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Connecticut guard Jordan Hawkins speaks during a news conference in preparation for the Final Four college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 30, 2023, in Houston. Miami will face UConn on Saturday. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
David J. Phillip/Associated Press
HOUSTON — UConn guard Jordan Hawkins is listed as starter for the Huskies Final Four matchup Saturday night after missing practice Friday due to an illness..
A UConn spokesman said earlier in day Hawkins’ status depended on how he felt after resting this afternoon. He was listed on the pregame media sheet as a starter.
Hawkins is the UConn men’s basketball team’s second-leading scorer and a likely 2023 NBA first-round draft pick. The 6-foot-5 sophomore guard had missed Friday’s shootaround and media availabilities with a stomach ailment.
Hawkins averages 16.3 points per game while shooting 38.5 percent from 3-point range. In four NCAA Tournament games, he’s averaged 17.3 ppg and hit 51.6 percent of his 3-pointers. Hawkins was named Most Outstanding Player of the West Regionals after averaging 22 points and hitting 9 of 19 3-pointers in wins over Arkansas and Gonzaga in Las Vegas.
UConn coach Dan Hurley seemed fairly confident on Friday that Hawkins would be able to play and give the Huskies “something.” Hurley said the team had three doctors with them on the trip, and that Hawkins had been isolated at the team hotel away from the rest of his teammates, including roommate Tristen Newton, in order to prevent his illness from spreading.
[email protected] @DaveBorges
