, 8.1 minutes, .455 FG, .333 3PT, .600 FT) A two-year walk-on who transferred to UConn from Western Connecticut State, Harrison grew slowly into a player who received more and more backcourt responsibility even on a team with plenty of guards. Harrison averaged 8.1 minutes in 26 appearances last year, not bad totals for a walk-on. He scored 12 points against Texas-San Antonio in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and 12 earlier in the year in a win over Hartford. He also had three assists in the regular-season finale against Syracuse. ANTRIC KLAIBER (6-10, F-C, 0.7 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 3.2 minutes, .294 FG, .625 FT) Klaiber just couldn't seem to get it through his head that he wasn't a guard. Lithe (210 pounds) to begin with, Klaiber wanted to patrol the perimeter rather than get inside and mix it up. That wasn't what the Huskies needed. He made 23 appearances last year but played a scant 3.2 minutes per game. A one-time Top 50 recruit, Klaiber found the college game a little too physical and never became the factor many thought he would be.QUESTIONS Scoring? The Huskies lost their main man in Hamilton, and there is no guarantee that El-Amin, Freeman or any of the freshmen can step in and be a full-fledged "go-to" guy. Complacency? Connecticut fought hard to reach the top, and some schools don't always exert the necessary effort the to stay there. Experience? While three starters and a pair of key reserves are back, the Huskies will be relying heavily on their newcomers, two of whom didn't even play last year. Talent is one thing, but at the upper levels of NCAA play, it helps to have some proven warriors.ANSWERS El-Amin! The Guy With The Funny Body is ready to take the next step. He has the talent to be a superstar, and now that Hamilton has moved on, the opportunity awaits. El-Amin is an excellent leader who needs to produce big every night to gain huge plaudits. Freeman! It's time for this man to get his due. He produces every night, doesn't care about banging against rivals who are bigger than he and steps up when needed every time. Freeman has the talent to be a first-team All-League performer. Here's betting he makes it. Newcomers! Led by the multi-talented Deng, this could be one of the top two or three crops of recruits ever landed by Calhoun. Wrenn, Robertson and Cox should all contribute along the perimeter, and nobody wants to wait to watch Deng play. If Archibald's knees are all right, UConn will be as deep as anybody. Calhoun! Now that he has made it to the Final Four, nobody can question his ability. He has more than 550 career wins and a big, fat ring that says "National Champions" on it. Calhoun is a superior recruiter, master builder and is clearly one of the best in the game.
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