Jay Bilas on UConn: ‘They’re really good right now but they’re going to be way better in January and February’

Dan Hurley and UConn are 4-0 and ranked No. 2 in the nation, but ESPN analyst Jay Bilas says they will only get better as they pursue a historic three-peat.
“They’re a work in progress,” Bilas said Wednesday on an ESPN conference call ahead of the Maui Invitational. “They’re really good right now but they’re going to be way better in January and February.
“They’re going to Maui and they’re going to have some tough games there that’s going to tell them and Danny what they really need to do and I think the players will get a lot out of that.”
The Huskies, who are coming off an 81-46 beatdown of East Texas A&M on Tuesday night, will next play Memphis in Maui on Monday. After that, UConn will meet Colorado or Michigan State on Tuesday, and Auburn/Dayton/Iowa State/North Carolina on Wednesday.
ESPN’s Seth Greenberg said the key for UConn’s development this year will be the development of the sophomore class featuring Solo Ball, Jaylin Stewart and Jayden Ross.
“Their sophomore class has got to take that next step,” Greenberg said. “Solo Ball’s playing really well, I’ve been really impressed with him, his poise, the way he’s playing.
“Jayden Ross, now healthy. I think you can see the light bulb going on with him so that sophomore class is really important.”
Greenberg said veteran guards Hassan Diarra (6.5 ppg) and Aidan Mahaney (5.8 ppg) have given UConn “quality minutes,” but Hurley has not been pleased with their offensive production.
“We know eventually (Mahaney’s) scoring will get there but he has got to defend, make plays on the ball, be disruptive defensively, and take a charge,” Hurley told reporters Tuesday.
“He has to play basketball and see things such as rollers. Our perimeter people aren’t seeing each other well. Guys like Andre Jackson, Tristen (Newton), Cam (Spencer), and Steph (Castle) saw these things. Alex (Karaban) sees it too.”
Of all the players the Huskies have lost to the NBA in recent years, Greenberg said replacing Spencer in the backcourt might be the biggest challenge.
“Cam Spencer is Danny Hurley 2.0,” he said. “He was a perfect fit for that team. And Stephon Castle, you see what he’s doing now [averaging 9.9 points and 3.5 assists with the San Antonio Spurs].”
He added of UConn: “I think the biggest thing right now is at the point guard position, getting that stable, because Liam McNeeley is just a bad dude. And you put him and Alex, who’s done a a great job mentoring him as as a leader.”
McNeeley (13.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg) is expected to challenge Georgetown forward Thomas Sorber for Big East Freshman of the Year honors, and both are garnering NBA Draft interest.
Greenberg said he’s “really impressed” with Michigan transfer Tarris Reed Jr., and “his ability to rebound out of his area.”
Maui should give Hurley and his team a great barometer of where they stand in pursuit of a historic three-peat.
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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter who covers Seton Hall and NJ college basketball for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.com.