Notes & Quotes: UConn handles CCSU, 102-75
James Bouknight scored 20 points with eight rebounds and three steals to lead UConn over Central Connecticut State 102-75 in a sloppy season opener Wednesday at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Conn.
Bouknight was one of five Huskies to score in double digits. R.J. Cole made his Huskies’ debut with 17 points, six assists and four steals. Brendan Adams added 15 points, Tyler Polley 14 and Isaiah Whaley 12.
Whaley and Polley each had seven rebounds in front of a sparse crowd of family and friends due to COVID restrictions.
“We all live for this,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said. “To get back again … as coaches and players, you felt alive again.”
It’s the first regular-season 100-point performance by the Huskies since beating Maine in the 2015 opener 100-56. UConn’s last 100-plus game was against Cincinnati in a four-overtime AAC Tournament game on March 11, 2016.
“The whole atmosphere, not having any fans, it affected me,” Bouknight said. “Having fans makes the game much more fun.”
The Huskies used a 10-0 run late in the first half to create some breathing room and led 48-41 at the half. They never trailed again.
Freshman Adama Sanogo got things going with a hook shot, then followed it up with second-chance layup. Bouknight added the other six points with a bucket and four-point play. The sophomore Bouknight finished the half with 14 points and five rebounds, while Cole had 11.
Myles Baker led CCSU with 17 points for the game.
“It was great to comeback but without the fans it felt a little weird,” CCSU coach and former UConn great Donyell Marshall said. “It felt like a scrimmage almost.”
WHAT WENT WELL
Bouk Show: Maybe not quite a smash hit on the stage just yet, but it was almost an effortless night for the talented sophomore as he stuffed a stat sheet. However, his coach expects more.
Dan Hurley: “I liked his first half offensively. … I didn’t like the way he guarded. I thought the second (half) he didn’t play up to his class level as a player. He got a little out of control, he got a little reckless.”
Polley's Return: After no live action since last January due to an ACL injury, getting Tyler Polley back on the floor was a big boost for the Huskies. He shot 5 of 10 from the field and made a pair of three-pointers to go with seven boards in 26 minutes.
First Impressions: Sanogo and Cole both turned in decent first nights with the Huskies. Cole excelled on the offensive end, while Sanogo’s hustle and aggressiveness inside was evident in his debut as he finished with eight points and seven rebounds.
Hurley on Sanogo: “Sanogo, for you guys who go way back in the Big East, he’s a 6-9 version of Jerry Walker who was a great player I played with at Seton Hall. … Listen, defensively he was lost, offensively he was lost, If he had those 12 practices, you would have seen an even better version of him.”
Hurley on Cole: “R.J. offensively I thought he was fine. He could have playmaked better, he could have created more shots for others. … But he’s obviously, his three-point shooting and just his feel, you could see it, but I didn’t like his defensive effort.”
R.J. Cole: “I thought my performance tonight was alright but I wouldn’t be out here without my teammates.”
WHAT NEEDS WORK
Dismal Defense: In the first half the Huskies had some issues on the defensive end, though to be fair the team had held just four practices after a two-week layoff due to a positive COVID test. Hurley gave them a “half pass” for the outing but clearly he had major issues with allowing the Blue Devils to shoot 50% from the field as they scored 75 points.
Hurley: “We were really bad defensively today and we were really disappointed with the way we guarded the ball, with our ball screen defense. … I just think just picking up and playing man defense eventually wore them out, but what you saw there defensively was a byproduct of, it was probably 50-50 in mind (off the layoff due to a COVID positive test on the team and missing 12 days).”
Cole: “Just coming into practice tomorrow knowing defense was our mental lapse today and you go in with the mindset you can’t always outscore everybody every game … no matter how good you play on the offensive end, you have to get back on the defensive end. We’ll come in (Thursday) ready to work and be locked in.”
MISC. NOTES
UConn went with the starting lineup of Gaffney, Bouknight, Cole, Polley and Whaley. … UConn junior guard Tyrese Martin, who transferred from URI and is immediately eligible, sat out after receiving a one-game NCAA penalty for participation in an unsanctioned summer league game. …. Marshall made his UConn debut on Nov. 21, 1991, scoring three points with 11 rebounds in a 76-46 victory over Hartford. The then freshman was 1-for-11 from the field in 25 minutes and scored his only basket on a 3-pointer. … Carlton had his 66-game starting streak come to and end.
UP NEXT
The Huskies will host the University of Hartford at 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 27th (CBS Sports Network).