Larrier’s ready to move on
On track to graduate, UConn junior decides to follow a new parth
Storrs — Terry Larrier's journey to Senior Night has followed a long, winding and challenging path.
From sitting out a season after transferring from Virginia Commonwealth, to missing all but four games last season due to a season-ending knee injury, to having to wear a mask this season after nasal surgery, Larrier has faced more than his share of adversity.
Larrier will be one of six members of the UConn basketball family honored during the Senior Night ceremony prior to today's American Athletic Conference game against Temple (16-12, 8-8) at Gampel Pavilion (7 p.m., CBSSN).
"Definitely been interesting," Larrier said after Tuesday's practice. "Not how I planned it to go, but things happen. My time here has been great and it's been fun. I just want to go out and get the win and play hard and just enjoy the game with my teammates."
A redshirt junior forward from the Bronx, Larrier, the team's third leading scorer (13.8 points per game), said this will be his last home game. He's on track to receive his undergraduate degree in May. He'll skip his final year of eligibility and plans to chase his dream of playing on the professional level.
"I'm going to continue to pursue basketball and just see where it takes me and hopefully works out for the best," Larrier said. "Definitely pro."
Senior Night festivities also will celebrate the careers of graduate transfers David Onuorah and Antwoine Anderson, walkons Christian Foxen of Rocky Hill
Michael Noyes of Granby and team manager Joe Spellman of Hebron.
"I want all of our seniors to go out a special way," coach Kevin Ollie said. "It should be a fun night. Hopefully, the crowd comes out and supports the guys like they've been doing the whole season and we give them something to cheer about the whole night."
As graduate transfers, Onuorah and Anderson, who earned undergraduate degrees from Cornell and Fordham, respectively, have had short one-season careers at UConn.
"They came in and worked all season," Ollie said. "They've worn the UConn jersey with pride. I just appreciate them giving us an opportunity to coach them."
Noyes, a walk-on from Granby, is excited about his last home game, even though there's a chance that he won't see action. He's played only six minutes this season but made an important behind-the-scenes contribution.
His highlight is being a part of UConn's AAC championship team in 2016. He also accomplished one of big individual goals — getting into the first half of a game last year.
"Those are the things that you remember," Noyes said. "That's why you do it. I've had some great experiences . ... I just love to play basketball." Ollie appreciates the contribution of Noyes and Foxen. "They really are the backbone of our program because they build the culture and they leave the culture better," Ollie said. "Hopefully, our guys see that selflessness that they always show each and every day."
Noyes, a graduate student, already has a job lined up as an actuary at The Hartford, but would eventually love to work in analytics in the NBA.
"It will be a little weird not playing here anymore and a little weird not having my family at the games," Noyes said. "It's been a fun four years. Hopefully, the season doesn't come to an end too soon. UConn and March, they go together. So hopefully, we play well."
The Huskies (13-15, 6-10) have won just two of their last nine games, with one of the losses on Jan. 28 at Temple, 85-57. They led early before being overwhelmed by Temple's second team.
"When they throw a punch, we've got to throw a bigger punch," Ollie said. "I think that was the same thing in the Memphis game (on Sunday). We got up by 10 and they bring their second group in and they get it going and then we don't have the fortitude to keep fighting back.
"... Once that snowball effect starts, we've got to have some momentum where we stop that . ... We've just got to be disciplined, alert and we've got to have great effort, especially Senior Night. Hopefully, these guys understand and honor our seniors the right way." g.keefe@theday.com