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Message: [QUOTE="Sphinx, post: 4125402, member: 4623"] It was just Grambling, but to my eye UConn looked like a team that had been freed to show its identity. Dan Hurley said as much in the post-game. It was no accident that Whaley was the game MVP, no accident that Hawkins and Cole dominated the offense, no accident that UConn's mobile bigs, Whaley and Akok. rediscovered their offense and reappeared as shot-blocking forces on defense, It was a function, very probably, of the center space opening up. It was a case of finally giving of few key operatives room to operate. Is this the team we want going forward? No question it's a team diametrically different from the Sanogo-oriented alternative. But is it better? I think yes, potentially. There's one improvement it needs, and that will come with the return of Tyrese Martin. By the time Martin returns, Hawkins will be established at the 2, so Martin figures to take over the 3 from Jackson. That will be key. It will restore offense to the 3, improve defense at the 3, and even improve defensive rebounding at the 3. Jackson rebounds, yes, but his habit of turning it into a one-man fast break too often leads to a turnover. Martin knows enough to hand off and fill the lane. Of course we wish a speedy return for both Martin and Sanogo. And we know when Sanogo returns, he will be our center, and that's that. But it would be interesting, if Martin returns first, to see just how good the alternative might get. [/QUOTE]