UConn Scouting Report

UConn versus Purdue is a heavyweight fight full of great matchups. Two-time Player of the Year Zach Edey meeting with future lottery pick, and current giant Donovan Clingan. First team All-American Tristan Newton and future All-American Braden Smith matching up at the point guard position. Don't forget about coaching stars with Dan Hurley and Matt Painter who run similar set-oriented offenses that dazzle with their complexities. Up, down, left and right, any way you slice it, this matchup is bound to delight.

UConn Offense

Even if you are completely sober during this game, UConn's offense makes you feel drunk. Every movement is part of a dance that only UConn knows, leaving defenses confused and often bruised. UConn loves using multiple screens together (Stagger or zoom) with Cam Spencer or Newton trying to get downhill. Off the ball, expect a ton of fake screens (Ghost cuts) and back screens. A good rule of thumb is every screen or cut will always be followed with another cut or screen going anywhere.

Additionally, UConn is deadly when they get into their offensive flow while the defense is not set. If UConn can play in transition, the defense will never ever catch up. And if the defense does force a miss, UConn crashes the boards hard (3-4 guys at all times) to gain extra possessions.

Player Profiles

#2 - Tristen Newton

Newton is a big, physical lead guard who specializes in getting into the paint where he uses his size to finish. He loves going right and is essentially lights out when he does get to his right. He is also a great offensive rebounder, attacking his own misses or rooting out defenders for quick put backs. Lance Jones should get this matchup, not letting Newton to his right and forcing Newton to make threes.

#12 - Cam Spencer

With the departure of Jordan Hawkins to the NBA, Cam Spencer has come in and filled Hawkin's role to perfection. Spencer is a great mover without the basketball. Everything he does has a counter, if he sets a screen he's going to come off a screen, if he cuts he's using that to setup another cut and so on so forth. He loves this baseline cut that often catches defenders off guard.

Additionally, Spencer has a great shot fake and if his defenders in the air it is over. When driving, Spencer only wants to score getting to his right hand where he looks to create space with a shoulder bump. The most important thing to remember when guarding Spencer is to ALWAYS expect the opposite to what he is showing. I would use Braden Smith on Spencer to start the game but I would use Cam Hiede and Myles Colvin a lot to run with Spencer.

This is an example of how I expect Spencer to play in the pick and roll versus Purdue. Looking to put his defender in jail and taking whatever the big gives him.

#32 - Donovan Clingan

UConn loves to use Clingan in the post when they believe he has a clear advantage when he can use his size to carve out space for his drop step right hook. Against Purdue, I expect most of his offensive impact to be setting screens and rolling to catch lobs or put back misses. Zach Edey will get this matchup and be careful not to get to far from Clingan because UConn is very good at finding him. In pick and rolls I would tag Clingan early and hard to disrupt his lob timing.

#11 - Alex Karaban

One of the best cutters in the country, Alex Karaban is the best fourth wheel in the country. He shoots the ball very well and has been extremely effective attacking closeouts if defenders try to run him off the line. Karaban often works as a screening partner with Clingan to set staggers or receives screens from Spencer. I would cross match to put Fletcher Loyer on Karaban and give Karaban no space at anytime (Similar to what Mason Miller did for Creighton).

#5 - Stephon Castle

Castle is a great athlete that UConn uses in a variety of ways. I would expect to see Castle be used to set screens and slip into the short roll (Think Draymond Green with the Warriors). He is only shooting 27% from three and has never made more than two in a game. Using Loyer on Karaban allows Trey Kauffman-Renn to guard Castle and match his strength, trying to force Castle into semi-contested threes.

#10 - Hassan Diarra

For Purdue fans, Hassan Diarra is essentially Zakai Zegler. Super quick guard who generates a ton of chaos with how fast he can get into the paint. Diarra is not a great shooter, working in the pick and roll where he has a great connection with either Johnson or Clingan rolling. Purdue should guard him in the same way they guarded Zegler, focusing on taking away his drives.

#35 - Samson Johnson

Johnson is an extremely athletic big with an amazing lob radius. He is slender which dissuades UConn from using him in the post but the Huskies love to find Johnson soaring for big time finishes. Similar to Clingan, backside tagging on Johnson rolling is important as well as the drop defender not letting Johnson get behind him.

UConn Sets

Double Drag Stagger Split

Floppy High Low

Zoom with Flare Decoy

UCLA Stagger Spain

Guard to Guard Action

Huskies Defense

If anyone watched Illinois play UConn, they should know who Donavan Clingan is as a giant rim protector. And for the Big East fans, you should know that Stephon Castle is arguably the best perimeter defender in the country. Overall, this team plays tough but intelligently to make everything very hard for their opposition.

Defensive Style

• Ball Screens - Drop with Clingan, hard hedge with Johnson, switching between guards

  • Weakside coming to tag the roller

• Post - One on one with guards digging down

• On Ball - Physical pushing ball handlers and reaching if they get beat

• Off Ball - Hard stunt and recover, not a great closeout team, tight to their man but still helping in the paint

How Can Purdue Score

• Patience and misdirection - Multiple paint touches will breakdown UConn's defense and open opportunities

• Win the four spot - making Karaban guard the post and guard in the pick and roll

• Scoring in the pick and roll - again, patience while putting stress on UConn's defense

• Attack Spencer - He is their worst defender and their most valuable offensive player

Keys for UConn:

1. Shooting well from three

2. Getting out and scoring in transition

3. UConn's guards rebounding the ball

4. Clingan staying out of foul trouble

Keys for Purdue

1. Establish non-Edey players EARLY

   1. Pick and roll mainly

2. Score consistently to force UConn to play in the halfcourt

   1. Make UConn play with 20 seconds on the shot clock instead of 25

3. Limit turnovers (under 9)

4. Win the paint battle on defense