Tonight Ryan Boatright will likely play his last game at Gampel Pavilion. His last game on the campus that’s been his home for four years. The last game in front of a sea of screaming UConn students, ready to celebrate him on Senior Night.
After four years, and with a National Championship to his name, the Boat Show is playing the encore of this career. And he deserves a standing ovation.
This is a guy who was forced to sit for nine games during his freshman season because of Draconian NCAA nonsense. This is a guy who stuck with this team through a post-season ban. This is a guy who willingly played Robin to Bazz’s Batman because it meant winning a National Championship. This is a guy who stayed for four years when other guys would have gone pro. This is a guy who has given everything he has to this team, and tonight we get to thank him for it.
Boat doesn’t get the credit he deserves for his role in the championship run. While Bazz was hitting buzzer-beaters, Boat was playing lock-down defense and ruining the day of whoever he was up against (sorry not sorry Scottie Wilbekin). When Bazz had to sit against Nova, it was Boat who lead the team and got them back in the game. When Boat sprained his ankle in the National Championship, he didn’t think twice about coming back into that game. The kid is a warrior, through and through.
This year’s team hasn’t played the best basketball we’ve seen come out of Storrs, but you can’t fault their effort. This is a team that fights and grinds for the whole game. And that comes straight from Boat. He has played basically every minute of the last three games, and he never takes a play off. He plays with 100 percent effort on every possession. Boat’s played hurt and sore, and even when he’s not at his best, he leaves whatever he’s got on the court. That deserves a tremendous amount of respect.
Boat will leave UConn in the top ten in points, assists and steals. This season he’s averaging nearly 18 points per game, and shooting 43.5 percent from the floor, 42.1 percent from three and 83.3 percent from the line. His assist-to-turnover ratio is nearly 2:1. But those are just numbers, and they don’t tell the whole story. Boat is an incredible athlete. He’s quick and nimble and holy crap can he jump. A Boat dunk is a thing of beauty. (I am going to miss those Boat dunks. So. Much.) He plays with fire and swag and heart, and he’s just so damn much fun to watch.
He’s had a tough go of it this season. Boat vs. the world. There hasn’t been a consistent second option on the team for most of this year, and when they’ve won, it’s typically been on Boat’s back. He’s been the lone grown-up surrounded by potential-rich kids. And he’s done an outstanding job leading this team, keeping his teammates calm and focused. If the Huskies can’t win out at the AAC Tournament, it’s likely that the Boat Show has seen his last Big Dance. And that would be a tragedy. His jersey belongs up on that Husky Wall of Honor. Boat’s given so much to this program, and I hope they give back to him, too.
On a more personal note, here at A Dime Back we’re really going to miss Boat’s post-game contributions. I’ve interviewed a lot of people, and I can’t tell you how rare it is to have an interview subject who consistently responds to questions with reasoned, thoughtful and useful answers. You always get a real answer from Boat, and that’s just not a thing that happens a lot.
Regardless of how the next month plays out, Ryan Boatright has earned our respect. After four years, Boat leaves with a ring and, let’s not forget, a degree. Congratulations to him (and to Tanesha Boatright, aka BoatMom, All-Time Husky Mom Hall of Famer) on a stellar career.
Boat’s represented himself, his team and his university so well. It’s been an absolute pleasure to get to witness it. Thanks, Boat. From all of us.
