Without their star guard James Bouknight, the UConn Huskies have began to freefall in the rankings and the Big East standings. Can they pick up a big win against a Providence squad lead by David Duke?
It is no secret that the Big East is one of the toughest conferences to play in. With razor thin winning margins and even some of the best teams in the country taking their lumps in conference play, many teams do falter during the weeks leading up to the conference tournament. UConn is one of these teams, to no fault of their own. After losing star guard James Bouknight, the Huskies have not been able to put it together in their first year back in the conference. Once presumed to finish as high as three in the conference standings the Huskies are falling fast and with no parachute. Providence is also struggling this year, even though their star guard David Duke has elevate the team around him it does not feel like the Friars have had enough this year. In a game that was supposed to be a battle of two Big East guards, Bouknight has been sidelined with injury. Even with his absence it is important to highlight both players and their current draft status.
Providence Friars: Based on the expectations of coaches around the Big East, it is safe to say, the Friars have underperformed this year. Selected to finish 3rd in the Big East standings ahead of Seton Hall and Villanova, before their matchup with UConn today, they currently sit 7th with a conference record of 5-8 and an overall record under .500 (9-10). It seems that Providence has just not been able to put it together this year and unless something drastic changes they will miss the tournament. This is not to say that the team did not have the talent. Touting well-rounded four year talent and NBA potential in guard David Duke if they are planning on going on a run the time is now.
David Duke: The 6-5 junior guard has impressed this year and has drawn the eye of NBA scouts. As his responsibility within the Friar system has increased so has his stats. Looking past the stats, Duke has shown that he can be a contributor at the next level if given the chance. He continues to grow as an offense player and uses his size to his advantage on the court. In a league that has continued to have a growing interest in taller guards because of their increased court vision. As a passer and rebounder Duke has continued to improve over the years and has the versatility to play either on or off ball at the next level. He will need to continue to improve as a decision maker and should look to fill out his frame at the next level. Duke, a junior, will be a bit older than some of the other guards in the class but because of his consistent improvement and steady shooting he should have a place on an NBA roster. MIP Projection: Early-Mid 2nd Round Pick
UConn Huskies: A free fall like no other has plagued the Huskies since they lost James Bouknight to elbow surgery. While we do not believe Bouknight will play today against the Friar’s, there have been rumors that he will be returning to the lineup sooner than later. Sooner than later may not bee soon enough though. What was once a promising season, UConn has managed to put their tournament chances on life support without their star guard. Dropping three of their last four, the Huskies will need a big win against Providence to stay stay at the forefront of the committees mind.
James Bouknight: The best player on the floor when he is on the floor is James Bouknight. It has been clear that the Huskies success runs through the sophomore guard and without him they have run stagnant on the offensive end. UConn is a Hurley coached team and has tried to lean on their defense to propel them to wins in the conference but it is not enough. Bouknight is the type of player that just knows how to find a basket. Over his two season at UConn he has made the jump to be the best guard prospect in the Big East. His size, like Duke, gives him the ability to rebound but unlike Duke he does not distribute the ball (playing two guard). At the next level, Bouknight has the potential to be a quality guard for any team and, if given the development minutes, could be a franchise shooting guard. He will need to work on improving his three point shooting but his ability to shoot free throws at an above 80% clip should be an encouraging sign for his development. The reason that we are so high on Bouknight, like many others, is because even though his three point percentage is a bit low and he is coming off injury he is “a walking bucket”. His ability to find his own shot, create his own looks and score even when you know he wants to score is an asset that translates at any level. When he adjusts to the game at the next level he will have an opportunity to make a real impact on any team if (and when) given the chance. I don’t expect his injury to hurt his draft stock. MIP Projection: Mid/Late Lottery (8-15)
Prediction*: Providence 68 – UConn 63
*If Bouknight does suit up, throw predictions out the window because you get a completely different UConn team.