2020–21 UConn Huskies men's basketball team

The 2020–21 UConn Huskies men's basketball team represented the University of Connecticut in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Huskies are led by third-year head coach Dan Hurley in their first season of the Big East Conference. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Huskies played all of their home games this year at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on the UConn campus in Storrs, Connecticut.[1][2][3]

2020–21 UConn Huskies men's basketball
NCAA tournament, first round
ConferenceBig East
Record15–8 (11–6 Big East)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaHarry A. Gampel Pavilion
Seasons
2020–21 Big East men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 18 Villanova114 .733187 .720
No. 19 Creighton146 .700229 .710
UConn116 .647158 .652
St. John's109 .5261611 .593
Seton Hall109 .5261413 .519
Providence910 .4741313 .500
Xavier67 .462138 .619
Georgetown79 .4381313 .500
Marquette811 .4211314 .481
Butler812 .4001015 .400
DePaul213 .133514 .263
2021 Big East tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

The Huskies returned to the new Big East for the 2020–21 season following seven years in the American Athletic Conference.[4]

They finished the season 15-8, 11-6, in Big East Play to finish in 3rd place. They defeated DePaul in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament before losing in the semifinals to Creighton. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament where they lost in the First Round to Maryland.

Previous season

They finished the season 19–12, 10–8 in AAC play to finish in a tie for fifth place. Their season ended when the AAC Tournament and all other postseason tournaments were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5]

Offseason

Departures

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Christian Vital1G6'2"187lbsSeniorQueens, NYGraduated
Alterique Gilbert3G6'0"180lbsRS JuniorAtlanta, GATransferred to Wichita State
Sidney Wilson15G/F6'7"180lbsRS SophomoreBronx, NYTransferred to SIU Edwardsville
Omotayo Aiyegbusi45G6'4"200lbsSeniorConshohocken, PAGraduated

Incoming transfers

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Tyrese Martin4G6'6"215JuniorAllentown, PATransfer from Rhode Island. Under NCAA transfer rules, Cole received a waiver and will be eligible for the 2020–21 season. He will have two years of remaining eligibility.

2020 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
NameHometownHigh school / collegeHeightWeightCommit date
Andre Jackson Jr.
G
Amsterdam, NYAlbany Academy6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)210 lb (95 kg)Oct 2, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 88
Adama Sanogo
F
Bamako, MaliThe Patrick School6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)240 lb (110 kg)May 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 85
Javonte Brown-Ferguson
C
Toronto, ONThornlea Secondary School7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)250 lb (110 kg)Nov 13, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 80
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 14  247Sports: 23  ESPN: 17
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2020 UConn Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  • "2020 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved November 23, 2020.

Roster

2020–21 UConn Huskies men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
G0Jalen Gaffney6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)185 lb (84 kg)SoWesttown SchoolColumbus, NJ
G1R. J. Cole6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)185 lb (84 kg)RS JrHowardUnion, NJ
G2James Bouknight6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)190 lb (86 kg)SoThe MacDuffie SchoolBrooklyn, NY
G4Tyrese Martin6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)215 lb (98 kg)JrRhode IslandAllentown, PA
F5Isaiah Whaley6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)230 lb (104 kg)SrMt. Zion PrepGastonia, NC
G10Brendan Adams6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)195 lb (88 kg)JrCalvert Hall CollegeBaltimore, MD
F11Akok Akok6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)215 lb (98 kg)RS SoPutnam Science AcademyManchester, NH
F12Tyler Polley6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)215 lb (98 kg)SrSagemontMiramar, FL
F13Richie Springs6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)225 lb (102 kg)RS FrThe MacDuffie SchoolBrooklyn, NY
G20Andrew Hurley (W)6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)175 lb (79 kg)FrEast CatholicGlastonbury, CT
F21Adama Sanogo6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)240 lb (109 kg)FrThe Patrick SchoolBamako, Mali
F/C25Josh Carlton6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)240 lb (109 kg)SrDeMatha CatholicWinterville, NC
C31Javonte Brown (I)7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)250 lb (113 kg)FrThornlea Secondary SchoolToronto, ON
G41Matt Garry   (W)6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)195 lb (88 kg)JrSt. Paul CatholicSouthington, CT
G44Andre Jackson Jr.6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)210 lb (95 kg)FrAlbany AcademyAmsterdam, NY
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: November 23, 2020

Javonte Brown was only on the roster for the fall semester and announced plans to transfer on January 8, 2021.[6]

