STORRS, Conn. — The 2023-2024 UConn men’s basketball team entering tournament play is a juggernaut. There’s no other way to put it.
The No. 2 Huskies (28-3) and reigning national champions blew by the competition this season and earned notable victories over then-No. 15 Texas, No. 9 North Carolina, No. 10 Gonzaga, No. 18 Creighton, No. 4 Marquette at home and again at No. 8 Marquette several weeks later.
UConn won the Big East regular season crown by four games and set a new conference record for league wins with 18. On Thursday, the team will begin play in the Big East Tournament, which it looks to win for the first time since 2011.
For the Huskies to have another special March, the entire team must step up, but three players are expected to lead the way.
If UConn looks to win the Big East Tournament and advance into April in consecutive seasons, First-Team All-Big East guards Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer must elevate their games. Center Donovan Clingan has to be the player he’s shown glimpses of being all season.
Tristen Newton
Newton, a 6-5 graduate student from El Paso, Texas, has led the Huskies in points, rebounds and assists per game this season. He has averaged 15 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists per contest.
Last week, Newton was named to the All-Big East First Team. He leads active Division 1 players with four career triple-doubles and is the only active player with at least 1,800 points, 650 rebounds, and 650 assists.
A key member of UConn’s 2023 National Championship team, the East Carolina transfer tested NBA waters last spring but ultimately chose to return to Storrs for his fifth year of eligibility. The decision paid off, as Newton registered the best season of his career.
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An All-American candidate and Wooden Award finalist, Newton recorded his first triple-double of the season against Manhattan on Nov. 1. He captured the nation’s attention on Dec. 1 during a close road loss to then-No. 5 Kansas in primetime, scoring 31 points.
A season of consistent performances was highlighted by a 25-point effort in a road win against Villanova on Jan. 20. He followed that up with another triple-double during a home win against Villanova on Feb. 24.
Last year, after a back-and-forth regular season, Newton took his game to a new level in the NCAA Tournament, recording 19 points in the NCAA title game against San Diego State.
If UConn is to become the first back-to-back NCAA champion since Florida in 2006 and 2007, Newton must be assertive and look to score. The team goes as Newton goes, and his leadership cannot be undermined.
Never too high or low, Newton plays with a sense of confidence that his teammates feed off. Even on off nights, he is without question the team’s leader. This month, he’ll look to help the Huskies win a Big East Tournament title and, early next month, he’ll look to earn a second national championship ring.
Cam Spencer
After last year’s national championship, UConn lost center Adama Sanogo, the 2023 Final Four Most Outstanding Player, and guards Jordan Hawkins and Andre Jackson Jr. to the NBA.
As he brought in the No. 3 recruiting class in the country, it was unclear which direction head coach Dan Hurley would go to add veteran talent to his squad. The answer came in early June when Spencer, a 6-4 graduate student from Davidson, Md., announced he would transfer to UConn for his final year of eligibility.
And what a year it has been for the former Loyola Maryland and Rutgers star. For the Huskies, he has averaged 14.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game during his lone season in Storrs. Spencer shot 49.2% from the field and has been one of the team’s most reliable three-point shooters in years.
Beyond the statistics, Spencer brings an energy to the court that is unrivaled by most. The more hostile the crowd, the better Spencer seemed to play, and he is poised to shine on the sport’s brightest stage over the next several weeks.
Spencer was named to the All-Big East First Team last week and hopes to earn more accolades as UConn progresses in tournament play. As the Huskies' best free throw shooter, Spencer is a reliable player to have on the line during crunch time.
In each of UConn’s three losses, however, Spencer has recorded less than two three-pointers, a statistic that testifies to his importance.
As one of only several UConn rotation players that lacks an NCAA championship ring, Spencer has extra incentive to perform at his best this postseason. If UConn is to add a sixth national championship trophy to the Werth Family Champions Center in Storrs, Spencer must get to the line and connect early and often from behind the arc.
Donovan Clingan
Known as “The Great Wall of Bristol”, 7-2 sophomore center Clingan is undoubtedly one of the best defenders in the country. Last spring, the Bristol, Conn native played an integral role in UConn’s national championship run, coming off the bench.
Moving into a starting spot this season, Clingan has dealt with numerous foot injuries and missed five games in December and January. While he hasn’t lived up to the pre-season All-American hype, Clingan has registered a solid 2023-2024 campaign, earning All-Big East honorable mention honors.
In 26 games played, Clingan has averaged 12.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game this season. He’s shown glimpses of greatness, including a 21-point performance in a win against then No. 10 Gonzaga on Dec. 15 and 19 points and five blocks in a rout of Seton Hall on March 3.
This March, UConn will expect Clingan to be a stopper at the rim. When he’s healthy, few players in the country can disrupt the paint the way that Clingan can.
Offensively, Clingan has not necessarily evolved as projected this season, but the potential remains for a breakout postseason run. As a projected first-round NBA draft pick, Clingan has much to prove in the coming weeks.
If Clingan can reach new heights during tournament play, UConn will be well-suited to return to the heights it achieved last spring and Clingan's draft stock will rise.
X-Factors: Stephon Castle and Alex Karaban
Rounding out UConn’s starting five are 6-6 guard Stephon Castle of Covington, Ga. and 6-8 forward Alex Karaban, of Southborough, Mass.
Castle, a freshman, is a projected lottery pick in this year’s NBA draft; some draft boards currently list him as a top-five pick. Castle’s draft status is well-warranted, as he’s averaged 11.2 points per game, played lock-down defense, greatly improved his three-point shot and earned a league-record 11 Big East Rookie of the Week honors.
For UConn to advance in the Big East and NCAA Tournaments, Castle must continue to improve at lightning speed. His days in a UConn uniform are most likely numbered, but perhaps, his greatest games have yet to come.
Karaban, a sophomore, was a starter on last season’s NCAA championship team and has improved in 2023-2024, scoring 14.2 points and registering 5.1 rebounds per game. When Karaban is connecting from three-point range, the Huskies are almost impossible to beat.
An improved player on defense, Karaban embodies the toughness that has made this year’s squad special. If Karaban hopes to earn a second national championship ring, he must continue to be effective on defense and shoot well from behind the arc.
Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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