Polley, Huskies hope to stay hot vs. Cincinnati

CINCINNATI — Over UConn’s first 25 games this season, freshman Tyler Polley put up 23 3pointers and made just six.

Over the Huskies’ last two games, Polley has attempted six 3-pointers — and made all six.

Not bad for a kid better known for his mid-range game while in high school.

“It’s always been there,” Polley said on Wednesday, “but I’m just playing off Jalen (Adams), (Christian Vital) and Terry (Larrier), spotting up for the 3-pointers. It’s opened up that aspect of my game. Now, I can work to my mid-range game with a pumpfake or whatever.”

According to coach Kevin Ollie, Polley’s recent hot streak is a result of hard work in the gym.

“Every time I come in the office, he’s in there, just being a gym rat. It’s definitely paying off, especially for a young guy, to get some confidence, hit some big shots for us. He’s really having the results follow the hard work. He’s very coachable.”

Polley hopes to remain hot on Thursday, when UConn (13-14, 6-8 AAC) faces No. 11 Cincinnati. The game will be held at BB&T Arena on the campus of Northern Kentucky University, since the Bearcats’ home arena (Fifth Third Arena) is going under seasonlong renovations.

In fact, the entire UConn team hopes to stay hot. Over their last four games, the Huskies have shot 49.5 percent from the floor. They shot a blistering 58.2 percent in Sunday’s win at ECU, including 13 3-pointers.

“We’re just trying to work at it,” said Ollie. “Guys are in the gym, we’re sharing the ball a little bit better, being unselfish, passing up good shots for great shots. It’s been better shot selection. I think that’s lending us to shooting a high percentage.”

Added Polley: “I always believed we had a great shooting team. These last couple of games, we’ve shown it.”

Of course, nothing comes easy offensively against the Bearcats (23-4, 12-2). Traditionally one of the toughest defensive teams in

the country, Cincinnati ranks second in the nation in field goal percentage defense (37.1) and scoring defense (57.1).

In fact the last time UConn shot under 40 percent was in a 65-57 loss to the Bearcats on Feb. 3 in Storrs. Polley wasn’t playing regular minutes at that point, but came alive in a Feb. 15 loss at Tulsa, going 3-for-3 from distance for what at the time was a career-high nine points.

He eclipsed that the following game at ECU, against hitting all three 3pointers and finishing with 11 points.

“I’m just being more comfortable out there, a lot more confidence,” Polley said. “My teammates, coaches, everybody just gave me the confidence to be aggressive, play how I got here. And just keep shooting the

ball.”

Ollie stressed Polley’s work ethic. “He was a good mid-range shooter when we recruited him. He always had a good touch,” the coach said. “It’s just being in the gym. You get in the gym — I remember Ray Allen came in, he wasn’t known as a 3-point shooter. Not saying this kid is gonna be better than Ray Allen, but ... (Allen) worked on it, worked on it, worked on it and became a prolific 3-point shooter. Probably the best shooter that ever graced the hardwood. So, it’s all about work, repetition, building your muscle memory. When you get in there and work, you really build your confidence up. That’s what he’s been doing.”

It won’t get any easier on Thursday night against Cincinnati. But perhaps the Huskies are due for a strong game against a strong team.

“It’s gonna be a tough game,” junior forward Terry Larrier noted, “but we’re looking to get the victory on the road.”

UConn signee Emmitt Matthews, Jr., an athletic, 6-foot-7 shooting guard out of Tacoma, Washington, broke his right wrist earlier this week, ending his high school career. Matthews is a lefty shooter.

“I know he wanted to play in the states and have a chance to win the state championship,” said Ollie. “It’s a hairline fracture, it’s not gonna require surgery. It’s just gonna take rehab, I think 4-6 weeks. So, I don’t think it’s too big a problem, but you still have to watch for it. He has some great doctors up there looking at it, and when he gets on campus here, James (Doran) is gonna look at it and our great medical staff is gonna take care of it, as well.”