Notes & Quotes: UConn Loses to Cincinnati
HARTFORD, Conn. – Gary Clark converted a three-point play with 12.1 seconds remaining to lift Cincinnati over UConn 58-57 Thursday night in front of 13,232 fans at the XL Center.
Here’s a look at what went right and what went wrong for the Huskies (14-6, 4-3 AAC):
WHAT WORKED
1. GRINDING AWAY: Once again the Huskies and Cincinnati (16-6, 6-3) were in a defensive battle and UConn was up for the challenge for the most part. The Bearcats missed 13 straight shots during one stretch of the second half and UConn scored 11 fast-break points with help from 14 turnovers by Cincy. Shonn Miller had four blocks and three steals
UCONN COACH KEVIN OLLIE’S TAKE: “It was another game against Cincinnati, last possession … and we just didn’t do it at the end. … They still played good defense, they all played good defense but we just can’t keep shooting 38 percent.”
2. HOT FOR A HALF: The Huskies’ offense was humming to close the first half. Sterling Gibbs (14 points) made three straight 3-pointers and UConn made 7 of 8 to close the half up 36-31. Rodney Purvis (12 points) added 10 points there and the Huskies shot 50 percent (14-for-28).
CINCINNATI COACH MICK CRONIN: “In the first half we lost Sterling three times, you just can’t (do that). They have one guy that’s shooting a good percentage and we lost him three times in a row. It’s bad enough to lose him once.”
3. FRESHMAN FLASHES: Jalen Adams scored 11 points on 4-for-7 shooting and UConn’s only basket in the final 6:20, which came on a layup with 1:42 to play to give UConn a 57-53 lead. However, he had a big turnover right after it, which led to a Cincinnati basket.
OLLIE’S TAKE: “I thought Jalen played good. I didn’t like the turnover when we were up four. … If you are going to be out there you want to take care of the ball, especially in situations like that. Other than that he plays real good.”
WHAT NEEDS WORK
1. WHERE HAS THE MOJO GONE? Once again Daniel Hamilton (2-for-11, five points) and Purvis (5-for-17) were struggling on offense and that helped the Huskies finish 23-for-60 for the game from the field. Everyone cooled off in the second half as the Bearcats frustrated UConn with its match-up zone. UConn made just 1 of its final 11 shots and had back-to-back shot-clock violations.
OLLIE’S TAKE: “We can’t have our two best players go 2-for-11 and 5-for-17. We are just not going to win like that and I told you all before. … (On Hamilton) I can’t get him back on track. He just has to keep taking good shots, try to get him different looks. … We prepared for the zone, we just didn’t make the plays. ”
2. CONTACT POINTS: The Huskies outscored the Bearcats 32-24 in the paint, but after going to the foul line 36 times and shooting 80.6 percent against Georgetown, they were just 5-for-8 against Cincy.
3. PHANTOM FOUL? Miller was called for a foul on Clark with 12.1 seconds left that led to the game-winning point. Ollie and the Huskies didn’t care for the call. UConn missed three shots – including a layup attempt by Miller that seemed to draw contact - at the other end in the final five seconds, after Clark gave the Bearcats the one-point lead.
OLLIE’S TAKE: “Yeah, I think he didn’t get fouled. I have to go watch the tape, I haven’t seen the tape, but I don’t think he got fouled. I thought Shonn got hit harder than that. I’m not going to go back and forth with the refs, but I don’t think he got fouled. … I’m probably biased, but I want UConn to win.”
4. WELCOME BACK: Cronin missed last season’s UConn game due to illness, but was glad to be back playing an old rival.
CRONIN’S TAKE: “I missed a lot of things last year, but them yelling at me at UConn is something, when it’s taken away from you, you kind of miss it. Just like we missed coach (Jim) Calhoun for a little while, but Kevin and I are such good friends.”
NOTES: Shabazz Napier attended the game. … Both coaching staffs wore sneakers and casual attire to honor Coaches vs. Cancer. Ollie still wore a sports coat, but no tie. … Mick Cronin won his 200th game on -Sunday when the Bearcats beat Tulane 97-75. … Adams was back in the opening lineup after not starting the Georgetown game due to a coach’s decisions. … Despite trailing much of the game, UConn finished tied in rebounds with 36 apiece.