UConn backs up talk in Providence
UConn 74 Providence 60
PROVIDENCE — UConn coach Dan Hurley didn’t like the way Saturday night’s game against Providence started.
He made sure to enjoy the finish.
Hurley spent much of the last minute of the second-ranked Huskies’ 74-60 victory over Providence jawing with a Friars fan in the second row. The coach of the defending NCAA champs also waved his arms to encourage the considerable contingent of fans rooting for the road team, then left the court with both index fingers raised in the air.
“I just told him, I’ve got a national championship ring, and we won the regular season in the Big East, and we’re champions,” Hurley said. “And you should shut up, and you shouldn’t be running your mouth at that point in the game. You know, just get out of here. You know? Just go.”
Alex Karaban scored 16 points and Tristen Newton had 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists as second-ranked UConn bounced back after falling behind 15-2 early in the regularseason finale. Stephon Castle added 14 points for the Huskies (28-3, 18-2), who finished with four straight wins and 18 victories in their last 19 games.
“I’m not going to lie, it felt pretty good,” said Hurley, who previously coached at PC rival Rhode Island and was 0-5 in the building originally known as the Providence Civic Center. “I’ve had to eat [expletive] in this building a bunch.”
Big East player of the year candidate Devin Carter scored 24 points with 15 rebounds for Providence (19-12, 10-10) and finished the season as the conference’s leading scorer.
The Friars scored 15 of the first 17 points, including a free throw when Hurley was called for a technical foul for arguing with the referees.
Providence led 19-9 before UConn scored 30 of the next 35 points, tying it at 21 when Friars coach Kim English was called for a technical.