UConn sharpshooter Jordan Hawkins missed Friday’s practice with a non-COVID illness and his status for Saturday night’s Final Four clash against Miami is unclear.
Huskies coach Dan Hurley said Hawkins began to feel ill on Thursday night in Houston. Team doctors moved Hawkins’ roommate, Tristen Newton, to another room to prevent the illness from spreading through the team.
“I think we’ve got like three doctors on this trip with us, so you hope that we could navigate it,” Hurley said during a press conference. “We obviously isolated him. Started to not feel well last night. For him to miss today obviously tells you he’s not in a great way.”
Hawkins is averaging 17.3 points through UConn’s four NCAA Tournament victories and has knocked down 16 of 31 3-point attempts. He was named Most Outstanding Player of the West Regional.
He scored 24 points in an 88-65 rout of Arkansas in the Sweet 16 and followed it up with 20 points and matched his career high of six 3-pointers during an 82-54 whipping of Gonzaga in the Elite Eight.
Forward Alex Karaban is hopeful that fourth-seeded UConn (29-8) will have its top shooter for the game against the fifth-seeded Hurricanes (29-7).
“I think he’s going to be fine,” Karaban told reporters of Hawkins. “The doctors are with him right now, trying to speed it up, make him feel better. We’ll need him out there. He’s one of the main reasons why we’re here. I think he’ll be just fine. He’s just as excited as anyone else, so I know he won’t want to miss this moment.”
Hawkins is second on the squad with a 16.3 scoring average and lead the team with 104 3-pointers. The sophomore also has been rising on NBA draft boards and is a potential lottery selection.
The Huskies have won their four NCAA tourney games by an average of 22.5 points.
Fifth-seeded San Diego State (31-6) and ninth-seeded Florida Atlantic (35-3) play in the other Final Four matchup.
–Field Level Media
