Isaiah Whaley remembers the mood around the UConn men's basketball program during his freshman season. 

It was nothing like it is now as Whaley along with Josh Carlton and Tyler Polley prepare for their senior seasons. 

“It was just like a dark mood,” said Whaley during a Zoom conference call with the media on Monday. “It was just an unsettling mood. You didn’t know if the Coach (Kevin Ollie) was going to stay or what was going to happen.” 

The program has undergone a transformation since coach Dan Hurley was hired in 2018. 

The Huskies are on the rise, adding talent and depth to a team that went 19-12 last season. 

The mood around the team is far more conducive to winning. 

“This is a team where everybody is together and everybody is on the same page,” Whaley said. “You don’t have people going against what the coach is saying and stuff. Coach Hurley, as soon as he came in, his main thing was working on the culture. We have a strong culture now where we hold each other accountable. 

“... We didn’t have that back in the early years where if somebody took like four messed up shots in a row, nobody would hold them accountable. Nobody would say anything. Now we’ve got a team where we’re all close and call each other out.” 

Like all college basketball programs around the country, the Huskies are facing their share of challenges while preparing for a season that may not start on time. They’re dealing with restrictions and safety protocols. 

The Huskies started out training in small groups and gradually built up to holding team workouts.

They’re just happy to be on campus together. 

“The spirit of the team has been great,” Polley said. “Getting on the court feels amazing after missing so many months together. It’s exciting to go out and compete. Just can’t wait for the season to start.” 

Whaley, Polley and Carlton all are working on their individual games. 

Polley’s junior season was cut short after suffering a season-ending knee injury during practice in January. 

When the pandemic shutdown hit in March, Polley eventually returned home to Florida to continue his rehab. It was a trying process for the forward. 

“It was super hard,” Polley said. “At first, it was very difficult. When I first got home, it was real tough. (Trainer) James (Doran) sent me stuff and I had to do it myself every day.” 

Eventually, Polley found places to do his rehab. He has come a long way down the road to recovery. 

“I’m making great progress,” Polley said. “Right now, on the court, I’m just putting up shots and not doing too much. I’m getting there. … My knee feels great. We’re just taking our time. No reason to rush me on the court right now. If the season were to start in November, I’d be ready to play, for sure.” 

Coming off a disappointing season, Carlton, a 6-foot-11 forward, is focusing on his conditioning. He’s dropped about 20 pounds. 

He’s seen a difference in the way he moves. 

“I’m just trying to be quicker and more explosive,” Carlton said. “Be able to move and react quicker on defense. … I’m trying to find a weight that’s comfortable for me.” 

Whaley is hoping to build off last season’s success. 

He was perhaps UConn’s most improved player last season, raising his game and raising the bar as far as expectations. He finished on a tear, averaging 13.8 points and 8.7 rebounds in the last six games before the season abruptly ended just before the start of the American Athletic Conference tournament. 

“Me and coach Hurley talked about it a couple of times about how we all had a lot of momentum, especially me towards the end of the season,” Whaley said. “He even talked to me about that now a lot this season. He tells me I still have a lot of momentum. 

“... Toward the end of the season, coach was like, 'You’re not going to sneak up on anybody anymore.' It’s basically expected from me now. People are going to be more ready and I’m trying to add more things to my game.” 

All three veterans are taking on a greater leadership role that’s expected from their veteran status.

Polley tries to set a good example every time he’s on the court. 

Whaley also is taking charge and helping out his young teammates just like Christian Vital and Jalen Adams did for him as a freshman.

“I was always the young guy, the guy in the background, just trying to learn things myself,” Whaley said. “Now I know everything. Coach is on me to try to get everybody else together. It’s a big adjustment.” 

g.keefe@theday.com