Quote:At long last, Majok will debut for Connecticut

Thursday, December 17, 2009 | Print Entry

As of Sunday, all the speculation about Ater Majok's potential will no longer be a mystery.

But while Majok is cleared to compete for the Connecticut Huskies against Central Florida, don't expect a savior.


All coach Jim Calhoun wants is a big man with skills who can complement Gavin Edwards inside. So if Majok can finish, stay out of foul trouble, board and block, the Huskies will be much improved.


How much? It's still hard to determine. But for a squad that needs to keep up with West Virginia, Villanova, Syracuse and possibly Georgetown, adding someone of Majok's potential is certainly a plus.


"He hasn't yet scored a basket or blocked a shot or grabbed a rebound, but he's a good addition," Calhoun said. "How much an addition we'll have to see between now and the end of the month when we play Cincinnati [on Dec. 30] and Notre Dame [Jan. 2] going against Yancy Gates and Luke Harangody. Why not put him in the mix and see if he can make a difference?"


The Huskies have had stellar play from Edwards off the bench, giving UConn an average of 12 points and six boards of production.


Calhoun doesn't want to make a switch, so he won't. He will keep Edwards off the bench and is likely to start Majok, which likely means the bench for Charles Okwandu. Okwandu had four fouls in just eight minutes in the 64-61 loss to Kentucky on Dec. 9 at Madison Square Garden.


"He's good enough to start," Calhoun said of the lanky, 6-foot-10 Majok. "I'm comfortable with Gavin off the bench. Minutes are important to Gavin, not starting."


Calhoun said Majok's aggressiveness will help the Huskies, but he does worry about him being overly aggressive and getting into foul trouble.


Connecticut is set on the perimeter and will ultimately be led by the perimeter play of Jerome Dyson, Kemba Walker and wing Stanley Robinson. Edwards is the solid role player who can produce in the post, and Majok has a chance to make a difference. If freshman Alex Oriakhi can continue to be a solid contributor, with Okwandu adding some beef off the bench and Jamal Coombs-McDaniel and Donnell Beverly offering up the occasional stop and perimeter shot, the Huskies should have enough to be a factor in the Big East race.


Calhoun said Majok will alleviate the heavy minutes Oriakhi has had to play this season (31.8 mpg). He said in practice Oriakhi has done well playing next to Majok. Already the freshman has had to deal with bigs from LSU, Duke and Kentucky.


But UConn is still searching for its first signature win. The Huskies will likely have to wait until the Big East season begins, with the highest-profile nonconference game remaining not coming until No. 2 Texas visits Jan. 23.


Calhoun said he hasn't added a slew of midseason transfers in the past, but he sees the need. Majok was not supposed to be a late addition, but needed to cleared academically after he didn't arrive on campus until the middle of last season.


Majok has said he was interviewed by the school last spring in relation to allegations of possible recruiting violations related to former agent/manager Josh Nochimson, but said in the offseason he didn't know who Nochimson was at the time. There is no indication at this point that Majok's eligibility was ever in jeopardy.


So the native of Sudan is ready to be a major player, although he doesn't have to be a super-productive player for the Huskies to advance deep in the Big East. He must be a factor, though, if UConn is to be taken seriously as a contender for the conference title.


Calhoun has reached Edwards, who so far this season has responded to the tough-love approach and rallied as a player. Majok didn't have to feel any of that wrath as a redshirt. Now he'll be tossed into the pool with the rest of the players who are expected to maximize their talent under Calhoun. How Majok handles his likely highs and lows will be an indicator as to whether or not he can make a major difference.


The coaching staff has raved about Majok's presence, his ability to run the floor, block shots and finish. But he still hasn't played a competitive basketball game that mattered in more than two years. Majok declared for the NBA draft last spring and didn't perform well according to scouts in attendance at a Bay Area workout.


What Majok needs to do is ensure he plays within himself, doesn't try to do too much and finds his footing in these early games against Central Florida, Maine and Iona before the Big East season begins in Cincinnati.


On Sunday, UTEP got two points in 12 minutes out of Derrick Caracter in his first game and the Miners were upset by New Mexico State. Then Caracter blew up for 15 points and 15 boards before he fouled out in an overtime loss to Ole Miss on Wednesday night. Additions are occurring around the country, with Kansas adding Brady Morningstar this weekend, Villanova bringing back Reggie Redding and Seton Hall adding Keon Lawrence and Jeff Robinson.


But the difference in all of these cases is that these players have played in college. Majok has not. That's why patience will be pertinent in the coming weeks.