UConn finally found their three-point shot on Saturday night. They hit a season-best ten three-pointers, and shot 50 percent overall, from behind the arc. Omar Calhoun, earning his first start of the season, was three for six. So too was Sam Cassell Jr., even more impressive considering his 26.1 percent success rate on the season. Rodney Purvis, coming off the bench, made two of his three attempts as well. Yes, UConn finally found their stroke and started knocking down threes.
They also lost the game.
True to form in this confounding season, UConn took one step forward and two steps back on Saturday night in a 72-59 loss to Stanford. While the Huskies’ shots were falling, so too were Stanford’s. Typically one of their strong suits, UConn’s defense was porous and ineffective, allowing Stanford to shoot 48 percent from the floor in the second half.
UConn was also embarrassed on the glass, getting out-rebounded 48-24, and giving up 18 offensive rebounds.
Center Amida Brimah played only nine minutes due to foul trouble. He had only one rebound. Phil Nolan — the main beneficiary of Brimah’s absence — played 17 minutes without grabbing a rebound, or scoring a point. Rakim Lubin did not play.
With 16:22 left in the game, Ryan Boatright sank a three, closing Stanford’s lead to two. His next points came with two minutes remaining and the game essentially over.
Boatright finished with seven points on 3-12 shooting, including only one free throw attempt (he missed). He did have seven assists, a nice benefit of Calhoun and Purvis shooting well, but in a game UConn needed to win, Boatright was unable to get them there.
It’s not surprising that UConn only performs as well as their leader. Boatright scored only eight points in UConn’s loss in Tulsa. In 17 injury-plagued minutes, he had two points in their New Year’s Eve loss to Temple. He had six points when UConn fell to Yale.
After UConn’s impressive victory over Cincinnati on January 10, Boatright guessed he was about 85 percent healthy. Given his diminutive stature, and his propensity for drawing contact, injuries will find Boatright. As witnessed last season with Shabazz Napier, it’s near impossible to remain completely healthy when tasked with the responsibility of being your team’s main ball-handler, scorer and creator. If injuries explain Boatright’s recent inconsistent play, it’s not reflected in his minutes. He played 38 against Tulsa and 35 against Stanford.
The loss drops the Huskies to 9-7 on the season, and draws their non-conference schedule to a close. Stanford is a good team. If they can beat Arizona this coming week, they will likely crack the Top 25. A win would have greatly improved UConn’s tournament resumé. As it stands, their 14 remaining games will be against AAC opponents, many of whom are in the same situation as the Huskies: flawed teams without many impressive victories this season. The overall mediocrity of the conference hurts UConn’s chances at an at-large tournament bid.
That is why Saturday’s game was important, and its result so disappointing. Stanford was the best team left on UConn’s schedule, and their last, best chance to gain a signature win. Fortunately for the Huskies, the AAC Tournament will be played in Hartford this year — giving them a clear route to the NCAA Tournament despite their pedestrian play thus far. They’ll need to improve greatly over the next two months to capitalize on that advantage.
Notes:
- It was surprising not to see Lubin. While obviously not a world-burner, it’s hard to believe he wouldn’t have surpassed Nolan’s output.
- Coach Kevin Ollie employed a small lineup for much of the game with Brimah on the bench. Boatright’s poor game and Daniel Hamilton’s poor shooting (2-9) limited its effectiveness.
- Brimah fouled out on some very weak calls. College basketball has a problem with referees taking talented and important players out of the game. The calls were especially interesting considering…
- Ryan Boatright could not get a whistle. Despite the soft contact that yielded foul calls throughout the game, Boatright took a beating that went unrewarded by the referees.
- In a continuation of a theme this year, UConn had only three fastbreak points.
Up Next:
The Huskies return to Gampel Pavilion on Thursday night for the first time since their loss to Yale on December 5th to take on UCF. Tip time is 7pm and the game will be televised on CBS Sports Network, so buy a ticket or a radio before then.
