When Akok Akok went down with an injury that looked to be season-ending, UConn Basketball suffered one of their worst losses of the campaign.
UConn Basketball secured a significant victory on Sunday afternoon, defeating the Memphis Tigers at home with a comeback. However, they suffered a greater setback when Akok Akok sustained a critical injury.
Less than a minute into the game on Sunday, the rookie forward from Manchester, New Hampshire, was knocked down while attempting to make a play at the rim. After watching his team win, he hobbled into the locker room and came back to the bench wearing a walking boot and crutches, headed for a trip to the hospital.
With early reports suggesting that he may have torn his Achilles, Akok was understandably distraught while sitting on the bench.
Although more details will probably surface in the next few days, his rookie campaign is most likely finished. Although Akok isn’t as talented as some of his Tigers teammates, he has become a valuable member of Dan Hurley’s rotation. In a game, he averages 6.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and an astounding 2.7 blocks. In the AAC, Akok has a significant advantage over Chris Harris Jr. of Houston.
This season, UConn has demonstrated that it can compete even in the face of severe injuries. The season of Tyler Polley, a forward who averaged 9.5 points per game and scored 19 against Tulane in his final game, came to an abrupt end last month when he tore his ACL. After that, the Huskies dropped four straight games before winning their last two, 4-2, which included victories at home against Cincinnati and on the road against Tulsa.
Hurley’s roster still only has a small number of scholarship players—eight, according to the Hartford Courant. In the past five games, rookie James Bouknight has elevated his game, averaging at least 17 points per game. However, the support system outside of Christian Vital is starting to fade.
It is debatable to what extent that matters for the 2019–20 campaign. The Huskies have improved their overall record to over.500, but they are still below.500 in AAC play. To advance to the NCAA Tournament in March, they will probably need to win the AAC Tournament. Although there is no restriction on who can attend the conference, that seems unlikely.
On the other hand, healing from an Achilles tear may take months rather than weeks. In fact, it can take up to a year to heal from the injury, which could endanger Akok’s chances of playing in the 2020–21 campaign. Hurley’s third season in Storrs is expected to be a pivotal one for the Huskies next year. UConn should be able to field a team capable of contending for a Big East championship and making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2016 this year, with just two seniors on the team.
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