Just days removed from a devastating season-ending injury to Akok Akok, UConn is attempting to regroup and gather steam for the home stretch. 

There's been a tremendous outpouring of support for Akok on campus and on social media.

In a touching moment posted Wednesday on UConn basketball's Twitter account, Akok received hearty applause and warm hugs from his teammates after showing up to a Werth Center practice on crutches the day after having successful surgery to repair his ruptured left Achilles tendon.

"People have no idea how close these kids are with each other, coaches and players," coach Dan Hurley said after beating Memphis and watching Akok go down about a minute into Sunday's game. "It's a family."

Now the Huskies have to figure out life without their starting forward, beginning with Thursday's American Athletic Conference game againstt Temple at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia (7 p.m., ESPN2). 

They're operating with just eight healthy scholarship players, and that includes redshirt sophomore forward Sidney Wilson who's still limited by a knee contusion. Wilson has played a total of 16 minutes in the last three games.

"I would prefer to have 13 scholarships and be deep as hell and have competition for minutes," Hurley said. "I'll go to war with these guys. We're going to have to make some adjustments with how we play a little bit. ... because, right now, we literally don't have a four man because Sid, just from a health standpoint, it's hard to play him right now."

At least they're catching a break with the schedule. Five of their last six regular season games are against AAC teams either tied with or below them in the standings.

UConn (14-11, 5-7) and Temple (13-12, 5-7) share seventh.

The Huskies appear to be on the rise after winning three of their last four games, with all the victories coming against teams with winning overall records.

"We're starting to turn that corner," senior Christian Vital said. "We're starting to figure it out."

Vital and backcourt partnet James Bouknight have fueled their team's recent surge.

In the last four games, Vital is averaging 15.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and two steals while Bouknight, a freshman, is averaging 20.8 points and 4.8 rebounds. They've played particularly well in pressure-packed situations in the second half.

"If you're going to win games, the winning team usually has a couple guys, usually guards, that step up and make plays down the stretch," Hurley said.

Frontcourt depth is a significant issue.

The loss of Akok will be especially felt on the defensive end. The AAC's leading shot blocker was an intimidating presence.

Junior Isaiah Whaley, a 6-foot-8 forward, did an admirable job filling in for Akok against Memphis, finishing with a career-best six blocks to go with five points and seven rebounds. He's been the team's most improved player this season. He's set his career highs for points (13), rebounds (12) and blocks (six) just in the eight games.

"Isaiah is carving out a heck of a roll for us," Hurley said. 

Whaley welcomes his increased role.

"I'm just going to try to take advantage of all my opportunities," Whaley said. "We're down another player so we're going to have to step up even more. Everybody has to play even better. The entire team is going to have to give us something. It should be interesting to see."

Playing with just seven scholarship players, UConn seized control early in the first meeting with Temple on Jan. 29 in Storrs, leading by 15 at halftime on the way to a 78-63 decision. Both teams struggled shooting the ball, finishing below 40 percent, but the Huskies turned 16 Owl turnovers into 20 points, had 20 second chance points and held a 28-13 edge in free throw points.

They've learning to overcome their shortcomings with heart and hustle and starting to make winning plays. While they're 4-9 in games decided by single digits this season, they've won two of the last three.

"We're building a championship level culture here with the way that we're competing and how determined we are to win," Hurley said.

g.keefe@theday.com

UCONN at TEMPLE

Location: Liacouras Center, Philadelphia

Tip: 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

Records: UConn 14-11, 5-7; Temple 13-12, 5-7

Last game: UConn beat Memphis, 64-61, Sunday; Temple lost to No. 15 Villanova, 76-56, Sunday

Probable starters: UConn, 6-2 fr. guard Jalen Gaffney (3.3 pts), 6-2 sr. guard Christian Vital (14.5 pts, 6.4 rebs), 6-4 fr. guard James Bouknight (12.2 pts, 3.5 rebs), 6-8 jr. forward Isaiah Whaley (4 pts, 4 rebs), 6-11 jr. center Josh Carlton (8.2 pts, 6.6 rebs)

Temple, 5-10 sr. guard Alani Moore II (8.5 pts), 6-8 sr. guard Quinton Rose (16.4 pts, 4.9 rebs), 6-4 jr. guard Nate Pierre-Louis (11.4 pts, 8.2 rebs), 6-8 so. forward Jake Forrester (8.4 pts, 4.1 rebs), 6-10 jr. forward Justyn Hamilton (3.7 pts, 2 rebs)

Noteworthy: Huskies trying to sweep season series, leading 11-10 overall. Won first meeting 78-63 on Jan. 29 in Storrs. Six Huskies scored in double figures, led by Vital's 15 pts. Went 28 for 30 from foul line. ... Two teams tied for 7th in AAC. ... Rose is AAC's all-time leading scorer. ... Top reserve: 6-7 jr. forward De'Vondre Perry (6.1 pts, 2.8 rebs). ... Huskies 14-5 when holding foes under 75 pts. Owls 8-0 when limiting foes to 62 pts or less. ... Owls 7-5 at home, Huskies 1-6 on the road. ... Hot: Vital 8th in nation in free throw percentage at 90.7, 10th in steals at 2.4. Cold: Temple shooting league low 40.9 percent from field. ... Bouknight with a team-best 15 pts per game in AAC play. ... UConn averaging 62.1 pts on the road. ... Since becoming a reserve, Gilbert averaging 7.4 pts, but has just 10 total pts overall in last 3 games. ... Vital needs 5 3-pters to become the AAC's all-time leader in that category. Four behind leader and former Owl Shizz Alston (250). ... Up next: UConn hosts South Florida at 2 p.m. Sunday in Storrs.

— Gavin Keefe