STORRS — The excitement surrounding UConn’s likely return of freshman forward Liam McNeeley after a five-week ankle injury break will quickly be tempered by the reality of their biggest challenge yet. As the Huskies prepare to take on St. John’s this Friday, they face not just any opponent — but the Red Storm’s lethal guard, Kadary Richmond, one of the most dangerous UConn nemeses of the past few seasons.
After transferring from Seton Hall in the offseason, Richmond has been nothing short of a nightmare for UConn. His past performances have haunted the Huskies, and he was a pivotal factor in one of UConn’s three losses last season, where he dropped 23 points, grabbed six rebounds, dished out five assists, and swiped eight steals in a dominant victory over the Huskies.
UConn head coach Dan Hurley didn’t hold back in his praise for the senior guard, calling him “one of the 2-3 best players in the league” and noting his NBA-ready physique. Hurley also called Richmond an “enormous task” for any opponent, especially now that he’s in peak form after years of development. “He has great physical ability, tremendous experience, and now he’s on a really good team,” Hurley said.
Richmond’s numbers speak for themselves: although his points per game (12.1) may not jump off the page, he leads St. John’s in assists (113) and steals (45), while his recent performances have been nothing short of explosive. In his last five games, he’s shooting a sizzling 64.4% from the field.
St. John’s relies heavily on Richmond, and he’s been a game-changer in recent outings. Teammate Zuby Ejiofor summed it up perfectly: “We will go as far as he takes us.” With the Red Storm gelling and Richmond fully unleashed, the Huskies face an uphill battle in what promises to be a thrilling matchup.
Will UConn stop Richmond’s dominance, or will the senior guard continue his reign of terror? This showdown is one you won’t want to miss!
