Storrs — The key to UConn's season remains the same as back in November.

Coach Dan Hurley is counting on his backcourt players to carry the Huskies, just as he did during his successful run at Rhode Island.

He brought the topic up once again on Friday with UConn (11-8, 2-4) preparing to host Wichita State (8-10, 1-5) in an American Athletic Conference men's basketball game at 6 p.m. Saturday at Gampel Pavilion.

"For us to win Saturday and to put ourselves in a position to even start thinking about having a chance to play in the tournaments in March, our guard play is going to have to be outstanding the rest of the way," Hurley said. "And we're going to have to get what we can from everybody else."

The Huskies are far from postseason quality. They haven't won two straight in a month and have yet to defeat an AAC team with a winning conference record.

Offensively, Hurley gives his guards good marks.

Senior Jalen Adams, junior Christian Vital and redshirt sophomore Alterique Gilbert are collectively playing some of their best offensive basketball of the season in the last six games, averaging a combined 51.8 points and accounting for roughly 71 percent of the team's scoring average. Adams is especially on a tear, averaging 29 points in the last two games.

"Jalen's been on a great run," Hurley said. "Christian is a much different player this year. I think Al's had spots where he's been outstanding. But if we want to feel good about the season we had in March, they've got to take it to another level because that's the strength of the team."

Overall, they've fallen short of the outstanding category this season.

As Hurley points out, they've turned the ball over too much and haven't always guarded well. He also wants his backcourt trio to help empower and lead their younger frontcourt teammates.

Gilbert is embracing Hurley's challenge to play better.

"We've definitely got to go up to another level, especially if we want to compete in the postseason," Gilbert said. "We know that as guards. I think it's time to do that."

So how do the Huskies do that?

"Just be more aggressive overall, offensive and defensively, being a leader, talking, communicating, making sure guys are engaged in the game and playing every possession," Gilbert said.

Wichita State also is looking to reverse direction. The rebuilding Shockers have dropped six of the last seven games, putting the program's streak of qualifying for seven straight NCAA tournaments in severe jeopardy. Coach Gregg Marshall has played 10 newcomers, including seven freshmen. But Marshall does have a lethal scorer in senior forward Markis McDuffie, who's tied for the AAC scoring lead at 19.7 points per game.

"The hard thing about Markis is, he hits incredibly tough shots," Hurley said. "He scores on shots that are really hard to defend because of the degree of difficulty. When he gets the ball, he's got to see a lot of white jerseys."

McDuffie is a former AAU and St. Anthony High School teammate of UConn reserve guard Tarin Smith.

"It will be fun," Smith said of playing against McDuffie. "We haven't talked about the game. I'll probably talk to him today. A little bit of trash talking. We joke around a lot."

Smith and the Huskies will be a better mood and in a better position if they win today.

A week between games allowed the Huskies to heal. Reserve Sidney Wilson, who sat out the last game with thumb and ankle injuries, will be available to play.

"We better be ready," Hurley said. "Wichita State is one of the winningest programs in college basketball the last several years and they're going to come in absolutely foaming at the mouth. Their record is not indicative of how they've played this year.

"They're young and talented and well-coached and tough. It is going to be a bear of a game for us. But, if we can get it, then we'll find ourselves at 3-4 (in the AAC) with a chance to now be thinking about get the next one and then we're at .500 in the league feeling pretty good about ourselves.

"So tomorrow is critical for us. ... If we get this one, it gives us some hope."

In other news, forward Akok Akok spent his second day practicing with the Huskies on Friday. He will not play until next season when he'll be on scholarship. He'll be able to travel with the team for the remainder of the season.

Akok, who played at Putnam Science Academy, is already making an impact in practice.

"He's got to be the best walk-on in the country," Hurley said. "It's probably not even close."

g.keefe@theday.com

Wichita State at UConn

Location: Gampel Pavilion, Storrs

Time: 6 p.m. (CBSSN)

Records: Wichita State 8-10 overall, 1-5 AAC; UConn 11-8, 2-4 

Last game: Wichita State lost at USF 54-41 Tuesday; UConn beat Tulane 87-71 Saturday 

Probable starters: Wichita State, 6-0 sr. guard Samajae Haynes-Jones (12.7 pts, 2.9 assists), 6-4 fr. guard Jamarius Burton (5.2 pts), 6-5 fr. guard Dexter Dennis (6.8 pts, 4.5 rebs), 6-8 sr. forward Markis McDuffie (19.2 pts, 5.0 rebs), 6-11 jr. center Jaime Echenique (8.3 pts, 5.4 rebs)

UConn, 6-3 sr. guard Jalen Adams (18.1 pts), 6-0 redshirt so. guard Alterique Gilbert (13.4 pts, 3.7 assists), 6-2 jr. guard Christian Vital (13.3 pts, 5.6 rebs), 6-8 so. forward Tyler Polley (7.2 pts, 2.2 rebs), 6-10 so. forward Josh Carlton (7.6 pts, 4.7 rebs)

Noteworthy: Seeking to win two straight for first time in a month. ... Shockers lost six of last seven. Lowest output since 1997 vs. USF, committed 20 turnovers, shot 28.3 percent. ... Series: UConn trails 2-1, losing both meetings last season, 95-74 on the road and 72-62 at home. ... Shockers shooting 41.1 percent from field, averaging 68.7 pts. ... Top reserve: fr. guard Erik Stevenson (6.6 pts, 4 rebs). ... McDuffie tied for AAC scoring lead. Played at St. Anthony High School in N.J. and AAU ball with UConn's Tarin Smith. ... Shockers played 10 newcomers, including 7 freshmen. ... Hot: Adams (20.6 pts), Gilbert (16.0), Vital (15.0) scoring leaders in last 5 games. Cold: Polley and Tarin Smith averaging 4.2 points apiece during same stretch. ... UConn 10-2 at home, Wichita St. 0-5 on road. ... Health update: Reserve Sidney Wilson healthy after missing one game. Mamadou Diarra available for first time this season. ... Dan Hurley and staff participating in annual Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Week. ... Up next: UConn visits UCF Thursday in Orlando.

— Gavin Keefe