UConn men’s basketball captain Andre Jackson Jr. embracing identity as defense-first player amidst offensive struggles

Andre Jackson Jr., arguably one of the UConn men’s basketball team’s most important players, was in a slump entering the Huskies’ road game against Georgetown on Saturday.

His offensive struggles reached their height when he missed his first eight shots and dug a hole too deep early on against Xavier at Gampel Pavilion Jan. 25. In that game, Sean Miller’s Musketeers were leaving him with feet of space when he had the ball on the perimeter, begging him to shoot the ball.

On Saturday, Georgetown coaches could be heard shouting from across the court: “Let him shoot! Let him shoot!”

Earlier in the season when similar struggles were evident, Jackson told reporters: “Usually the reason I shoot is if I hear somebody say ‘shoot’ I’m going to shoot.” He said it on Jan. 6, after a 1-for-7 game at Providence and before a much better 2-for-5 game against Creighton where he grabbed nine rebounds.

His struggles on offense had caused the rest of his game – the best part of his game and the reason NBA scouts have flocked to watch him play – to slip.

“I think it affects NBA players, probably even NBA veteran players, when you’re struggling offensively to score,” UConn head coach Dan Hurley said shortly after the team arrived in Washington D.C. Friday night. “It has affected [Jackson’s] energy, but I think he’s gonna find his way out of it soon, I think he’s gonna start to figure it out.”

Adjustments were made and put on display Saturday, when Jackson scored seven points with 10 rebounds and seven assists – the most important pass coming with three minutes left as the Huskies faced a 61-60 deficit to the last-place Hoyas. Jackson positioned himself perfectly for an offensive rebound and made a one-in-a-million pass through traffic to Alex Karaban, who hit a deep 3-pointer and gave the Huskies a lead they wouldn’t squander.

“I felt like today was what coach has been trying to get me to do for awhile now,” he said Saturday. “Just sticking to my identity as a defensive player and embracing that and letting the offense come... Not trying to force my offense or think too much about it. Just let it come to me and then just focus on the defensive end.”

On the defensive end, Jackson held Georgetown’s leading scorer, Primo Spears, scoreless and to just one shot attempt in 36 minutes.

“I think part of why we wanted to put him on Spears was we wanted him on the ball early and into the action and just wreaking havoc during the game,” Hurley said after the game. “I think he had a good plan today – minus the floater in the first half – I think he had a pretty good plan... When we get dominant center play and Andre’s flying around, that’s when we’re really good.”

That floater, which he airballed, was just one of his seven shot attempts on Saturday. He made his only 3-point attempt, a wide open look, after Georgetown cut the Huskies’ lead down to two points with just under 11 minutes left.

His typical, mesmerizing hustle plays were on full display as Jackson provided a rejuvenated energy. He even caught a lob pass from Tristen Newton and soared through the air to slam it down in the first half.

“I had to learn what else can I do besides shoot the ball,” Jackson said. “There’s plenty of options that I have... just trying to find ways to be more effective when they do play that way. And then also just when I get a shot that I feel comfortable shooting, just let it fly – and shooting the ones that are good shots and not trying to force anything up. I know that we have guys that can make 3s so I don’t have to be the one chucking them up there all the time.”

It was a 180-degree mindset change. When the Huskies return to action at home for an important game against co-conference leader Marquette on Tuesday, Jackson will have to remain focused on his new outlook to give his team the best chance at revenge on the Golden Eagles, who beat them in Milwaukee Jan. 11.

“I can’t allow it to be like a battle between me and them saying I can’t shoot or whatever. I’ve got to just make it about winning the game, that’s what it’s about. It’s not about my own battle with them to prove to them that I can shoot,” he said. “If they think I don’t shoot, that I can’t shoot, and I don’t shoot and we win – I’m happy. I did my job.”