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#2 Connecticut
Huskies
Big East
2004-05: 23-8,
13-3, 1st
2004-05 postseason:
NCAA
By
Joel Welser
Charlie Villanueva is
gone, but everybody else returns to a team that went 13-3 and
tied for the Big East regular season championship.
Connecticut will once
again be favorites to win the conference. The only problems are
off the court and once those aren’t distractions anymore, the
Huskies will be extremely tough to beat.
Who’s Out:
Forward Charlie Villanueva led the team with 13.6 points and
added 8.3 rebounds before heading early to the NBA. Don’t feel
bad for the UConn frontcourt though, they are still one of the
best in the nation. Fellow forwards Ryan Thompson and Jason
Baisch saw little action during their senior campaigns. Antonio
Kellogg opted to transfer to San Francisco after averaging 3.9
points per game last season.
Who’s In: The
frontcourt doesn’t need any help with Josh Boone, Rudy Gay,
Hilton Armstrong and Ed Nelson returning to Storrs. Power
forward Jeff Adrien will add some depth. He’s undersized at
6-6, but he’s tough, very tough. He’ll grab his fair share of
rebounds against taller competition. The incoming freshmen in
the backcourt will get an opportunity for more minutes. Marcus
Johnson, a 6-6 small forward, is a gifted athlete. His
quickness makes him a quality player and fun one to watch.
Craig Austrie earned the Gatorade Connecticut State Player of
the Year honors as a senior at Trinity Catholic High School in
Stamford. The 6-3 shooting guard averaged 22.5 points, 5.1
assists, 4.3 rebounds and 3.1 steals. Austrie is a tremendous
scorer who will get an opportunity for quality minutes. Robert
Garrison was a late pickup for the Huskies. He was planning on
attending prep school, but will instead work his ball handling
skills at Connecticut. Garrison is a good defender and a solid
overall point guard. His outside shot needs work, but he’ll
fill in nicely, since fellow newcomer A.J. Price will be
suspended for the season. Price, who redshirted last year with
a life threatening bout with Arteriovenous Malformation causing
bleeding in the brain, will miss the season resulting from
charges for stealing laptops at the university.
Who to Watch:
Marcus Williams is also suspended for his involvement in the
theft incident and won’t be available to play until January 1st.
The 6-3 point guard had a tremendous sophomore campaign,
cementing himself as one of the best in the nation. If Williams
is unavailable for too long, the Huskies will run into some
problems. Williams averaged 9.6 points and an incredible 7.8
assists last year and will put up similar numbers this year.
Projected
Conference Rank: With Rashad Anderson and Denham Brown on
the wings and, eventually, Marcus Williams running the point,
the backcourt deserves the same accolades as the frontcourt.
Villanova and Louisville will make it close, but UConn has the
most talent in the Big East and history has shown that Coach Jim
Calhoun knows how to use it. Another 1st place
finish in the Big East is expected.
Projected
Post-season Tournament: NCAA
Projected Starting
Five:
Marcus Williams,
Junior, Guard, 9.6 points per game
Rashad Anderson,
Senior, Guard, 11.9 points per game
Denham Brown, Senior,
Forward, 10.4 points per game
Rudy Gay, Sophomore,
Forward, 11.8 points per game
Josh Boone, Junior,
Center, 12.4 points per game
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