If you’ve heard UConn Coach Kevin Ollie talk at all this season, you’ve heard him say that defense is where the Huskies “hang our hat.” That was never more true than in UConn’s win over the 11th ranked Cincinnati Bearcats (24-5, 13-3). The unranked Huskies (23-6, 11-5) played stifling defense and managed to hold Cincy to 27.1% from the floor in a 51-45 win.
The Huskies scored 20 points off of Cincy’s 20 turnovers, and stole the ball 10 times. Ryan Boatright had four, and Shabazz Napier and Lasan Kromah each had two.
“Even if we’re missing shots, we feel like, if we can stop them, we can’t lose,” Boat said.
This was not, by any stretch of the imagination, a pretty game. Both teams played good defense, but the offensive side of the game was just kind of terrible. UConn missed several lay ups, and the shots were not falling for anybody. There were no field goals, by either team, in the final 5:29 of the game. UConn’s field goal drought extended back to the 7:18 mark.
“I said it was going to be 90% punches, 10% plays,” “Ollie said after the game.
Bazz lead the team with 18 points and 11 rebounds, adding a couple assists, as well. But his influence was felt beyond his own play, to that of freshman guard Terrence Samul, who Bazz has spent a lot of time working with this season.
Samuel played 16 quality minutes, often guarding Sean Kilpatrick, Cincy’s best (and today really only) offensive threat, getting a steal and an assist. Samuel played eight impactful minutes against USF, and has shown his coach he has earned more playing time.
“I showed him I can be a game changer on the defensive end,” Samuel said. “I’m going to come in and guard the best guy, rebound and just push the ball. That’s what he wants me to do, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
After Samuel forced a Cincy mistake and turnover, Ollie walked out of the coach’s box to give Samuel a high five. Ollie said Samuel has been working with Bazz and Boat, listening to his coaches and generally busting his ass.
“He’s playing in the thick of the games, and he’s playing the right way,” Ollie said.
UConn characteristically hit most of their free throws, making 72.0%. Bazz hit 9-of-10, but Giffey missed all three of his attempts. Maybe he needs to take them from further back.
Make no mistake, this is a big win for the Huskies. With two loses to SMU and that embarrassing Houston game, a win against Cincinnati is huge for UConn’s tournament resume.
“It reminded everybody that we can play with the top level competition,” Boat said.
Ollie said in their lose to SMU, and in other games this season UConn has played down to teams, or simply not played for the whole game.
“We kind of took our foot of the pedal,” he said. “And today we didn’t do that defensively. “
The most notable event, though, really didn’t have any impact on the game. Cincinnati Coach Mick Cronin was, well, let’s just say, somewhat heated during most of the game. After one not-even-bad call, he absolutely lost his mind and started screaming at ref Ted Valentine. Instead of giving Cronin the technical, which he surely deserved, Valentine got right in Cronin’s face and started yelling back. A Cincinnati player had to pull his coach away from the ref. Cronin then shoved his own assistant. It was an ugly spectacle on both sides. Cronin’s behavior was pretty ridiculous for most of the game, and I counted at least four times when a technical would have been warranted.
Puzzlingly, despite Valentine’s usual reluctance to not see himself on television, Cronin did not get called for a single T. It was truly bizarre.
After the game, Bazz, who was right next to the action, noted that when Ollie did something similar, he got thrown out of the game. And while he gave credit to the refs for not letting the incident effect the outcome of the game he also said, “You can only yell so much!”
Notes:
- Ollie-ism of the day: “I don’t coach from fear; I coach from love.”
- Highlight of the day for A Dime Back: As the officiating crew was exiting the floor, about three feet from out seats in Siberia, fans told Valentine he was “terrible,” and “the worst.” Valentine’s response? To blow a mocking kiss. I wish I had my camera.
- Ollie acknowledged that today’s game was important from a rankings/bracket/seeding perspective, but that he really couldn’t care less about that. “I care about my team,” he said.
- Bazz has really grown into his roll as a leader, directing his team and taking younger players under his wing. Though he may have been most helpful in saving Ollie’s voice, which was really raspy and definitely bothering him. “I couldn’t yell today so I was glad I had Bazz to yell for me,” he said with a laugh.
- Omar Calhoun played four minutes and missed all three of his shots. The sad part is he missed two open threes, and the shots didn’t even look bad. They just didn’t go in. I really feel bad for this poor kid.
- Sean Kilpatrick was basically Cincy’s entire offense, scoring 18 points.
- After the game Cronin said that his team has a bad attitude and is arrogant. Apparently the Cincy players thought they were going to waltz into Hartford and get a win. “We got taught a lesson,” Cronin said.
Next up:
UConn plays Rutgers at Gampel on Senior Night Wednesday at 7 p.m. The game will be on ESPNU.
