UConn notebook: Hawkins rebounds in a big way

Dec. 2—STORRS — Jordan Hawkins' performance for the UConn men's basketball team against Iowa State in the Phil Knight Invitational tournament title game Sunday was one he'd like to forget.

He had two points and picked up four fouls, including a technical, in only five minutes of action in the Huskies' win.

But the sophomore from Gaithersburg, Maryland rebounded with a performance to remember Thursday night.

Hawkins scored a career-high 26 points to lead the eighth-ranked Huskies past Oklahoma State in the Big East-Big 12 Battle before an announced crowd of 10,167 at Gampel Pavilion.

"I love playing here in front of the fans. I love the rims here," Hawkins said. "I just caught fire early and my teammates did a great job feeding me the ball. Everything felt like it was going in."

Following practice Wednesday, UConn coach Dan Hurley called the Iowa State game Hawkins' "mulligan" for the season.

Hawkins admitted Thursday he didn't know what that term meant, but after being told its meaning, he agreed with his coach.

"It was definitely a learning experience," Hawkins said. "It wasn't the greatest game I've played personally, but credit to my teammates for getting it done, stepping up."

Hurley chalked up the performance against Iowa State to rust. It was Hawkins' fifth game back after missing two after entering concussion protocol during the season opener Nov. 7.

"I just think some of the games in Portland, after missing time with the concussion, he was just trying to find a rhythm," Hurley said. "He's going to have some nights like (tonight) with the way that guy shoots the ball, how quickly he gets it off, how well he uses screens and how well he's used the shot fake to get some paint and get to the free throw line. You have to have that type of firepower on the wing. It opens up a lot of things."

Hawkins finished 6-for-13 shooting Thursday, including hitting 5-of-9 shots from deep. He also made 9-of-12 free throws while contributing two rebounds and a block.

He's now averaging 13.3 points per game.

"You just have to have that confidence every single night," Hawkins said. "Not a single game, every game. Just having that confidence where you believe in your ability and your teammates. When shots fall, shots fall."

Hawkins also drew six fouls Thursday, including two offensive.

"He's got to be a two-way player for us," Hurley said. "All of our players have to be two-way players. You can't win anything significant unless you play elite-level defense. I just think that that sends a message. When your best shooter-scorer on the team is grinding defensively and working like that, it just tells you about the culture and the mindset of the program. He's not out there auditioning for the NBA. He's out there trying to win for UConn. That's what our culture is all about."

Hurley wasn't the only coach in the building to offer praise for Hawkins following the game.

"He's got that kind of spurtability, instant offense. He does a great job moving the basketball," Oklahoma State coach Mike Boynton said. "I grew up in New York City, so I watched a lot of Big East basketball. Guys like Rip (Richard) Hamilton and Ray Allen come to mind when I watch him play and the way he moves. Obviously, I don't want to put that kind of expectation on him. But as a young guy, I can see him growing into being one the best scorers to come through here because of his ability to use screens and get his shot off with good size on the perimeter."

Hawkins said Boynton's praise "means the world to me", particularly the comparison to Hamilton.

"Me and Rip grew a relationship over the summer," Hawkins added. "So, it's just been great and I've learned a lot from him. Ray Allen is a Hall of Fame player. But at the end of the day, I'm Jordan Hawkins, and I've got to be Jordan Hawkins. So I have to create my own name and my own legacy."

Jackson makes first start

For the first time this season, Andre Jackson heard his name announced in the starting five for the Huskies.

"It feels good," Jackson said. "I really just want to play. As long as I can get out there and impact the game, that's the biggest and most important thing. I feel like we have so many players that the starting lineup can vary from game to game. So I'm not too concerned with that."

Jackson impacted Thursday's game right from the Huskies' first possession when he had a thunderous alley-oop dunk after a pass from teammate Tristen Newton.

"It was all just Coach Hurley," Jackson said. "We ran through that play before the game even started and that was the biggest thing."

The junior recorded season highs of 11 points, six assists and three steals while also contributing seven rebounds Thursday.

"The best number obviously is that zero turnovers," Hurley said. "That's like so awesome to see. But he just has so much impact out there. Third foul, we were kind of struggling when to bring him back because he's such an aggressive defender. So you're like how much do I sit him because he's a stuntman out there and you're just afraid he could've picked up that fourth. He's a tremendous impact player. Unbelievable."

Jackson missed the first three games of the season as he recovered from an Oct. 12 surgery to repair a fractured right pinky finger. He returned to the lineup against UNC Wilmington Nov. 18. He's played each game since, averaging 5.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.5 steals a game.

Battling it out

UConn was the only Big East team to pick up a victory in the three Big East-Big 12 Battle games Thursday night.

The Big 12 now leads the series 4-3 with three games remaining.

No. 2 Texas edged No. 7 Creighton 72-67 in Austin behind 19 points, five rebounds and five assists from Marcus Carr.

Meanwhile, ninth-ranked Kansas routed Seton Hall 91-65 in Lawrence thanks to double-doubles from Jalen Wilson (15 points, 13 rebounds) and Kevin McCullar (17 points, 10 rebounds).

Villanova entertains Oklahoma while Xavier plays host to West Virginia tonight before the series concludes Sunday when St. John's visits No. 23 Iowa State.

Worth quoting

"No, we need it. That West Coast swing, I don't even know how (North) Carolina even played last night. I was watching that game thinking about their West Coast trip and then went and played at Indiana last night. I mean they just got buried in scheduling. But no we need the time and getting a couple of days off. I thought Adama (Sanogo) ran out of gas second half. We missed some clean threes that I think could've really kept that game at 18, 20 longer. But this is a group that will get a day off and then a practice, and then a day off, then some good prep for a really important road game for us." — Hurley when asked if it's tough to have a six-day break between games with the team on a hot streak.

For coverage of UConn football and men's basketball as well as area high school and local youth sports, follow Adam Betz on Twitter: @AdBetz1, Facebook: Adam Betz — Sports Writer, and Instagram: @AdBetzJI.