Storrs – Injuries are severely testing UConn’s depth, which was considered a strength entering the season.

First, junior Andre Jackson went down with a broken pinky finger last month and remains sidelined. Now, sophomore Jordan Hawkins is in concussion protocol and not expected to play Friday night when Boston University visits Gampel Pavilion for a 6 p.m game (FS2).

So, just one game into the season, UConn is already down two backcourt starters.

That means more of the burden will fall on the four transfer guards – Tristen Newton, Nahiem Alleyne, Hassan Diarra and Joey Calcaterra – to deliver.

“There’s a lot of pressure on the four new guys right now to give us the production based on where the health is at guard and just generally,” coach Dan Hurley said Thursday. “When you’re dealing with injuries to key players, the best way to continue to win is to defend at a high level.

“... So, we’ve got to figure it out. … We’re going to need people to step up.”

The Huskies will have to count on the newcomers for at least the near future. Their next game after Friday is Tuesday night against Buffalo in Hartford.

Jackson is making progress and could return as early as next week. Hawkins is dealing with his second concussion, previously suffering one last season. He was hurt in the first half of Monday’s season opening rout of Stonehill. And starting forward Samson Johnson has a foot issue and Hurley will know more about the sophomore’s status on Friday.

Hurley wouldn’t come right out and say that Hawkins won’t play on Friday; He said that Hawkins is “potentially out.” But don’t expect the sophomore sharpshooter to be available.

“He’s working his way through it,” Hurley said. “Obviously, try to just take the absolutely most cautious best care that you can take with any of these kids, not just Jordan because he’s got an NBA future.”

With the rotation shortened due to injuries, the Huskies will have to make some adjustments.

Hurley was pleased with his team’s effort on Monday. He just wants them to play with more passion, be aggressive on the offensive end, cut back on turnovers and tighten up the defense.

The Huskies spent a lot of time watching video from Monday’s game.

“It was a long session,” Hurley said. “It spilled into two days. As the season goes on, you just get a lot better. Obviously, we have a lot of new players. You tend to make more mistakes when you have a lot of new players.”

Junior Adama Sanogo added: “Some of the new guys, they need to get used to the way we play defense.”

The Huskies can’t afford to repeat the same mistakes against Boston University, a veteran team coming off a 22-win season. Graduate guard Walter Whyte led the Terriers with a career-high 27 points and 13 rebounds in their season opening 72-63 win over Northeastern.

“BU has got quality,” Hurley said. “BU has a really older team. (Coach) Joe (Jones) does a great job. They really shoot it well. If BU gets the same types of shots that we gave up the other night, it’s going to be a much different type of game.”

The Huskies will be in survival mode until Jackson and Hawkins return.

Alleyne, a Virginia Tech transfer, is ready to do his part to help the Huskies win. He had eight points and four steals in his UConn debut.

“Coach Hurley brought me in to be a veteran guard that can score and play both ends of the floor,” Alleyne said. “It just means another opportunity for somebody to step up.”

Hurley pointed out that there is a potential silver lining playing without two of their top players.

“If we can survive this stretch here potentially where we’re a little beat up at the guard spot and figure out ways to win, I think we’ll be a better team for it because these guys can now have a chance to establish themselves and earn the trust and the respect even more so on game night, which is important.”

News and notes

Hurley received signed national letters of intent from all five members of his top five nationally-ranked recruiting class of Solomon Ball, Stephon Castle, Jayden Ross, Jaylin Stewart and Youssouf Singare.

“I think we’ve got this period where our talent level is potentially going to look like past teams at UConn that truly had national championship aspirations. … Those five, they all bring a unique skill set. It’s a fantastic group.”

g.keefe@theday.com

UCONN vs. BOSTON UNIVERSITY

Location: Gampel Pavilion, Storrs

Tip: 6 p.m. (FS2)

Records: UConn 1-0, Boston University 1-0

Last game: UConn beat Stonehill, 85-54, Monday; BU defeated Northeastern, 72-63, Monday

Probable starters: UConn, 6-5 sr. guard Tristen Newton (9pts, 6 rebs), 6-4 sr. guard Nahiem Alleyne (8 pts, 4 steals), 6-2 jr. guard Hassan Diarra (11 pts, 7 assists), 6-10 so. forward Samson Johnson (7 pts, 3 rebs), 6-9 jr. forward Adama Sanogo (19 pts, 6 rebs)

BU, 6-2 grad guard Jonas Harper (15 pts, 4 assists), 6-3 jr. guard Miles Brewster (0 pts, 2 rebs), 6-6 grad guard Walter Whyte (27 pts, 13 rebs), 6-7 grad forward Fletcher Tynen (4 pts, 2 rebs), 6-9 sr. forward Nevin Zink (5 pts, 7 rebs)

Noteworthy: First meeting since 2017. Series: UConn won six straight, owning a 44-12 edge overall. … Second of five straight home games for the Huskies. … Terriers picked second in the Patriot League preseason poll. Fourteen returning players from a team that won 22 games. … Whyte had career-highs in points and 3-pointers (six) in the opener. …Top reserve: 6-5 jr. guard Daman Tate (7 pts, 2 rebs). … UConn bench players accounted for 42 points in season opening win. … Injury update: Andre Jackson (broken finger), Jordan Hawkins (concussion) out. Johnson (foot) game day decision. … Huskies looking to cut back on turnovers after committing 15 vs. Stonehill. Also, hope to improve perimeter shooting after going 5 for 24 from 3-point land. … UConn lost only one Gampel Pavilion opener since the building opened in January 1990, falling to Wagner in 2016. … Up next: UConn hosts Buffalo Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the XL Center in Hartford.

– Gavin Keefe