UNCASVILLE - It wasn't long ago that UConn men's basketball preseason scrimmages were typically shrouded in secrecy.
"Secret scrimmages," they were called, even though everyone knew they were occurring. They were held behind closed doors, shielded from the public and that nosy media. Dan Hurley preferred them to public exhibitions against Division II teams like Southern Connecticut State, though he usually only liked to play Harvard and Virginia in such settings.
Information from such secret scrimmages was kept on the down-low. Dribs and drabs might ultimately be leaked to the public, either through an off-the-record assistant coach or, more often, simply just Internet rumor. Hurley was particularly good about keeping statistics from such games, even the final score, under wraps. He'd let you know which of his players looked good, but even that sometimes was more about lighting a fire under another player or pumping up the confidence of a kid who might need it.
Now, it's all out in the open. And it's against top-notch competition. Teams are now allowed to play three preseason exhibition games, and UConn is taking advantage. On Tuesday night, it was old rival Syracuse at Mohegan Sun Arena. On Oct. 20, it'll be at Michigan State in the return of a home-and-home exhibition series with Sparty. On Oct. 27, it'll be Purdue at PeoplesBankArena.
Hurley can't control the setting like in secret scrimmages, where coaches could stop play in the middle of the action for instruction - a glorified practice, really. Coaches can't even agree to push players' foul limits to more than five in an effort to keep guys on the floor longer. The NCAA doesn't like that, apparently.
The games don't count, but they give a good view of where a team is prior to the start of the season. And they're there for all to see, on TV and/or before 6,682 fans and nosy media on Tuesday night at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Here's a player-by-player breakdown from what we saw of UConn's 72-52 win over Syracuse.
Silas Demary Jr.
Didn't shoot well (3-for-12 overall, 1-for-4 from 3) but shot frequently, which is what the staff wants from their senior leader and potential All-American. He grabbed five rebounds and played his typically tough defense. He's the least of UConn's worries.
Jayden Ross
Perhaps a bit amped up by being in the starting lineup after just one start over his first 94 games at UConn, he committed two offensive fouls within the first 97 seconds of play, then a third midway through the first half.
"I think Jayden could have fouled out within about five minutes," Hurley quipped.
Ultimately, displayed his typical bouncy, energetic defense over 20 minutes, hit Na'jai Hines for a pretty lob dunk and scored on a nice drive late in the game. It's finally his chance this season, and he knows it.
Nik Khamenia
All he's tasked to do is fill the shoes of a two-time national champion and winningest player in program history. That's all. The 6-foot-8 Khamenia shares plenty of Alex Karaban's traits, however, and they were all on display in an impressive showing: 12 points, 3-for-5 from 3, eight rebounds and three assists, including a nifty pass up the floor to Na'jai Hines for a transition layup and a lob to Oskar Giltay for a dunk. Hurley loves the sophomore transfer from Duke, even putting his name alongside Demary and Ross as players he has no worries about this season.
Na'jai Hines
Biggest surprise of the night was the 6-11, 275-pound sophomore beginning the game on the bench. Clearly, he's struggled at times to show consistency in practice, and Hurley rewarded fellow soph Oskar Giltay with the start. If it was meant to light a fire under Hines, it worked: 17 points on an array of lob dunks, putbacks, a nifty lefty hook and 7-for-8 shooting from the foul line. He also grabbed eight rebounds and blocked a couple of shots (though one should have been called a goaltend).
"He was the most impressive player on the court," Hurley correctly stated.
Doesn't feel like he'll start too many more games on the bench.
Oskar Giltay
Got the start over Hines after impressing throughout the summer and fall practices, but it wasn't his best outing. Finished with just four points and two rebounds in 18 minutes before fouling out. But he looks significantly bigger and stronger than he did as a frosh at Stanford, and if the reviews of his off-season performance are accurate, he'll be a key defensive backup big for the Huskies.
Colben Landrew
Prized freshman drew the start, likely due to absence of Braylon Mullins, who is out with what's considered a minor injury. The 6-6, 235-pound wing didn't necessarily fill up the stat sheet (eight points, four boards, one assist, three fouls in 28 minutes) and was just 2-for-5 from the foul line. But there were times in the open floor where it was obvious why he's considered a potential one-and-done, with speed, handle and some nifty spin moves. Defense is his biggest question mark, but that's the same for most freshmen. He's the real deal.
Junior County
Hurley's rave reviews over the summer of the poised freshman point guard seemed merited. He popped in a trio of 3-pointers and grabbed seven rebounds (second only to Khamenia and Hines) in just 17 minutes off the bench. If there were any questions on whether a frdzafic
an could handle being Demary's backup point guard, it looks like they'll be quelled quickly.
Nils Machowski
A somewhat quiet Husky "debut" for senior transfer from Wofford, but he had a nice putback of a Demary miss to end the first half and should be a very solid backup on the perimeter. Maybe more Joey California than Cam Spencer, but effective either way.
Egor Amosov
Did nothing to damper his hopes for being the 10th man in the rotation, entering the game with about six minutes left in the first half and quickly swishing a 3 off a nice feed from Landrew. Those were his only points in 12 minutes, but he's in the mix.
Jacob Ross, Jaye Nash, Isaiah Shaw, Elmir Dzafic
All just saw a couple of minutes of garbage time, and none are likely to be part of the rotation (though Ross could see minutes as a small-ball big, per Hurley). Still, all could see action at different points this season depending on injuries, foul troubles, etc. Just ask Alec Millender or Dwayne Koroma. It can happen.
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This article originally published at UConn men's basketball: Who stood out in preseason win over Syracuse? Breaking down lineup.