Huskies hoping to build off big road victory
STORRS — It wasn’t just the fact that UConn won its first road game of the season on Thursday against the first- place ( at the time) team in the league.
It was how the Huskies did it. UConn held an 11- point lead early in the second half at Tulsa, only to see it quickly wither away to a single point. But unlike so many other near- misses this season, the Huskies didn’t let that one slip away. Keyed by a stunning 13 straight points by freshman James Bouknight, UConn emerged with a 16- point win.
Now, the hard part — maintaining the positive momentum from Thursday’s win. It won’t be easy on Sunday ( noon, CBS Sports Network) against Cincinnati, the hottest and, according to UConn coach Dan Hurley, one of the top two teams in the American Athletic Conference.
“I’m not sure what the standings say,” Hurley said, “but Cincinnati and Houston are the two best teams.”
In fact, entering Saturday’s action, Cincinnati and Houston sat alone at the top of the AAC standings at 8- 2 apiece. The Bearcats ( 15- 7 overall) have won five straight, most recently an 80- 79 squeaker over Wichita State at Koch Arena, where few visiting opponents are able to win.
Cincinnati, by far the most successful team since the AAC began seven years ago, has defeated the Huskies eight straight times overall, dating back to Jalen Adams’ 75- foot prayer in the 2016
AAC tournament. Most recently, it was a 67- 51 shellacking of the Huskies on New Year’s Day at Fifth Third Arena.
“Tulsa’s a good team that has a chance to play in the postseason, but this is a different- looking group that’s coming in here ( Sunday),” said Hurley. “Best player in the league in ( Jarron) Cumberland; Keith Williams who’s a first or second- team all- conference player; Tre Scott ... I don’t know how many four- men in the league are better than him. Those guys are all older and have been on championship teams. Throw the center ( Chris Vogt) in there, who killed us, we’ve got a hell of a matchup tomorrow. We need to come in here with confidence, because these guys are a championship- level
program that John ( Brannen) took over.”
UConn ( 12- 10, 3- 6 AAC) was able to stave off Tulsa on Thursday largely because of the hot hands of Bouknight ( 22 points) and Alterique Gilbert ( 6- for- 9 shooting, 17 points).
“If we get really good offensive games from a couple of guys, we’re gonna be really hard to beat ,” Hurley noted. “James and Alterique’s ability to make shots in the second half ... and have really good offensive games, it just gave the team a collective confidence that we were gonna be able to close the game well. When you have nights where almost every guys is having a hard time making shots, you’re gonna struggle to finish every game.”
The Huskies are also getting a huge boost off the bench from Isaiah Whaley, the junior forward who posted a double- double ( 10 points, 12 rebounds) at Tulsa. Whaley’s playing time was very limited last season, at times not playing at all, but he has emerged as a symbol of perseverance with the program.
“Last year, I didn’t know what my role was, really,” Whaley confessed. “I was still trying to find where I could fit in. Coach during the summer told me all the ways he needed me and how I could fit in. Really, I just embraced all those roles and embraced what he really wanted from me.”
Added Hurley: “He’s self- aware, he’s a team guy, he’s a hard trier, he’s not complicated to deal with. He gives you his best in school, he gives you his best in practice. He’s the type of guy you can lose with, he’s the type of guy you can win with. He’s gonna be very consistent. If you tell him, ‘ Isaiah, put your Poppers away for a couple of games,’ he’ll put it away. He’ll pick and roll, he’ll be physical. When you’re trying to rebuild a strong, championship organization, you do it with people that aren’t delusional and selfish.”
The Huskies will need Bouknight, Gilbert, Whaley and a whole lot more on Sunday afternoon against the hottest team in the AAC.
RIM RATTLINGS
UConn will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Gampel Pavilion’s opening by bringing back numerous members of the 1989- 90 “Dream Season.” Among those expected to be in attendance and introducted to fans during the game will be coach Jim Calhou, Chris Smith, Scott Burrell, Rod Sellers and John Gwynn.
“Any time I’m aware that Coach Calhoun is here, ( on the) Mount Rushmore of greatest college basketball coaches, and all these champions and former great players that made this program what it is and helped
build this into a world- class university is a special feeling,” said Hurley. ““There aren’t many universities in the country that have been as positively impacted by the basketball program as UConn has. It’s special to be a part of. I saw Rod Sellers walking around, he looked good, man. If Josh ( Carlton) struggles early and if Isaiah gets in foul trouble, I kind of know where he’s sitting. And that’s a bad man right there.