Storrs – As a freshman, Jayden Ross played a behind-the-scenes role in UConn’s winning its second straight national championship last season.

The experience motivated him during the offseason.

“Being able to be part of greatness, and what we did, I feel like that in itself was amazing,” Ross said Tuesday at the Werth practice facility. “But obviously, it definitely lit a bit of a fire under me to be able to put the work in during the summer and try and come in and just be a better player.”

A 6-foot-7 forward, Ross is already making an impact on this season’s team. After sitting out the season opener with an ankle injury, Ross came off the bench against New Hampshire on Saturday and scored 14 points, one shy of his season total as a freshman, in a 92-53 victory.

The third-ranked Huskies (2-0) will be back on the court Wednesday night, playing Le Moyne (1-2) at 7 p.m. at the XL Center in Hartford.

“I definitely do feel the improvement from last year,” Ross said. “I feel a lot more confident out there. I know all the sets and the places to be on defense. I think the biggest thing for me right now is just to continue to stay on that route, continue to get better every single day and see the process every single day throughout the season. So I’m excited to see what the rest of the season has in store for sure.”

Coach Dan Hurley saw the potential in Ross during the recruiting process and also last season. Ross comes from an athletic background – his mother played volleyball and father football at Rutgers.

“He’s got great tools,” Hurley said. “He’s got traits, clean shooting and a good feel for the game and obviously athleticism and size. And then the pedigree with the family. You could see all those things as a prospect.

“Last year, he just kept a great attitude all year. We obviously had conversations about no portal. Just lock in and get better. Just stay here and just improve. He followed the advice and used the court time last year against Tristen (Newton), against Cam (Spencer), vs. Steph (Castle) and just used that time to get better.”

Ross learned a great deal about patience last season.

He had faith in the UConn coaching staff and their history of players making big jumps from their freshman to sophomore seasons.

That’s why Ross never considered leaving.

“We know about the sophomore year jump for a lot of the guys in the past – Donovan (Clingan), even Alex (Karaban) and Jordan Hawkins,” Ross said. “You never know to what degree. But I do know if I stayed in this program, I would continue to get better every single day. So just knowing that, I knew that eventually I’d reach where I want to be.

“I was pretty much set on staying.”

Hurley also believes in Ross for another reason.

Ross has the personality that fits a Hurley-type player.

“He’s smart, personable, alive, non-zombie, you know what I mean?” Hurley said. “He’s just like fun to coach because he looks you in the eyes, responds and you can have a conversation with him. He’s not just always grabbing at his phone. He’s like actually alive in the world with us here, so it’s awesome.”

Ross is part of a deep rotation for the Huskies, who are still early in the growth process.

UConn is far from the team that it will be down the road. Still, the Huskies won their first two games by an average of 37.5 points.

Another blowout win is a realistic outcome on Wednesday if the Huskies show up with the right mindset. Le Moyne gave host Syracuse a scare in its season opener on Nov. 4, leading in the second half before falling 86-82.

It’s a safe bet that Hurley brought up that score to his team.

“We’ve got a long way to go, defensively and offensively, from where we want to be, just like most teams in the country,” Hurley said.

g.keefe@theday.com

No. 3 UConn vs. Le Moyne

Location: XL Center, Hartford

Tip time: 7 p.m. tonight (FS1)

Records: UConn 2-0, Le Moyne 1-2

Last game: UConn beat New Hampshire, 92-53; Le Moyne beat SUNY Poly, 107-73, Saturday

Series: First meeting

Probable starters, UConn, 6-3 so. guard Solo Ball (15 pts, 3.5 assists), 6-3 grad guard Aidan Mahaney (4.5 pts, 3 assists), 6-7 fr. forward Liam McNeeley (14 pts, 10.5 rebs), 6-8 r-jr. Alex Karaban (18.5 pts, 5.5 rebs, 5.5 assists, 5.5 blks), 6-10 sr. center Samson Johnson (5.5 pts, 2 rebs)

Le Moyne, 6-2 jr .guard Zek Tevin (12.7 pts, 5.3 assists), 5th yr. guard Darrick Jones Jr.(6.5 pts), 6-8 jr. forward Freds Pauls Bagatskis (10 pts,5.7 rebs), 6-8 r-jr. forward Dwayne Koroma (11 pts, 5 rebs), 6-8 r-so. forward Nate Fouts (11 pts, 4 rebs)

Noteworthy: The Huskies own a 28-game home winning streak vs. non-conference foes and a nation’s best 15 straight overall. … Le Moyne held a 5-point lead at Syracuse on Nov. 4 before losing 86-82. … Dolphins average 88 pts, allow 85.3. Only win came against SUNY Poly, a Division III program. … Top reserve: 6-4 jr. guard Trent Mosquera (10.3 pts, 2 rebs), 6-0 grad guard Will Amica (14 pts, 5.5 rebs). … Formerly a Division II program, Dolphins in 2nd season at Division I level, members of the Northeast Conference. … Rated 302nd in KenPom last season. … Huskies average 92 points, allow 54.5. … Five Huskies average in double figures. … Karaban leads the team in points, assists and blocks. … Foul-prone Johnson has almost as many fouls (nine) as points (11). … Reserve center Tarris Reed Jr., a transfer, off to a terrific start, contributing 13 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. … On the other hand, Mahaney, another transfer, is struggling, shooting 3 for 12 from the field, 2 for 7 from three. … Up next: UConn hosts East Texas A&M Tuesday in Storrs.

– Gavin Keefe