It was raining threes in Gampel Pavilion. After a disappointing first half that saw UConn trail Steve Pikiell’s Stony Brook team by 5 at the half, the Huskies were absolutely crazy from behind the arc after intermission and held on for a 73-62 victory.
Niels Giffey was the star of the show for UConn. While his teammates struggled to excite the lethargic crowd in Storrs, Giffey crashed the boards and made the hustle plays that kept the Huskies in the game and impressed his coach. “Giffey’s been my MVP all year,” said head coach Kevin Ollie. “With RJ [Evans] out, Niels filled the void.” Praising his effort in practice, Ollie reiterated that the team expected a showing like this from the Giffey, saying “if it’s two minutes or forty minutes, I get the same thing from him. That’s what I love about him.”
Giffey had 9 points and 4 rebounds at the half, leading UConn in both categories. With usual threats Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright struggling, Giffey’s surge was imperative in keeping UConn in the game until the threes won it for them. “Niels did a terrific job shooting the ball. It shows you our depth,” said Napier.
The 2nd half started with Giffey replacing Omar Calhoun in the starting lineup. Tyler Olander got UConn’s momentum started with two quick buckets. Boatright and DeAndre Daniels each got a hoop of their own. Then things got interesting. Shabazz hit a three. Then Giffey hit a three. Then Calhoun hit a three.
Starting at the 10:44 mark of the 2nd half, UConn did not hit another 2-point field goal for the rest of the game. Instead, threes rained down like tears from Rashad Anderson. All told, the Huskies hit 7 consecutive threes and 8 of 9 in a stretch that saw them turn a tie game into a sure win.
Notes:
- Giffey was simply fantastic, finishing with 15 points and 8 rebounds.
- UConn lost the rebounding edge for the 6th straight game. Said Ollie “we’re getting closer in rebounding. That’s a positive!” I laughed. So did he. The final tally was 35-38.
- Omar Calhoun hit some clutch threes down the stretch. Asked after the game, he said that he and DeAndre Daniels prepare for those opportunities in practice, knowing that Napier and Boatright garner so much attention.
- UConn hit 9 of 10 free throws down the stretch to seal the victory. Good teams hit their foul shots and UConn certainly did when it mattered today.
- Napier had another mystifying 1st half where he only attempted two shots. After the game he said he wasn’t sure why he was struggling at the beginning of games but it’s something that he and the coaches have talked about.
- Ollie on Napier: “I’d rather him late than never.”
- Boatright didn’t shoot particularly well (3-8 | 1-4 from 3) but did finish with a team-high 7 assists. Ollie said he “did a terrific job finding Shabazz” and others for open shots.
- Stony Brook coach – and UConn alum – Steve Pikiell had strong praise for Kevin Ollie. “Kevin does a great job,” said Pikiell. “I watch all the tapes and Kevin is a great coach. As a player, he was first class. A UConn guy. He bleeds blue.”
Next Up: The first XL Center game of the season. The Huskies will take on New Hampshire Thursday night (Nov. 29th) at 7pm. The game will be on SNY.
