Trouble Mounts for UConn Despite Dan Hurley Resolving "Dumbfounding" Concern
The UConn Huskies entered this season with a major question mark hanging over them: could their center, Samson Johnson, control his fouling tendencies? Even head coach Dan Hurley had his doubts. But now that Johnson seems to have quelled those concerns, a new challenge has surfaced for the Huskies. The question now is: can they conquer this new obstacle and maintain their momentum?
Johnson’s Comeback: Resolving a Major Setback
In Saturday’s episode of “Locked On UConn,” analysts Mark Zanetto and Dan Meehan broke down Johnson’s recent performance and the hurdles facing the reigning NCAA champions. Johnson, who had been struggling with an alarming foul rate, finally seemed to find his footing in his recent games. This comes as a relief to a team that was desperate for him to be more disciplined and effective on the court.
Zanetto said, “Samson was perfect from the field… We would like to see Tarris starting, but if this is the Samson Johnson we get for the rest of the year, I can live with it. He had 2 blocks, 2 steals, did not have a ton of fouls, which is a very good sign.” Despite scoring just 7 points in his 20 minutes, Johnson stayed out of foul trouble, which was a significant achievement. His performance was clean, including 3-of-3 from beyond the arc and a perfect score from the free-throw line—proving that he was putting forth the right efforts at both ends of the court.
Coach Hurley had previously called Johnson’s repeated fouling “dumbfounding,” adding, “I just don’t know why he keeps putting himself in these situations… He wants to do well so badly that he’s pressing, and fighting for every inch.” During UConn’s match against the New Hampshire Wildcats, Johnson had picked up four personal fouls in just 11 minutes. He followed that with five fouls in 16 minutes against Sacred Heart. Now, with this issue seemingly behind him, a new problem has emerged for the Huskies.
Karaban’s Absence: A New Roadblock for UConn
READ MORE ~ Is Tyjae Spears Playing vs. Commanders? Major Update on Titans RB After Concussion
Another major concern now looms for UConn: playing without their star, Alex Karaban. Meehan highlighted this during the discussion, “With Karaban out, I’m not sure how much weight we can throw into the roster… Changes tonight will see into what happens going into Baylor next week.” Indeed, Karaban’s absence is no small issue—he averages 15.9 points per game and leads the team in scoring this season.
Karaban, unfortunately, took a nasty fall during the last game of the Maui Invitational, which left him unable to participate in this game against New Hampshire. Though he was present at XL Center, he did not play—leaving a considerable void on the Huskies’ lineup.
Even with Karaban sidelined, the Huskies managed to secure a commanding 99-45 victory. However, Meehan expressed doubts about whether UConn could keep up this level of play in upcoming games without their leading scorer. The win came with some silver linings, as other players stepped up to the plate.
Stepping Up: Contributions From Across the Team
Solo Ball caught the analysts’ eye, putting up 12 points and going 2-for-5 from beyond the arc. Zanetto praised Ball’s scoring but noted that his defense still has room for improvement. “He should have improved on defense… being beaten by guards is concerning,” Zanetto remarked. Nevertheless, the overall contributions from the team were commendable.
Meehan compared Solo Ball’s performance to that of Jordan Hawkins, and he also praised Isaiah Abraham’s solid performance, with 6 points in just 10 minutes of play.
Moreover, Jaden Ross and Tarris Reed both posted double-doubles, showcasing their all-around effort. Ross tallied 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Reed scored 10 points with 12 rebounds. Aiden Mahaney, too, was an unsung hero, scoring 11 points and making 4 assists. Zanetto called it “his best game,” and added, “I still want to see him be more aggressive, but there was a little bit more of that today.”
As for Meehan, he remained optimistic about the Huskies’ depth, remarking, “Their depth just drains the other team on offense, and that opens up something for UConn.” With the Huskies shooting 10-for-27 from three-point range and pulling in 48 rebounds along with 23 assists, it will be interesting to see how this level of depth and teamwork holds up against Baylor in their upcoming game.
The Road Ahead
Despite Karaban’s absence, there are many positives to take from the Huskies’ recent performance. Teamwork and depth have kept them competitive, but can they maintain their dominance with tougher games looming? This is the burning question that will soon be answered.
As they prepare for their upcoming matchup against Baylor, fans can only hope that UConn will adapt and continue their winning streak, proving that they are more than the sum of their parts—even when a critical part like Karaban is missing.
