Dan Hurley expects physical matchup vs. Arkansas

Arkansas plays a very trendy style of basketball. With several top freshmen and some high-flying players, though, many people don’t truly realize how physical the ‘Hogs really are. Even so, that fact isn’t getting past Dan Hurley as UConn prepares for a big-time battle in Las Vegas.

Hurley previewed the physicality ahead of tonight’s matchup against the Razorbacks. He said the Huskies likely aren’t as athletic as Arkansas is. That means they’re going to have to be sound when it comes to their rebounding and their effort to win the competition on the glass.

“It’s going to be (physical),” Hurley said. “Obviously, a part of this game is going to be played in a really physical way on the backboard.”

“For us, I don’t know that we have maybe quite the same level of athleticism. So we’ve got to be more fundamental in terms of putting a body on a body, being in inside position. And then being really physical at that point,” said Hurley. “We pride ourselves on winning the rebounding battle as they do. And it’s going to be a war when the ball goes up tomorrow on the glass.”

Connecticut has been one of the nation’s best rebounding teams all season long. It’s already impressive that they average 39 boards per game on the year. What’s even more so is the amount of players they have contributing on the glass. Adama Sanogo leads the way with 7.5 rebounds a game and has grabbed 21 in their NCAA Tournament wins. However, they have four more players averaging four or more rebounds and would have six total if Jordan Hawkins didn’t just miss the cut at 3.8.

In total, UConn has won the glass by 25 rebounds, making it an average of 12.5, in their wins over Iona and Saint Mary’s in Albany.

Even so, Arkansas is a team that can match them on the backboard considering the size of their frontline. Makhi Mitchell leads the ‘Hogs with 5.5 of their 35.2 rebounds a game with 6-7 point guard Anthony Black following close behind with 5.1. In the Razorback’s wins over Illinois and Kansas, they ended up winning the glass by 16 for an average of eight per game.

So much of tonight’s game inside T-Mobile Arena is going to be decided within the lane. With neither team shooting it particularly well, points in the paint and rebounding are going to be crucial. That’s why Hurley is emphasizing physicality with his team before what should be a bruising battle inside for both the Huskies and ‘Hogs.