Following No. 1 UConn’s dismantling of No. 4 Marquette Saturday afternoon in Hartford, sophomore Donovan Clingan and senior Hassan Diarra took the podium. Clingan was asked about not recording a single foul in Saturday’s 81-53 win. Diarra couldn’t help but chime in with a smirk.
“Finally,” the former Texas A&M transfer quipped.
Donovan Clingan Focusing On Staying Out Of Foul Trouble
Limiting His Own Impact
Clingan has played nine games since returning from a foot injury on January 17. In three of those games, he found himself in serious trouble, picking up four fouls — one shy of fouling out. Two of these instances were in consecutive games against Providence and St. John’s. The Friars and Red Storm not-so-coincidentally have two of the best, most physical big men in the conference.
Providence’s Josh Oduro punished the Huskies from inside three weeks ago. Clingan spent most of his night watching from the sidelines after picking up two fouls early in both halves. Oduro went for 20 points and nine rebounds. After Clingan struggled to keep up with the strength of Oduro, UConn’s only hope to slow him down was Clingan’s leaner counterpart, Samson Johnson.
Despite escaping with a win that night, Clingan’s lack of availability was clearly an issue when facing a talented offensive center.
Three days later the big man went for four fouls at Madison Square Garden, then again last week on a road trip to DePaul.
Staying Out Of Trouble
The UConn center was their best player in Saturday afternoon’s win over Marquette. Clingan’s availability was perhaps the biggest factor in a standout performance.
“We’ve been on his butt about just stop putting us in position where we’re having to coach around foul trouble,” UConn head coach Dan Hurley explained. “Both he and Samson tend to do that to us a lot. It’s a very dangerous thing. Donovan is one of the most impactful players in the country. We’re maybe the best offensive and defensive team in the country on both ends when he’s in the game.”
Clingan went for 17 points of 7-for-8 shooting with 10 rebounds in the win.
Marquette center Oso Ighodaro’s ability to score from 15 feet posed a threat to Clingan’s defensive capabilities. His 7-foot-2 frame naturally makes him a strong defender to any shot inside the paint. Ighodaro, however, has no issue pulling the defense away from the basket and dribbling in the mid-range. Hurley even laughed noting that part of the reason Clingan didn’t pick up a foul was due to Ighodaro’s ability to keep UConn’s center at a distance.
Ighodaro finished the day with 14 points and four rebounds. By Clingan’s estimation, though, Ighodaro’s ability to make a basket was far less impactful for Marquette compared to himself not picking up a foul while guarding him.
“Two points for him means less than one foul for me does,” said Clingan. “So, I really just went in there, walled up, and just tried to be the second guy off the floor, wait for them to go up with their layup or touch shot, and then be the guy off the floor. Just trying not to foul and be as smart as possible out there.”
Hurley confidently shared that Clingan is completely healthy, moving well, and is back up to game shape. The Huskies will be burdened by some of the league’s best big men in Ryan Kalkbrenner, Eric Dixon, Ighodaro, and Oduro down the stretch. Despite the team’s ability to adapt their style when Clingan isn’t available, they play at another level when he’s on the floor.
