Cole emerging as Bouknight’s wingman
R.J. Cole, Hoya Killer. A little premature? Perhaps. But Cole’s sublime performance against Georgetown on Tuesday night — 17 points, seven assists, six steals, five rebounds and zero turnovers — wasn’t the first time the UConn junior guard has torched the Hoyas.
As a freshman at Howard on Dec. 7, 2017, Cole had 17 points and eight assists against Georgetown. A little over a year later, on Dec. 29, 2018, Cole poured in 28 points, along with six assists, against the Hoyas.
Of course, Howard lost both of those games, rather decisively at Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, D.C. On Tuesday night, inside the cozier confines of Georgetown’s on-campus McDonough Arena, Cole’s performance was the key to UConn’s 70-57 victory.
“I had to figure out how to step up in different ways for myself and my teammates,” Cole said. “I just wanted to make sure I came out there being aggressive.”
Cole had just three points on 1-for-7 shooting in the first half, but exploded in the second, hitting 7 of his 9 shots and, more importantly, diving all over the floor for loose balls, setting the tone for the Huskies’ muchimproved second half.
“He was just more determined,” coach Dan Hurley said. “It’s a mindset. It’s the separator with athletes, or really any successful people. It’s determination, it’s the will to succeed. He did not have a good first half. He put it behind him and really led the way. I’m really proud of the way he played.”
Cole and super sophomore James Bouknight (20 points, 10 rebounds) were the stars of the game, and the chemistry between the pair was evident. Five of Bouknight’s eight baskets were assisted by Cole, none more resounding than a pair of alley-oop dunks — one just before halftime that ended a UConn 0-for-11 shooting skid, the other with 8:18 left to kick off a game-clinching, 12-2 Husky run.
“Our chemistry, it’s been good since last year, off the court,” Cole said. “I know I didn’t play (due to NCAA transfer rules), but off the court we were really close. On the court, it makes it easier. When he needs a lift, I know I can lift him, and when I need a lift, I know he can do that for me. Just staying connected and
knowing what we want from each other, I think that helps us the most.”
Cole, of course, was no stranger to McDonough Arena. He played many games in the Kenner League, a summer league played inside McDonough, while at Howard. The dayto-day grind of playing in the Big East is new to Cole, however, and he’s adjusted well.
“No matter what level you play at, you’ve got to bring a level of toughness and tenacity,” Cole said. “You’ve got to be a dog out there, basically. Especially in the Big East. It’s a dogeat-dog world out here. You’ve got your work cut out for you every night. Just knowing that the competition level is much higher over here, I’ve got to make sure I’m on my ‘A’ game every night.”
Hurley has been looking all season for a No. 2 scorer behind Bouknight. At times it’s been Tyrese Martin (12.0 ppg). At times, other guys — Adama Sanogo, Isaiah Whaley, Tyler Polley — have stepped up with big games. But Cole is the guy Hurley has often mentioned as the best candidate to be Bouknight’s wingman. It’s part of the reason why Hurley took Cole out of the starting lineup for a couple of games recently, to motivate him to become a more integral part of the team.
Cole responded with two terrific games off the bench (averaging 19 points against Providence and Xavier) and is back in the starting lineup. He’s averaging 12.4 points per game this season, second to Bouknight. Just as Hurley had hoped.
And, of course, he’s now averaging 20.6 points in three career games against Georgetown. And bad news for Patrick Ewing & Co.: UConn faces the Hoyas at least once more on March 6 at Gampel in their regularseason finale.
“Going forward,” Cole added, “I think our chemistry will keep going a long way, and that will help us in every game after this.”