New hair, new results?
That appears to be what UConn forward Stanley Robinson hopes.
The Huskies, who have lost three in a row and six of their last eight games, need something to spark them. Maybe the 6-foot-9, high-flying Robinson cutting his trademark cornrows for a more aerodynamic look will be the catalyst.
UConn hosts Depaul Saturday night.
– Robinson swears he didn’t lose a bet.
“Not at all,” Robinson said. “I just felt like it was time for me to cut it off. I had a rough stage with that hair so I got tired of it.”
Teammate Jerome Dyson likes the look…sort of.
“He’s been getting a lot of compliments,” Dyson said.
From the players?
“No, not from us,” Dyson said with a laugh.
It wasn’t to try and break any kind of basketball jinx, but I’m sure that’s what Robinson hopes it does.
“I just wanted a more professional look,” Robinson said. “I think it looks better on me.”
– Coach Jim Calhoun remains away from the team on an indefinite leave.
Sticks, though, thinks he has the answer for Calhoun’s return.
“I’m thinking next week,” Robinson said. “I’m thinking Syracuse.”
Robinson then said he may call Calhoun Friday night and let him in on that “secret.”
– DePaul has only one league win this season and recently snapped a record-losing streak in conference play.
The Huskies, however, aren’t putting this game in the win column just yet.
“We can’t look over anybody at this point,” Dyson said. “We’re just trying to take every game the same. We need wins. We just have to focus on one opponent at time.”
– Turnovers (73 in the last four games) continue to be a big issue for the Huskies.
“I’m still concerned about the turnovers. The turnovers continue to be a problem,” associate head coach George Blaney said. “Whether it’s the passer or the catcher, it still seems to be something where we do not value the ball enough.”
Is the guards or the big men who deserve the most blame?
“It’s both of us. We’re throwing some tough passes and some of them are not being caught,” Dyson said. “It’s going both ways.”
– DePaul is a big and strong team according to Blaney.
“They play really good defense. They do trap some, they play a little zone but it’s mostly a man-to-man team,” Blaney said. “It’s very aggressive, up in you pretty good. I think we have to be sharp with our execution.”
– DePaul is making its first-ever trip to Storrs.
UConn is 15-1 against present and former Big East members making their first visit to Gampel Pavilion. Marquette is the only league opponent to win in its Gampel debut.
– UConn leads the all-time series 3-1 and won 71-49 in Chicago.
– Former St. Luke’s star Devin Hill will be back in his home state Saturday. The 6-foot-9 Stamford native is averaging 6.0 points and 3.3 rebounds during this, his sophomore season.
- Neill
