UConn heads to historic Hinkle to face Butler in Big East clash
Unlike the case with many of its new Big East brethren, UConn hardly has a long history with Butler.
The programs have faced each other on the hardwood just once in their respective histories. It was back on April 4, 2011. Perhaps you remember? Bit of an ugly game, a real defensive struggle, inside Houston’s Reliant Stadium.
UConn won 53-41, and with it its third national championship.
Ten years later, Kemba Walker, the Final Four MVP, is playing for Brad Stevens, Butler’s head coach at the time, for the Boston Celtics. Jim Calhoun is retired, Shabazz Napier (Kemba’s freshman backup in 2011) is a free agent, and UConn and Butler are Big East rivals.
The Huskies make their first visit to historic Hinkle Fieldhouse on Saturday (4 p.m., CBS Sports Network). Like everything else these days, it will hardly be normal. Although about 2,000 fans are expected to be allowed inside Hinkle, it will hardly echo the final scenes of “Hoosiers,” which were filmed inside the 93-year-old building.
Hurley coached inside Hinkle one prior time while at Rhode Island, when Butler was in the Atlantic 10.
“It was an awesome experience — the history of the building, obviously the movie,” he said on
Friday night. “I just did a Gene Hackman impersonation when I walked in ... It’ll be a cool experience.”
UConn (5-1, 2-1 Big East) will have to supply its own energy on Saturday. That wasn’t a problem in the second half of the Huskies’ remarkable, comeback victory at Marquette on Tuesday night. Spurred by the hot shooting of Tyler Polley and the defensive and rebounding energy of Isaiah Whaley, UConn turned an 18-point deficit three minutes into the latter half into a stirring, 65-54 victory.
Now, the Huskies will look to continue that momentum through the second game of a three-game, Midwest road trip. UConn returned home after the Marquette game and flew out to Indianapolis on Friday evening. The Huskies will stay in the Midwest after Saturday’s game and bus it to Chicago for Monday’s 9 p.m. bout with DePaul.
UConn may have to navigate Saturday’s game without leading scorer James Bouknight, who hyperextended his left elbow in the win over Marquette.
“He’ll be a game-time decision,” Hurley said. “He’s been really limited.”
Butler (3-5, 2-3 Big East) is hardly the program it was 10 years ago, when it made its second consecutive trip to the national title game (the Bulldogs lost to Duke in 2010 when a last-second, halfcourt heave was just off the mark). Butler had lost five of six and needed a 10-0, game-closing run to beat
lowly Georgetown in its most recent outing on Wednesday. But the Bulldogs have arguably their best player, senior guard Aaron Thompson, back after missing five of the prior six games with a sprained knee ligament.
Meanwhile, UConn will be without the services of freshman 7-footer Javonte Brown, who is transferring from the program. Brown told Hearst Connecticut Media on Friday that his decision to leave stemmed from the departure of assistant coach Kenya Hunter, his primary recruiter, back in August.
Brown only played in two games this season, playing a grand total of four minutes.
RIM RATTLINGS
1 While Brown has decided
to transfer, another freshman big who has seen limited playing time appears ready to stick it out.
Richie Springs, a 6-9 redshirt frosh who sat out last season as an academic redshirt, has played even less than Brown this season.
“Richie’s a developmental guy,” Hurley said. “Richie’s very aware of our roster ... With Akok not healthy, it’s hard to get on the court in our frontcourt. Especially when we have the option of Tyler back to full health, playing him at the four, or Tyrese. So, listen, we’ve got a good frontcourt, man. It’s hard to get on the court here. Richie understands what it is. He’s a developmental player. He’s got three or four guys every day that are kicking his (butt) and making him better. He’s embracing it, he’s improving. As long as he understands that he’s a developmental guy, he’ll eventually get with a program like ours. But Richie, now, is really the only guy healthy, in practice, that’s not playing and not in the rotation. I think that probably energizes him a little bit more.”
1 The Big East announced on Friday that UConn’s slated Jan. 15 game at Gampel Pavilion against Villanova has been postponed due to COVID-19 issues within the Villanova program. No makeup date has been announced.
It’s the seventh game on UConn’s schedule that has been either postponed or canceled.