UConn Women's Basketball: Pair of centers solidify UConn
Overlooked in all of the early season success of the UConn women's basketball team and its star freshman Maya Moore has been the play of centers Tina Charles and Brittany Hunter.
A year ago Charles was the hyped newcomer and Hunter was the former high school national player of the year struggling to stay on the court due to a lingering knee injury. Now both have taken steps forward, one looking to live up to expectations of greatness and the other looking to salvage a career that was once in doubt. They continue on their paths tonight against Virginia (7 p.m., CPTV) at the Hartford Civic Center.
Hunter wasn't sure if she wanted to put herself through the rigors of another season. With just two classes after this semester separating her from her degree, a fifth year wasn't necessary. But its a decision that has paid off for the Huskies.
"It's been fun and interesting because Brittany's a great person to play with," Charles said. "She not only dominates down low, but she's also a vocal leader. She's there to tell me where to go, she's there to tell me to let me know she's got it."
Because of the knee injury, the expectation for the season was for Hunter to play 15-20 minutes a game. If she did that, Coach Geno Auriemma believed that Hunter could provide a double-double off the bench.
It didn't take long for the plan to go to the wayside, as the struggles of forward Charde Houston pushed Hunter into the starting lineup, where she has given UConn additional size in the paint.
"It's always kind of a surprise when I'm doing something consistently well," Hunter said. "I knew that if I got on a roll, I'd be fine. Once you are consistently doing something, there's a different kind of confidence like this is the norm now. Once you have that, it's fine."
With four starts in five games, Hunter is averaging 5.8 points and four rebounds while playing 12.8 minutes per contest. It may not be 10 and 10, but as a starter, those numbers aren't needed.
After a season where the Huskies went day-to-day not sure whether Hunter could walk without pain, nevermind play or practice, seeing her move up and down the court has been
"I just think every game that we get some contribution from Brittany is a bonus for us," Auriemma said. "I don't know if you can say this is the way it's going to be the rest of the year or the whole month of December, none of us can sit here and predict one way or the other how it's going to be day-to-day, week-to-week."
Having an effective Hunter to go alongside Houston, Charles, Moore and an improved Kaili McLaren, UConn has a depth in the post that it could have only dreamed about. To date, the Huskies shave outscored opponents 270-108 in the paint.
Auriemma has been on Charles since the preseason about improving upon her rebounding, finishing her shots and hustling down the court. While she's not where Auriemma would like her, there's no complaining about her production. She's improved upon her scoring average from a year ago with 13.5 points a game and 8.3 rebounds.
Last season, while Charles was learning the ropes of college basketball, she relied heavily upon Hunter and Charde Houston for guidance. With Houston struggling this year and Hunter replacing her in the starting lineup, Charles said she never has to look far for help.
But if you ask Hunter, she dispenses advice even if Charles isn't asking for it.
"There's people that they don't know where to go," she said with a laugh. "Most people will ask, she doesn't ask, she'll just do whatever. Then you're like, 'O.K. Tina, listen, this is what you have to do.' Me and Charde know she's looking for us to help her out. She's got this look on her face like she doesn't know what's going on. If I make that face, it's over. I have to look like I know what I'm doing or it's chaos."
That just makes what Charles has done -- and what she's capable of -- all the more impressive.
"She's just in weird spaces," Hunter said. "She's always around the rim. As long as she's around the rim, we're O.K."
Charles sets the goal of a double-double for each contest. Sometimes she overwhelms her opponents to the point where she may be just a basket or rebound or two away from the mark at the half. She doesn't want that to be incentive to let up. Rather it's a chance to be the pace setter.
"Coach says the only way you're going to be good is if you're as good as your post players. As long as we're good and aggressive, that's good, so we try to set the tone."
Reach Joe Perez at jperez@norwichbulletin.com