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV
Rank#Opponent#ResultRecordHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsSite (attendance)
city, state
Non-conference regular season
November 25, 2020*
8:00 pm, FS1
Central ConnecticutW 102–75 1–0
 20  Bouknight  8  Bouknight  6  Tied Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (125)
Storrs, CT
November 27, 2020*
8:00 pm, CBSSN
HartfordW 69–57 2–0
 18  Bouknight  10  Tied  4  Whaley Harry A. Gampel Pavilion 
Storrs, CT
December 1, 2020*
5:00 pm, ESPN2
vs. Vanderbilt
Legends Classic
Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemicMohegan Sun Arena 
Uncasville, CT
December 3, 2020*
7:00 pm, ESPN
vs. USC
Legends Classic
W 61–58 3–0
 18  Bouknight  11  Carlton  4  Cole Mohegan Sun Arena (0)
Uncasville, CT
December 5, 2020*
12:00 pm, ESPNU
vs. NC State
Bubbleville
Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemicMohegan Sun Arena 
Uncasville, CT
Big East Conference regular season
December 20, 2020
12:00 pm, FS1
No. 9 CreightonL 74–76 OT3–1
(0–1)
 40  Bouknight  10  Martin  3  Gaffney Harry A. Gampel Pavilion 
Storrs, CT
December 30, 2020
9:00 pm, CBSSN
DePaulW 82–61 4–1
(1–1)
 22  Martin  10  Tied  6  Cole Harry A. Gampel Pavilion 
Storrs, CT
January 5, 2021
9:00 pm, FS1
at MarquetteW 65–54 5–1
(2–1)
 23  Polley  13  Whaley  5  Cole Fiserv Forum 
Milwaukee, WI
January 9, 2021
4:00 pm, CBSSN
at ButlerW 72–60 6–1
(3–1)
 19  Polley  7  Tied  3  3 tied Hinkle Fieldhouse (1,879)
Indianapolis, IN
January 11, 2021
6:00 pm, FS1
No. 25 at DePaulW 60–53 7–1
(4–1)
 18  Martin  5  Tied  4  Cole Wintrust Arena 
Chicago, IL
January 18, 2021
2:30 pm, FOX
No. 23 St. John'sL 70–74 7–2
(4–2)
 18  Cole  8  Whaley  5  Cole Harry A. Gampel Pavilion 
Storrs, CT
January 20, 2021
8:30 pm, CBSSN
No. 23 XavierCancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemicHarry A. Gampel Pavilion 
Storrs, CT
January 23, 2021
12:00 pm, FOX
No. 23 at No. 11 CreightonL 66–74 7–3
(4–3)
 14  Cole  9  Tied  5  Cole CHI Health Center Omaha (1,839)
Omaha, NE
January 26, 2021
8:30 pm, FS1
ButlerW 63–51 8–3
(5–3)
 20  Martin  6  3 tied  5  Cole Harry A. Gampel Pavilion 
Storrs, CT
January 28, 2021
9:00 pm, FS1
No. 3 VillanovaCancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemicHarry A. Gampel Pavilion 
Storrs, CT
January 31, 2021
3:30 pm, FOX
at St. John'sCancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemicCarnesecca Arena 
Queens, NY
February 6, 2021
12:00 pm, FOX
Seton HallL 73–80 8–4
(5–4)
 20  Gaffney  6  Martin  2  3 tied Harry A. Gampel Pavilion 
Storrs, CT
February 10, 2021
4:00 pm, FS1
at ProvidenceL 59–70 8–5
(5–5)
 14  Cole  9  Martin  6  Cole Alumni Hall 
Providence, RI
February 13, 2021
12:00 pm, FOX
at XavierW 80–72 9–5
(6–5)
 24  Cole  10  Whaley  7  Cole Cintas Center (922)
Cincinnati, OH
February 16, 2021
6:30 pm, FS1
ProvidenceW 73–61 10–5
(7–5)
 18  Tied  7  Tied  5  Cole Harry A. Gampel Pavilion 
Storrs, CT
February 20, 2021
1:00 pm, FOX
at No. 10 VillanovaL 60–68 10–6
(7–6)
 21  Bouknight  11  Martin  2  Tied Finneran Pavilion 
Villanova, PA
February 23, 2021
9:00 pm, FS1
at Georgetown
Rivalry
W 70–57 11–6
(8–6)
 20  Bouknight  10  Bouknight  7  Cole McDonough Gymnasium 
Washington, D.C.
February 27, 2021
2:30 pm, FOX
MarquetteW 80–62 12–6
(9–6)
 24  Bouknight  8  Tied  4  Gaffney Harry A. Gampel Pavilion 
Storrs, CT
March 3, 2021
6:30 pm, FS1
at Seton HallW 69–58 13–6
(10–6)
 17  Whaley  10  Whaley  2  Tied Prudential Center (1,756)
Newark, NJ
March 6, 2021
12:00 pm, CBS
Georgetown
Rivalry
W 98–82 14–6
(11–6)
 21  Bouknight  10  Sanogo  8  Cole Harry A. Gampel Pavilion 
Storrs, CT
Big East tournament
March 11, 2021
9:00 pm, FS1
(3) vs. (11) DePaul
Quarterfinals
W 94–60 15–6
 14  3 tied  10  Martin  8  Cole Madison Square Garden (824)
New York, NY
March 12, 2021
9:00 pm, FS1
(3) vs. (2) No. 17 Creighton
Semifinals
L 56–59 15–7
 14  Bouknight  8  Bouknight  3  Cole Madison Square Garden (824)
New York, NY
NCAA tournament
March 20, 2021
7:10 pm, CBS
(7 E) vs. (10 E) Maryland
First Round
L 54–63 15–8
 15  Bouknight  11  Martin  4  Whaley Mackey Arena 
West Lafayette, IN
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern Time.

Rankings

PollPreWk 2Wk 3Wk 4Wk 5Wk 6Wk 7Wk 8Wk 9Wk 10Wk 11Wk 12Wk 13Wk 14Wk 15Wk 16Wk 17Final
AP[7]RVRVRVRVNRNRRV2523RVRVNRNRNRRVRVRVNot Released
Coaches[7]RV-RVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVNRNRNRRVRVRVRVRV

Awards and honors

References