Before the game, I told you that UConn needed to hit their jump shots to have a chance against Michigan State. I told you that Michigan State was going to be able to exploit mismatches inside. Instead, in front of a raucous pro-Husky crowd, UConn shot 5-22 from three. Michigan State scored 6 points in the paint. The result? A 60-54 win, sending UConn to the Final Four in Dallas, where they’ll face Florida, a team that hasn’t lost since UConn beat them on December 2nd.
Adreian Payne and Branden Dawson, Michigan State’s talented forwards, were non-factors inside. Dawson was held to 5 points and 1 offensive rebound, while Phil Nolan did a yeoman’s work in keeping Payne contained inside, with Payne getting all four of his field goals on jump shots in transition.
Despite not shooting well, Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright probably had the two signature plays of the game. Napier ended a lengthy Michigan State run with a three-pointer that allowed UConn to go on a 12-0 run of their own, and Boatright stole the ball from an unaware Gary Harris (one of Harris’ few miscues during a great shooting performance) to get a fast break the other way.
Boatright made for a miserable day for Michigan State point guard Keith Appling, who had only two points in the game, with four turnovers in 28 minutes.
And, of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Kevin Ollie, whose game plan against Dawson and Payne worked perfectly. Gutting out a win against a Michigan State team requires some serious onions, but outsmarting Tom Izzo, one of the all-time greats in college basketball, requires something more.
Congratulations, coach, and enjoy your first Final Four. I suspect that it will be the first of many.
Happy to see you give Phil Nolan credit, I don’t think the announcers mentioned his name a single time. Payne looked confused, frustrated, and totally out of sorts as evidenced by his shot off the top of the backboard (late) and a pass to no one that resulted in a turnover. Way to go Nolan. Loved his emphatic dunk at the end too, I bet that felt great after getting hammered on all game.
Boat’s defense was also on another level. Relentless.
Looking forward to Saturday.
Great blog.