All grown up

Hawkins has emerged as an elite Big East scorer

UConn men’s basketball guard Jordan Hawkins crumpled to the court midway through the Huskies’ 89-67 victory over Providence Wednesday night, temporarily quieting the party at sold-out Gampel Pavilion.

“I stepped on somebody’s foot,” he said. “And I was in pain.”

Pivoting to pass to Donovan Clingan while on a fastbreak, Hawkins went down on the far left, near the sideline. He was checked on, helped up and ushered down a tunnel with 8:28 remaining.

And the building just about went silent.

When Hawkins returned to the bench with 7:53 left, and again when he re-entered the game with 7:20 to go, the crowd gave him an ovation. More appreciation was shown when he checked out for good with 1:44 left on the clock. Fans chanted his name.

Hawkins noticed none of this.

“What was the reaction?” he said during a post-game press conference. “Locked in. My bad.”

He added, “I love being here. I love playing for this team. I love playing for this state.”

Hawkins has played himself into the heart of something intriguing, emerging as one of the Big East’s elite scorers as

UConn continues to round into promising postseason form. He had 20 points Wednesday, the leading scorer in one of the Huskies’ best performances of the season, making 7 of 14 shots and 3 of 9 3-pointers.

Hawkins now has 20 or more points in three of the past four games, and in six of the past eight. He is averaging 19.9 points over the past 10 games. His 16.5 average for the season is tied for third in the conference with DePaul’s Umoja Gibson, just behind teammate Ad

Jessica Hill/Associated Press UConn’s Jordan Hawkins reacts after making a 3-point basket in the second half against Seton Hall on Feb. 18 in Storrs.