UConn has done it before. They know it’s possible, and the memory is so engrained in the minds of the fan base that it doesn’t even seem that farfetched. Four years to the day that Kemba Walker led the Huskies on an historic run through the Big East Tournament, and eventually to a national championship, Ryan Boatright captained his squad to the first of four wins they will need to keep their season alive.
On Thursday night, in front of an anemic 5,431 fans in downtown Hartford, UConn dispatched USF 69-43, earning a match-up against a tough Cincinnati team on Friday night.
The Huskies scored the first eight points of the game on Thursday. USF was ice cold and UConn didn’t help, playing stifling defense and building their lead to 20 with 5:24 remaining in the first half. The game was essentially over at intermission, but the Huskies closed the game out strong, hoping to build momentum for the tough tests that lay ahead for them.
Boatright played well (12 points on four-of-ten shooting including three three-pointers) but it was the duo of Daniel Hamilton and Rodney Purvis who handled most of the scoring load. For Hamilton, his 20 points represented the most a freshman has scored in the brief two-year history of the AAC Tournament. Most impressive was his efficiency. Hamilton hit six of his eight shot attempts and four of five from deep.
Purvis played fast but under control. His 13 points were the second-best behind Hamilton, and his three three-pointers helped the Huskies boast a 64.7 percent mark from beyond the arc in the game.
Boatright was thankful to have some help in handling the scoring load.
“They stepped up, played with confidence, took care of the basketball, played both ends of the floor,” he said. “They did a great job out there.”
Amida Brimah and Omar Calhoun each had nine points. Brimah added five blocks.
On defense, UConn held USF to 31.3 percent shooting (23.8 percent in the first half). Phil Nolan, earning 28 minutes with forward Kentan Facey out with a concussion, answered the call and played well in the interior.
“Phil did an amazing job,” said head coach Kevin Ollie. “It doesn’t show in the points, but I put on this tape, I bet you every defensive assignment I want him to be at, he’s going to be there, and he sacrificed his body for our team. He takes charges. He does all the small things.”
UConn will have to duplicate their effectiveness on both ends of the court to beat a Cincinnati team that is far superior to USF. The two teams split their season series — each winning on their home court. In their last meeting on January 29th, the Huskies committed 17 turnovers and allowed the Bearcats to shoot 48.9 percent. They will have to play much better if they are expecting to make another historic run through March.
Up Next:
UConn/Cincy will tip sometime after 9pm on Friday — uneducated guess is 9:20pm. Show up to Hartford, buy tickets and watch in person.
Is it weird that I am completely comfortable knowing that we have to win out to get in? This program just flips a switch in March and they turn into BEASTS.
One down, three to go, then six more. JK- lets get there first…