New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
UConn heads to historic Hinkle to face Butler
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 18point deficit three minutes into the latter half into a stirring, 65-54 victory.
Now, the Huskies will look to continue that momentum through