In talking about the 2010-2011 Huskies, Jim Calhoun describes his young team, which looks to improve on last season’s 18-16 record and National Invitation Tournament post-season appearance, as “interesting.”
“I think we’ll be a tough out,” the Hall of Fame coach says. “We’re an interesting team, with 10 question marks about everything we do. The major concern, surprisingly enough, is rebounding. We looked like an NBA team for a lot of years walking in the gym. We don’t look like that anymore.”
The team is a work in progress, as Calhoun and his coaching staff work to blend six returning players, led by All-Big East pre-season guard junior Kemba Walker, and five freshmen, led by shooting guards Shabazz Napier and Jeremy Lamb.
“We’re going to have to try and take advantage of what we have and are good at,” Calhoun says. “I think we could be a very good three-point shooting team. If we’re not going to rebound as well, we’re going to have to run better. We’ve got to extend more full-court pressure on you, and I think we have the people to do it.”
Walker and senior guard Donnell Beverly say they are ready to take over the leadership of the relatively young team. Calhoun notes that last spring Walker called the incoming freshmen, urging them to arrive in Storrs early to begin their training and get acclimated to college academics. “When he started calling kids in May on his own that made a difference,” the coach says. “We hope it will make a difference in the win-loss column.”
Walker says he’s excited about the upcoming season. “It’s fun being a leader, especially having my co-captain Donnell with me. I can’t wait. We’ve been through a Final Four [two years ago]. We kind of know what it’s going to take to win. We want to get UConn back on the map, get back to our style of play; pressing, a lot of fast breaks, and having a lot of fun.”
Adds Beverly: “Last year we didn’t have a lot of depth. I’m trying to emerge as a leader and help the younger guys. As long as we stay focused on the goal at hand, we’ll be good.”
Calhoun says Beverly had been thinking about leaving Connecticut to play professionally, but he urged his player to stay. “I think he’s great for our program,” the coach says. “He’s been one of our better players. He’s had big moments.”
Meanwhile, sophomore center Alex Oriakhi, selected to the 2009 All-Big East Rookie Team, looks to improve his 6.6 rebounds and 5.0 points per game averages, and get some help on the boards from senior center Charles Okwandu.
“I want to average a double-double,” says Oriakhi. “I feel I’ve had a great pre-season and a great summer, and I want to accomplish that. In the Big East you can’t take a night off.
“I think Charles [Okwandu] is ready to emerge,” Oriakhi adds.” He’s going to be a big presence down there.”
Calhoun hopes Okwandu can cut down on his propensity for committing fouls, allowing him to stay on the court longer, adding that the seven-foot center is among the most improved veterans on the roster.
While freshmen guards Napier, Lamb, and Roscoe Smith are expected to add scoring punch for the Huskies, forwards Michael Bradley and Tyler Olander will add more size to the Huskies’ front court.
“Jeremy Lamb is in the mold of Ray [Allen] and Rip [Hamilton]. He could lead us in scoring,” Calhoun says. “It depends what happens with Shabazz Napier. Roscoe Smith can get to the rim in one step. Michael Bradley may take a little bit of time. Tyler Olander has been the biggest surprise. He was coming in at 6 [in the morning], working on his shooting and rebounding.”
Overall, Calhoun is looking forward to the challenge of leading his team to have a season better than the 10th-place finish projected by Big East coaches.
“I’m as excited as a coach as I’ve been in a long time,” he says. “There are two reasons – I love the young kids we have. I love the leadership we have. I hate the inexperience we have, because I’m not very patient. But I think my perspective on life is I’m just as competitive and just as excited as I’ve always been.”
For the 2010-2011 men’s basketball schedule, visit the Athletics website.
