November 9, 2024 7:27 pm • Last updated: November 9, 2024 7:27 pm

UConn center Jana El Alfy, center, looks to shoot between Boston University’s Ines Monteagudo Pardo, left, and Allison Schwertner in the first half Thursday in Hartford. Alfy made his UConn debut with 17 points and 11 rebounds. (Jessica Hill/AP Photo)

UConn forward Ice Brady, front, grabs a rebound against Marquette forward Skylar Forbes during the 2024 Big East Conference tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena. (Jessica Hill/AP Photo)

UConn forward Sarah Strong, right, steals the ball from Boston University’s Inez Gallegos in the first half Thursday in Hartford. (Jessica Hill/AP Photo)

It’s something the UConn women’s basketball team hasn’t had in some time.

A 6-foot-5 center in Jana El Alfy, playing with a degree of impatience after missing last season due to injury (head coach Geno Auriemma called her a “bull in a china shop” earlier this season ), and yet with delicacy. around the basket.

A 6-2 lead in Sarah Strong, the former national high school player of the year, who is comfortable at the rim, or driving to the rim, or shooting a 3-point field goal.

A 6-3 forward in Ice Brady, who received All-Big East Tournament honors last season after playing 40 minutes in both the tournament semifinals and finals in place of injured teammate Aaliyah Edwards.

All at the same time.

“We have three completely different post players,” Auriemma said before the season. “We have three different guys that are bigger than our guards, that’s what I’ll call them.

“They are completely different from each other and completely different from the rest of the team. I’m excited for them because the key to your team is how well they play and how well they put everything together. … If you think about all the years we’ve had the best teams, the best teams, there’s always been one or two dominant post players.”

UConn, led by All-America guard Paige Bueckers, will play the second game of its season beginning at 4:30 p.m. Sunday at sold-out Gampel Pavilion, taking on former conference rival South Florida (SNY). Both teams were former members of the Big East and the American Athletic Conference.

The Huskies’ first game was an 86-32 victory against Boston University on Thursday at the XL Center.

In the opener, Strong and El Alfy each finished with 17 points to lead the way in their first game in a UConn uniform. Strong is a freshman, while El Alfy missed the 2023-24 season, which led the Huskies to a Final Four bid in Cleveland, with an Achilles injury.

Strong was 8-for-12 and added four rebounds, three assists and tied for the team lead with six steals. Alfy recorded a double-double in his debut, with a team-best 11 rebounds, a much softer stretch than the one he had in UConn’s exhibition win over Division II Fort Hays State, in which he committed four fouls in 12 minutes.

Brady, who started in the frontcourt along with Strong, had four points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals.

“I had never been in that situation before. “I’m getting used to it day by day,” said El Alfy after the game against BU. “…I mean, being here for almost a year and a half and not being able to play, it’s been tough. But at the same time, I’ve learned and grown a lot and every day I’ve been waiting for the moment to finally be able to play and just be there and help the team as much as I can.

“It’s an incredible feeling. “I can’t even… I’m speechless.”

Auriemma talked about what sets each of the post players apart. He said having Strong is like having two or three players on the court at once because of his versatility.

“We haven’t had anyone Jana’s size in a while,” Auriemma said of the trio. “He takes up a lot of space, looks for every offensive rebound, finishes around the basket.

“Ice loves to play on the perimeter. She is a very good passer. He has improved defensively. And Sarah plays more of a guard; I think she’s like a guard/forward because she feels comfortable wherever she is on the court, whether she has to pass, shoot or dribble.”

Alfy sat to Bueckers’ right at Thursday’s postgame press conference, Strong to Bueckers’ left. The two newcomers to the interview room were quite quiet, with Bueckers, the eldest, doing most of the talking.

Strong said: “I felt like I started slow and got better as the game went on. “I just want to continue to be aggressive and have more confidence in the paint and things like that.”

South Florida (2-0), under head coach Jose Fernandez, was picked first in the AAC preseason coaches’ poll this season. The Bulls are coming off a 68-51 win over Mount St. Mary’s on Thursday. Sammie Puisis, a 6-1 guard, led the Bulls with 25 points.

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