There’s not much to say about this, guys. It was bad. Really, really bad. Worse than your most disturbing nightmares. UConn was terrible. Just absolutely awful. UConn (24-7, 12-6) got embarrassed by Louisville (26-5, 15-3) 81-48 at the Cardinal’s KFC Yum! Center in the final regular season game of the year.
This is not how we wanted the season to end. Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright had no offense. They went a combined 4-24 from the floor. The Huskies’ 48 points was the lowest output this season. As a team, UConn shot under 30 percent from the floor, including hitting only three of 22 three-point shots.
UConn didn’t hit its first field goal until six-and-a-half minutes into the game. They only scored two points in the first 5:30 minutes. The Huskies hit their second field goal more than ten minutes into the game. Basically, UConn was lucky to be down 30-12 at the half.
But in the second half, Louisville just blew the doors of the place. The Cards scored 51 second half points. Montrezl Harrell did whatever the hell he wanted down low, and UConn had no answers. Harrell finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds The frontcourt has never looked more overmatched than it did today. The frontcourt of Amida Brimah, Phil Nolan and Tyler Olander (who eventually fouled out) was all in foul trouble throughout the game.
DeAndre Daniels, who has been hibernating the past few games, actually came to play today. He led the team with 17 points and eight rebounds. Unfortunately, he was the only UConn player to show up today.
This game highlighted Ollie’s coaching inexperience. He’s dropped two to Larry Brown’s SMU and two to Rick Pitino’s Cards. These guys are Hall of Fame coaches, but they both clearly have Ollie’s number. Calhoun was one of, if not the best, x-and-o’s coach ever. And Ollie’s style is more intuitive. But he has to have a better game plan, and a plan b and a plan c, and he obviously doesn’t. This team needs a firmer hand, and quick.
I don’t want to tell you the sky is falling. We all remember how we thought the season was over after UConn dropped its final regular season game to Notre Dame in 2011. And then Kemba Walker won five games in five days at Madison Square Garden before running the table at the NCAA Tournament. Bazz has to prove his leadership, and get his team motivated the way his mentor Walker did. Bazz could go down as one of the greatest players in UConn history. Or he won’t. UConn needs to get its act together going into the AAC tournament, win a couple games and get some momentum going into the NCAA Tournament. Because if they don’t, the next few weeks are going to suck.
Next Up:
UConn faces Memphis in the second round of the AAC Tournament Thursday night at 9 p.m. in Memphis.
