Throughout a minute-and-a-half stretch early within the second half Tuesday evening, UConn males’s basketball freshman Colben Landrew made a 3-pointer from the wing, blocked a dunk try, grabbed a defensive rebound and scored in visitors with a powerful transfer on the basket.
The 5 stars hooked up to his recruiting profile … the summerlong reward from coach Dan Hurley … the excessive hopes that Landrew, probably a one-and-one NBA prospect, might help UConn towards one other nationwide championship …
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For this reason.
It was on show Tuesday throughout No. 4 UConn’s 78-70 exhibition victory over No. 6 Michigan State.
This wasn’t an actual recreation.
Nevertheless it was actual basketball.
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 20: Colben Landrew #3 of the UConn Huskies and Cam Ward #3 of the Michigan State Spartans battle for a unfastened ball within the second half at Breslin Middle on October 20, 2026 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Picture by Rey Del Rio/Getty Pictures) (Rey Del Rio/Getty Pictures)
At halftime, Hurley blew kisses to members of a throaty Breslin Middle pupil part that have been throughout him from the opening tip. The entire manufacturing regarded like one thing match for winter, even March, and felt like one thing with actual stakes.
Each groups stay 0-0 however each are higher for the expertise. No, I do not miss UConn blowing out American Worldwide, or preventing it out with Marathon Oil again within the day, or staging secret scrimmages. It is good to see groups put all their playing cards on the desk earlier than there’s any actual cash at stake.
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These video games are scheduled with simply that in thoughts – cash, after all, with all applications within the rev-share/NIL period needing to monetize their each transfer. They’re good for athletic departments. They’re good for groups, too.
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 20: Head coach Dan Hurley of the UConn Huskies reacts within the first half of the sport towards the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Middle on October 20, 2026 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Picture by Rey Del Rio/Getty Pictures) (Rey Del Rio/Getty Pictures)
If UConn and Michigan State occur to cross paths once more within the NCAA Match, it is going to really feel as if Tuesday’s get-together happened in one other lifetime. Nonetheless, video games towards Syracuse and the Spartans pushed UConn towards being the kind of staff it desires to be within the common season, and subsequent week’s exhibition finale at residence towards Purdue will do the identical.
Nobody advantages greater than freshman and first-year gamers. Nik Khamenia, the switch from Duke, was super, main UConn with 19 factors. He is been on such a stage earlier than, although. In actual fact, he is the one Husky who had performed beforehand within the Breslin Middle, for Duke final season.
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Landrew is new to all the things. He will not should ease his means into November basketball. As a result of he crashed into some October ball in one of the best ways.
Landrew, out of Wheeler Excessive in Marietta, Ga., completed with 13 factors and 5 rebounds in 31 minutes. He had eight factors and 4 rebounds in 29 minutes towards Syracuse.
With Braylon Mullins nonetheless sidelined with an undisclosed harm – he warmed up Tuesday however didn’t play – Landrew has performed an hour of demanding basketball with out having to fret about whether or not he begins, how he matches into the rotation.
UConn’s Colben Landrew speaks to members of the media after a summer season apply on the Werth Household Basketball Champions Middle in Storrs, Conn., Friday, August 7, 2026. (Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media)
That is for later. And if his play Tuesday is any indication, he clearly matches in simply nice, whether or not it is coming off the bench (and probably taking part in the majority of the minutes anyway) or cracking the beginning lineup at one level.
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Landrew’s put-back of a Junior County missed 3-pointer – a three-point play with the foul and free throw – gave UConn a 64-50 lead with 6:54 remaining. He made 5 of 11 photographs, wanting the half bodily and in how he moved.
UConn appears to be like good. The approaching months are about discovering out the place the ceiling is however, clearly, the ground is excessive. As a result of there are key returners. As a result of there are key transfers. As a result of there are key freshmen, significantly Landrew, who look able to contribute in a lot the identical means Steph Citadel did as a freshman in 2023-24.
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This text initially revealed at Colben Landrew provides UConn followers a glimpse of what is to come back this season: Mike Anthony.
