Brewster Academy coach Jason Smith has seen Jalen Adams, his former standout guard, play only a handful of times this season.

He doesn't have to turn on the television to know that Adams has developed into a leading man at UConn.

"I haven't had a chance to watch UConn play as much recently, but I do exchange text messages with Jalen," Smith said on Sunday after his team played in the Hoophall Classic in Springfield. "And obviously they're dealing with a little bit of adversity in regards to injuries.

"But just looking at his stats, it looks like he's done well and he's probably taking on more of a leadership role earlier in his career than maybe most would have anticipated."

With season-ending injuries to three players, including two starters, UConn coach Kevin Ollie has turned to Adams to carry a heavy load. Adams has responded with an All-American Athletic Conference type season.

Heading into Thursday's AAC game against SMU (7 p.m., ESPN2) at Moody Coliseum in Dallas, Adams is the only AAC player ranked in the top six in scoring (sixth, 15.6 points) and assists (first, 6.4) in overall games. He's also averaging a career-best 4.7 rebounds.

Adams, a sophomore, is on pace to average the most assists in a season at UConn since Marcus Williams dished out a program best 8.6 per game during the 2005-06 season. Williams owns the top two single season averages, also checking in at 7.8 in 2004-05, followed by Taliek Brown (6.5, 2003-04) in third.

That's pretty impressive considering the Huskies are a mediocre at best offensive team, scoring 65.8 points.

The Huskies (7-10, 2-3) would be in even deeper trouble if not for Adams' all-around contribution.

"For him to be able to step up into that role, I wouldn't say that's something we were waiting on for him to do all season but I feel like he's really embracing it now and understanding that he needs to get us organized," senior Kentan Facey said recently.

"As he goes, the team goes. Once he gets everyone going, he's finding guys in transition and finding guys in spots that you can score in, it kind of gets him going to, so that's huge for us."

A preseason AAC second team pick, Adams has elevated his play-making lately. He's had at least seven assists in each of the last four games, averaging nine during that span. He had a career-high 12 in a win over Temple on Jan. 11.

He's become one of the team's most reliable shooters, converting a career-best 45.2 percent from the field, including a team-leading 37.3 percent from 3-point land.

"I think playing with this team, I feel like I don't have to force anything," Adams said. "Guys are going to create open shots for me. ... I'm going to get shots. I'm going to score the ball. The biggest thing for me is just getting my teammates involved and getting them in great positions to score."

While his decision making has improved since the beginning of the season, he's still mistake prone at times, averaging 3.3 turnovers. Fatigue might be partially to blame, as he averages 36.6 minutes per game, second in the AAC only to teammate Rodney Purvis (37.1).

"Sometimes he gets a little casual with the basketball," Ollie said. "We're just trying to refine his game on that. But he's finding guys. ... Jalen is a very unselfish point guard and he's really coming into that role. I like what he's doing."

Adams will require a lot of help for the Huskies to pull off the upset on Thursday night. Second-place SMU (15-4, 5-1) is sizzling hot, winning 11 of its last 12 games, its only loss to first place Cincinnati.

The Mustangs are close to a complete basketball team. They rank in the top five in nearly every category overall in the conference, including scoring defense (2nd, 59.7), scoring margin (13.1) and 3-point shooting percentage (2nd, 39.8). They're third in the nation in rebounding margin at 12.2 and won the rebounding battle in all but one game this season.

They have multiple offensive weapons, with all five starters averaging in double figures including Duke transfer Semi Ojeleye at 17.7 points.

And they're undefeated (11-0) this season at Moody Coliseum, where the Huskies have never won there, losing three games by an average of 18.3 points.

Perhaps SMU's biggest weakness is its lack of depth, as only six players average more than eight minutes per game. Too bad short-handed UConn can't take advantage of that.

The Huskies will attempt to rebound from blowing a 14-point second half lead in a 72-69 loss at Georgetown on Saturday. They're in seventh place in the AAC.

g.keefe@theday.com

UCONN at SMU

Location: Moody Coliseum, Dallas, Texas

Tip: 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

Records: UConn 7-10, 2-3 (AAC); SMU 15-4, 5-1

Last game: UConn lost at Georgetown, 72-69, Saturday; SMU won at Tulane, 80-64, Sunday

Probable starters: UConn, 6-3 so. guard Jalen Adams (15.6 pts, 6.4 assists, 4.7 rebs), 6-4 r-sr. guard Rodney Purvis (12.6 pts, 4.8 rebs), 6-8 fr. forward Vance Jackson (7.9 pts, 3.2 rebs), 6-10 sr. forward Kentan Facey (7.6 pts, 7.1 rebs), 7-0 sr. center Amida Brimah (7.1 pts, 5.7 rebs, 3.1 blks)

SMU, 6-6 so. guard Shake Milton (11.9 pts, 4.2 assists), 6-6 so. guard Jarrey Foster (10.1 pts, 5.4 rebs), 6-6 sr. guard Sterling Brown (11.6 pts, 6.7 rebs), 6-7 r-jr. forward Semi Ojeleye (17.7 pts, 7.2 rebs), 6-8 sr. forward Ben Moore (11.8 pts, 7.3 rebs

Noteworthy: UConn 2-5 in last 7 games. ... SMU won 11 of its last 12. ... Series: UConn trails 6-2, last season winning 68-62 in Hartford and losing 80-54 in Dallas. Huskies 0-4 all-time at SMU. Mustangs 11-0 at home this season. ... Balanced attack: at least four SMU players scored in double digits in 15 of 19 games. ... Ojeleye, a Duke transfer, 3rd in scoring overall in AAC. Brown first in 3-pt shooting percentage (47.6). ... SMU defense held last 12 foes to 66 pts or less, sixth in NCAA in pts allowed at 59.7. ... Top reserve: r-jr. guard Ben Emelogu (4.6 pts, 2.5 rebs). ... Former SMU assistant Tim Jankovich took over program from Larry Brown this season. ... Hot: Facey already tied career high for double figure scoring games in a season with four. Cold: Huskies 1-4 in true road games. ... AAC rookie of week Jackson shooting 54.8 percent in last 6 games, averaging 10.7 pts. ... UConn 4-9 when scoring less than 70 pts. ... Huskies out-rebounding AAC foes by 8 per game. Mustangs 3rd in nation in rebounding margin (12.2). ... Up next: UConn hosts East Carolina Sunday night in Hartford.

— Gavin Keefe