Just when your heart rate finally returned to a safe, normal level following UConn’s thrilling victory over #15 Florida on Monday, the Huskies are back in action taking on the Black Bears of Maine tonight at the XL Center in Hartford.
This game is significant in that it is not at all significant. At 1-6 on the season, Maine is flat-out bad, and should present little trouble for UConn. Junior guard Xavier Pollard is probably Maine’s best player, either first or second on the team in scoring, rebounding and assists per game — but he has missed three of the past five games due to injury.
The challenge for #12 UConn will be remaining focused — and building upon their 8-0 start during their final tuneup against cupcake competition. There have been multiple occasions this season in which the Huskies have looked disinterested in finishing games, letting inferior opponents hang around for too long. It would be nice to see a killer instinct start to come out of them.
UConn will also be looking to get sophomore guard Omar Calhoun back on track. The young guard has been struggling recently, and has seen his statistics decline in almost every meaningful category. After averaging just over 32 minutes per game last season, he is currently playing just over 22, having lost time on the court to the more productive tandem of Niels Giffey and Lasan Kromah. Head coach Kevin Ollie voiced is commitment to Calhoun during the week, but will have to start seeing results soon. Otherwise, a change in the starting lineup may be warranted.
There’s not much else to say about this one. Enjoy the last, true stress-free night of the season. After this game, UConn will take a break for finals, before returning to action against a tough Stanford team on the 18th.
The game will tip at 7pm and you can watch at home on SNY.
