By Michael Letendre
The University of Connecticut Men’s basketball program has absolutely started the season on fire, scooping eight wins in eight tries.
Part of that success was adding a certain 7-foot-2 center to the mix and where would the Huskies be without the contributions of former Bristol Central star Donovan Clingan this year?
After UCONN dismantled Iowa State on Sunday night 71-53 to take the Phil Knight Invitational Tournament (and having to listen to former Boston Celtics’ center Bill Walton babble on and on and on about, well, nothing except when he exclaimed ‘they’re going to give Clingan MVP?’), the freshman standout earned his first collegiate hardware.
Against Iowa, Clingan dumped in 15 points and 10 rebounds – nabbing his first double-double for the Huskies in just 18 minutes of play.
And as Walton broke before the completion of the showdown, Clingan went on to earn MVP honors.
He netted eight first half points in the championship tilt as UConn led 38-28 by the time intermission rolled around.
For the three-game tournament, Clingan put himself on a national stage and if you didn’t know who he was, you’ve quickly learned.
Over that three pack of games, victories against quality competition such as Oregon, Alabama and Iowa State – the center averaged 9.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.0 steals-per-game – all while playing just 16.0 minutes a night.
Clingan shot 7-of-8 from the field over his final two games in tournament play, shot .611 overall and made his presence known from the bench with his shot blocking and positional defense.
And off that sensational effort, Clingan also earned BIG EAST Freshman of the Week honors.
In the end, it was just another average week for the 7-foot-2 pivotman.
Chemistry
When you see Clingan performing on the court or sitting on the bench in a Huskies’ uniform, there’s something always ever-present on the freshman’s face.
And it’s usually a grin from ear to ear.
This guy not only oozes basketball IQ but simply loves the game of basketball.
Who could blame him?
The sport has been very good to him and vise-versa.
The chemistry he brings to the basketball program from Storrs is such an invaluable intangible asset that not every 7-foot-2 player can duplicate.
And nothing has really changed from Bristol Central to UConn because Clingan is still jamming home lobs, rebounding over everyone and continues to reject shot after shot.
He is 0-for-1 from three-point land but the first trifecta is somewhere on the horizon.
How many collegiate programs are kicking themselves for going after a guy like Barney Gumble instead of Clingan?
Jumping up the Rankings
UConn was ranked 20th by the Associated Press last week, quietly moving up the ranks, but things have quickly changed in the newest poll released on Monday.
The Huskies, now a perfect 8-0, have moved all the way up to eighth as head coach Dan Hurley and recruits like Clingan are starting to turn the program from Storrs into a national power again.
And jumping up 12 spots, in any poll, is a tremendous feat.
As of Monday, here’s how the top-10 look in men’s college basketball as UConn is now a top-10 program:
Rank Team Record Points Previous Ranking
1. Houston (45 1st place votes) 6-0 1,534 2
2. Texas (8) 5-0 1,467 4
3. Virginia (2) 5-0 1,408 5
4. Arizona 6-0 1,341 14
5. Purdue (8) 6-0 1,307 24
6. Baylor 5-1 1,111 7
7. Creighton 6-1 1,100 10
8. UCONN 8-0 1,099 20
9. Kansas 6-1 990 3
10. Indiana 6-0 938 11
What’s next?
UConn is back in action on Thursday, December 1 in a non-conference showdown against Oklahoma State.
The contest takes place from the friendly confines of Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs at 6:30 p.m.
The game, in what’s being termed a BIG-EAST/Big 12 Battle, will be broadcast live on FS1.
