For the second time this season, UConn left its fans shocked and dismayed after a game against an in-state rival. However, unlike the Huskies’ last-second loss to Yale on Dec. 5, Sunday’s contest against Central Connecticut State University featured a blow-out Husky victory — just not quite enough points.
With 26 seconds left and an 81-48 lead, head coach Kevin Ollie ordered his team to kill the clock as boos rained down from the crowd. Had UConn scored one more point, the fans would have been treated to free chicken wings at Buffalo Wild Wings. They were aware of the promotion. Ollie was not.
“I’ve never been booed like that at the end of the game,” said a good-humored Ollie. “I didn’t even know about the Buffalo Wild Wings, so next time I’ll recognize that.”
Chicken notwithstanding, UConn gave its fans a lot to appreciate in the second half. The Huskies scored 48 points, held Central to 28 percent shooting and ran the Blue Devils out of the gym.
Ryan Boatright led the Huskies with 18 points, overtaking Phil Gamble for 22nd place on UConn’s all-time scoring list. Kentan Facey recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Rodney Purvis was also impressive, scoring 14 points.
The biggest take away for UConn was the play of Omar Calhoun, who is slowly working his way back into form after an early-season knee injury.
“When Omar got in, he got a deflection, got a layup. Now I’m going to reward him with some more minutes,” Ollie said.
Calhoun played aggressive offense. Despite hitting only one of five three point attempts, he drove to the rim, drew contact and finished with 11 points and five rebounds. It was his first time in double-figures since exactly one year ago, when he scored 12 against Eastern Washington in Bridgeport.
“I’d been working hard all summer. I knew I could score the basketball. It’s just good to show some positive things to everyone,” he said. “Health-wise I’m probably at like 85 percent. I’m getting stronger everyday. I’m working overtime.”
UConn will need Calhoun to continue to get stronger as conference play starts this week. As a team, it struggled again from three-point range (5-19, 26.3 percent), and Calhoun represents the team’s best chance for improvement if he continues to pull minutes from Sam Cassell, Jr.
Calhoun also lengthens a UConn roster that looked very deep against Central. Five players scored in double-figures and 10 played eight minutes or more. Ollie will need all of those options to navigate his second season of AAC play.
Notes:
- We’ll have more on this eventually, but Kentan Facey looks better every game. His rebounding instincts are incredible.
- “Kentan’s a great teammate,” Boatright said. “He plays hard all the time. And plays his best all the time. It’s good having a person like that on your team.”
- More Boatright: “Just having Omar back, seeing him happy and healthy is a good feeling.”
- UConn played more pressure defense on Sunday, and had a lot of success during a 17-minute stretch spanning both halves in which the Huskies held Central to only one field goal.
- Related: UConn scored 21 points off Central’s 14 turnovers.
- Unlike his 40-point outburst aginst Coppin State two weeks ago, Amida Brimah could never quite get going against Central. He finished with 12 points and three rebounds.
- Ray Allen was at the game — and stopped in the Central locker room to address his old (asst.) coach Howie Dickenman’s team. Said Howie, “you could hear a pin drop.”
- Dickenman heaped praise on Ollie and the UConn team. “I’ll always be a Kevin Ollie fan, and a UConn fan,” he said before adding, “second to Central Connecticut State University.”
Up Next:
UConn will open AAC play with a New Year’s Eve clash against Temple. The game is at XL and tips at 1 p.m. — hopefully you get the day off.
