HARTFORD ? ?
With all its problems rebounding, the UConn men's basketball team has had to find numerous ways to win this season.
The Huskies have won on occasion with great perimeter shooting. They've won by forcing turnovers, and limiting their own. They've won with solid defense.
On Saturday, they found another way to win ? yes, with rebounding.
"Our big men did a terrific job," coach Kevin Ollie said after UConn's 61-53 win over Washington at the XL Center on Saturday night. "A terrific job. Phil Nolan came in and he contributed, Tyler Olander contributed, Enosch Wolf contributed, and that's what we're going to need from them. We did it by committee. Enosch [hit] the floor five or six times, I counted."
Just hours after UConn's players learned that Ollie's "audition" as their head coach was over ? he had signed a five-year, $7 million contract to run through the 2017-18 season ? they turned in an emotional, inspired effort. Omar Calhoun scored 14 points, Shabazz Napier 13 points with eight rebounds, and Ryan Boatright 12 points as UConn's guards again carried the offense. But they outrebounded Washington 40 to 36, with Wolf getting nine off the bench ? only the second time this season they have done that.
"You could say UConn did a great job," Washington coach Lorenzo Romar said, "or you could say, 'They weren't any good, what in the world was wrong with your team?' I'm the coach of the Washington Huskies, so I am going to say, give UConn credit. There were a lot of defensive rebounds to be had, and they did a great job of going and getting them."
It also helped that Washington's big men, Aziz N'Diaye and Shawn Kemp Jr., got into foul trouble. N'Diaye, 7-foot, played only 14 minutes.
UConn (10-2) had more turnovers (17) than assists (13) in this game, so it was really the reverse of what had been happening.
"Hopefully at Marquette [on Tuesday], I can put those two together," Ollie joked, "and have rebounding and low turnovers."
The other key to this game was UConn's defensive effort, especially on C.J. Wilcox, Washington's leading scorer. Wilcox was averaging 19.6 points a game, and had scored 20 in seven of the past eight games, but he hit only 2 of 12 shots for five points in 35 minutes.
"Shabazz did a remarkable job on him," Ollie said, "taking him out of his comfort zone, getting in his space. It wasn't only Shabazz. It's Enosch moving over, being in the low position. We did it collectively. But it started with 'Bazz's ball pressure, so everything Wilcox did was tough for him."
With Wilcox taken off his game, and Boatright containing Andul Gaddy, held to eight points and also in foul trouble, Washington had to go to Scott Suggs, who led them with 15 points, hitting 5 of 15 from the floor. That was the way, apparently, that UConn wanted it to go.
"We tried many strategies to get him off his rhythm," Napier said of Wilcox, "whether it was denying him the ball, whether it was hitting him with some screens, getting him tired."
N'Diaye picked up two fouls, one a technical, early in the game, but Calhoun and Napier missed all four free throws, as UConn got off a bit sluggishly. Washington led 16-10 after a Suggs field goal.
Then UConn, sparked in part by an R.J. Evans appearance off the bench, ran off 11 points in a row to take a 21-16 lead. The lead changed eight times in the first half, but UConn led 31-26 at the break, despite missing all seven of its three-point attempts.
UConn began the second half with a 7-0 run, going on the break, once ignited by an Olander block, to open up a 12-point lead. Calhoun found Napier open in transition for a three-pointer to cap that run. Calhoun's layup, off a pass from Napier, extended the UConn lead to 44-30 with 14:46 to go.
Washington (8-5) surged back, getting within four on occasion, but UConn was hitting the floor for loose balls, and fighting for key rebounds, playing with the toughness that Ollie was demanding, and held on to its lead.
Boatright hit a fall-away jumper to make it 52-45 with 4:03 left, and after Wolf ripped away a rebound, Calhoun hit a jumper at the other end. Next time down the floor, Calhoun laid up an "alley-oop" pass and Wolf, 7-1, got up to get it, and dunked it. They were Wolf's only points, but they were the most memorable of the night and gave UConn an 11-point lead with 2:39 left.
"I was just trying to get every loose ball I could," Wolf said. "I know I wasn't going to score a lot today, get to every possible ball. I needed a physical game like this ? I took it personal and wanted to show I could respond."
With a split of its four games against high majors, wins over Michigan State and Washington, close losses to New Mexico and North Carolina State, UConn could find itself back in the rankings on Monday, with Big East play starting New Year's Day against Marquette in Milwaukee.
"I'm happy being 10-2, but I'm not satisfied," Ollie said. "Those are two different words. I think we can give a lot more."
Source: http://www.ctnow.com/news/hc-uconn-washington-1230-20121229,0,3996360.story?track=rss
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