Daniel Hamilton led five UConn players in double figures with 16 points, adding nine rebounds and nine assists in his latest flirtation with a triple-double as the Huskies ran off a 30-10 run in the first half and never really looked back, winning their first real test of the 2015-16 season. Rodney Purvis and Shonn Miller each added 13 points and six rebounds, with Purvis also checking Michigan star Caris Lavert most of the night. Sterling Gibbs and Sam Cassell, Jr. each chipped in with 11 efficient points, using only seven and five field goal attempts, respectively.
There were a number of good signs in the first three games of the season, and in UConn’s first encounter with a likely NCAA Tournament team, they showed that they’re actually as good as they looked while devouring cupcakes in the season’s early weeks. Winning a tournament game against a top Big Ten program would be a big deal for any team, but this is particularly important for UConn, as the Huskies’ conference schedule in the AAC will make it difficult to build up their tournament resume later in the season. By beating Michigan, the Huskies earned themselves a game against another name-brand school in Syracuse, and depending on how the games go tomorrow, a game against either #9 Gonzaga or #25 Texas A&M. A loss would have dumped the Huskies into the consolation bracket, where they’d have played Charlotte and then either Washington or Texas.
UConn spread the wealth on offense, but Hamilton was clearly the star. He had a few bad turnovers early, but he took over the Husky offense late in the first half, getting into the lane at will. His touch from the midrange looked superb, and he created a lot of offense for his teammates with those nine assists. Hamilton is the team’s most talented player, so the more he asserts himself on offense, the better.
What’s better, the rest of the team has accepted support roles, and they seem to be prepared to contribute when their number is called. Purvis was a menace in transition, Miller made some great plays in the low post, and Gibbs managed to put up numbers with a relatively low number of touches. Even Cassel surprised the shit out of me by draining three three-pointers, helping the Huskies pile it on during the first half run.
The way the players have fit together on offense so far has been magnificent. There have been relatively few cool stretches because there’s always another quality player to take the next shot, but players are letting the offense come to them, taking very few bad shots. If Kevin Ollie can keep the team focused for the next few days, the Huskies could be looking at an early-season tournament title, and a possible top-10 national ranking.
