Pre-Game: UConn vs. Fordham

Approximation of Fordham's Basketball Team
Approximation of Fordham’s Basketball Team

Greetings from downtown Hartford where the 8-2 UConn Huskies are preparing to face the 2-8 Fordham Rams. UConn comes into the game fresh off a 84-50 dismantling of Maryland-East Shore on Monday evening, that featured a 22 point effort by Omar Calhoun and even an assist by something called Trey James.

Meanwhile, Fordham is brimming with confidence after a 3 point victory against Princeton. The victory brought the Rams’ season-high winning streak up to…one. Despite their dismal record, and overall terribility ™, their roster does feature several bright spots in senior forward Chris Gaston – who missed six games with an injury but is averaging 12.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game – and junior guard Branden Frazier who leads the team in scoring at 15.6 points per game. It’s a safe bet that one or both of those two will have a maddeningly good game against a UConn team that fails to rebound.

This game is notable for UConn in that it is their last easy game of the season. After tonight, the Huskies will face Washington in an out-of-conference matchup (Dec. 29th | XL) before the last, true Big East season that any of us will ever witness.

Notes:

  • In a sick twist, Fordham’s Atlantic 10 conference will probably be a better basketball conference than UConn’s in the near future. Make sure to mock them tonight – while you still can.
  • Ryan Boatright is on a nice hot streak. He’s averaged 18.5 points over the last 4 games and has quietly snuck up on Shabazz Napier in the chase for UConn’s scoring lead. Napier (16.6 ppg) | Boatright (15.6 ppg)
  • After a down game against Harvard – where he was held scoreless – Omar Calhoun emerged as the team’s go-to scorer against ME-East Shore. One day, Calhoun and DeAndre Daniels will get hot at the same time, and it will be glorious.
  • Tyler Olander has yet to grab double-digit rebounds in a game this season. Over his last four games, he’s averaged…2.25 rebounds per game. That is just incredibly bad. With no Fordham player over 6’9”, Olander will have ample opportunity to improve tonight – but we’ve been saying that for weeks now with no progress.

Tip is at 7pm. The game will be televised on SNY.

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