Tyler Olander has been the target of many UConn fans’ scorn this season – often unfairly. The Huskies’ early season rebounding woes were blamed on their default center. Olander played away from his natural position (PF) and, despite significant talent and size mismatches, never gave less than his full effort on the court. His struggles led coach Kevin Ollie to bench him in favor of Enosch Wolf for a few games before Olander regained Ollie’s trust and earned his way back into the lineup. On Saturday, against #17 Notre Dame (14-2, 2-1), that move paid off.
Olander was simply masterful, scoring a career-high 16 points on 8-9 shooting, and adding 7 rebounds. He scored 6 of UConn’s first 7 points in the second half and abused Notre Dame star Jack Cooley in the process.
“Tyler Olander was wonderful,” said Ollie. “Just looking aggressive and looking like he wanted the challenge. No matter what we say to him and no matter if we take him out of the starting lineup, he comes back the next practice and works his butt off. I’m proud of him.”
At several points of the game, it looked like UConn was about to get run out of the gym. A Cooley layup with 6:12 left in the first half gave the Irish a 26-18 lead and UConn an opportunity to let the game get out of hand. Instead, the Huskies answered with a Niels Giffey layup and a Ryan Boatright three. Star guard Shabazz Napier picked up the load for the rest of the half and led UConn into the locker room at halftime trailing by only two.
Napier finished with a team-high 19 points – many of them at crucial moments – but really excelled at running UConn’s offense at a time when no one was shooting that well. Ollie called a brilliant game, maximizing the Huskies’ opportunities and exploiting Notre Dame’s weaknesses, and Napier executed with aplomb.
“We needed everybody today and everybody came in and played,” said Ollie. “Good things are going to happen to a team that sticks together and a team that plays for each other. Our ultimate goal is us. We wrote it on the board that our ultimate goal is us. It was a good job by our coaching staff and a good job by our players to come out and get a great road victory.”
The game was tight until the end – and was tied with 1:13 left – before clutch free throws by Ryan Boatright and a clutch steal by Napier (resulting in a DeAndre Daniels layup) sealed the victory for UConn.
It was a signature win for UConn (12-3, 2-1). The Huskies have nothing to play for this season, but you would never know it by watching them. There has yet to be a game this season in which they have been outworked or outcoached. In the coming week, they will face #3 Louisville before traveling to Pittsburgh. They may not win, but it’s a safe bet they’ll be fun to watch.
Notes:
- Ryan Boatright finally got to play in front of his family. If you recall, before UConn traveled to South Bend last season, the NCAA decided to suspend Boatright for illegal gifts after his family and friends had already bought tickets and traveled to Notre Dame from Chicago. Boatright started off slowly on Saturday but finished with 14 points – several of the spectacular variety.
- DeAndre Daniels really struggled early on. After registering a career-high in points against DePaul, Daniels went 0-3 with no points and no rebounds in the first half. After intermission he came to life though and willed his way to effectiveness. He finished with 8 points and a team-high 9 rebounds.
- How’s this for a fun stat? Notre Dame is 46-2 in its last 48 home games … both losses have come against Connecticut
- RJ Evans didn’t play much but picked up a huge offensive rebound and put-back late in the second half.
- UConn won the rebounding battle 34-28. Whatever Ollie has them doing in practice lately certainly seems to be working.
- Cool post-game tweet from ESPN’s Andy Katz…
UConn men avenge women loss to Notre Dame. Kevin Ollie having a Big East coach of the year start. Who said regular season doesn’t matter?
— Andy Katz (@ESPNAndyKatz) January 12, 2013
Up Next:
- As mentioned, UConn will face third-ranked Louisville on Monday (Jan. 14th). The game will be at the XL Center in Hartford and will tip at 7pm. ESPN will provide the coverage.
