Colben Landrew dropped a minute-and-a-half masterclass early in the second half Tuesday night, and if you weren’t watching No. 4 UConn’s 78-70 exhibition victory over No. 6 Michigan State, you missed the blueprint for what the freshman is bringing to the court this season. Seriously, in that blink of an eye, the kid drained a 3-pointer from the wing, then immediately swatted away a dunk attempt, snagged a defensive rebound, and powered through traffic for a bucket at the rim. That’s a five-star recruit, folks, and every bit of the hype from coach Dan Hurley all summer? It was right there on display. We’re talking about a guy who could be a one-and-one NBA prospect, someone who can absolutely help UConn chase another national championship.
Landrew’s October Ball Crash Course
This wasn’t some soft start. Landrew crashed into some real October ball in the best way possible. Out of Wheeler High in Marietta, Ga., he finished the Michigan State exhibition with 13 points and five rebounds in 31 minutes. Go back to the Syracuse exhibition, and he posted eight points and four rebounds in 29 minutes. That’s an hour of demanding play under his belt before November even hits! While Braylon Mullins is still out with an undisclosed injury and only warmed up on Tuesday, Landrew is already showing he doesn’t need to ease his way in. He’s diving headfirst into big-game atmospheres, and it’s making him better, fast. The dude is new to all this, but you wouldn’t know it from how he’s playing.
Exhibitions That Feel Like March
Yeah, it wasn’t a “real” game in the standings, but this was real basketball. The whole vibe felt like something you’d see in winter, even March, and it played out with real stakes. Coach Hurley was out there blowing kisses to the student section at the Breslin Center that was chirping at him from the jump. Both teams might still be 0-0, but they’re both better for this experience. No one’s missing the old days of UConn blowing out American International; these high-level exhibitions are where it’s at. They’re good for the athletic departments, sure, raking in that money in the rev-share/NIL era, but they are absolutely essential for the teams. They push UConn to be the kind of squad it wants to be in the regular season. Nik Khamenia, the transfer from Duke, was tremendous leading UConn with 19 points, but he’s been on that stage before. Landrew’s soaking it all in for the first time.
Next week brings the exhibition finale at home against Purdue. It’s another chance for guys like Landrew to hone their game, build that chemistry, and get even more prepared before the regular season kicks off. If UConn and Michigan State cross paths again in the NCAA Tournament, Tuesday’s game will feel like another lifetime, but the lessons learned? Those stick.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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