Notes & Quotes: UConn outlasts DePaul on the road
Tyrese Martin scored 18 points and added five steals to help No. 25 UConn grind out a 60-53 victory over host DePaul during Big East action on Monday inside Chicago's Wintrust Arena.
After a fast start, UConn (7-1, 4-1 Big East) looked like a team playing its second road game in 48 hours. Minus star James Bouknight for a second-straight contest, the Huskies had to scratch and claw their way past DePaul to earn their fourth-straight victory, three of which have come away from the friendly confines of Gampel Pavilion.
“Thrilled to get the win,” UConn head coach Dan Hurley said.
R.J. Cole (four steals) and Tyler Polley each added 12 points as UConn closed the game on a 13-2 run over the final 5:19.
Darious Hall led DePaul (1-4, 0-4) with 10 points and the Blue Demons won the rebound battle 39-29.
After leading by as much as 11 points in the first half, UConn went into the half leading 33-30 behind 10 points from Martin.
WHAT WENT WELL
It Starts With D: On an ugly night for offense, the Huskies hung their hats on their defense and were able to eke out a victory. DePaul, after taking a 51-47 lead, managed just two points the final 5:40 and turned the ball over seven times. Martin and Cole each had two steals over that stretch, helping the Huskies tally sixteen steals and 24 forced turnovers in total.
Hurley: “We did a better job of holding the paint and being more aggressive. That’s what winning teams do. Good teams, the last four or five minutes of a close game they can rely on their defense.
Martin: “Coming into the games, nobody practices like us, so with our defensive intensity and everybody locked in, I mean it just makes it easy to get out in transition, run, and play the game we want to play.”
Cole: “Defense, that’s our calling card. If you aren’t playing defense, you aren’t going to play.”
New Blood: Someone needed to lead UConn to the finish - Cole and Martin stepped to the forefront. Cole made a huge 3-pointer to give UConn a 51-50 lead with 5:19 left, while Martin scored seven points on the closing run.
Hurley: “I think (Martin is) just kind of scratching the surface of what he’s going to be able to do. This is really good for him to develop his role on this team and his confidence.”
Martin: “I knew coming in here I didn’t expect anything to be given to me, I didn’t expect the ball to be in my hands at the end of the game, but I’m just here to make toughness plays and do what it takes to get the win tonight.”
More Hurley: “Tyrese was huge. He put behind him some struggles at the free-throw line and made some timely baskets. R.J., too. He had a huge three in the corner that really gave us a lift.”
Cole: “We just had to stay together and continue to do what we do.”
Road Warriors: Not only did the Huskies' win cap off an undefeated three-game conference road trip for UConn, but it also gave them their fourth overall win away from Storrs this season.
Hurley: “This was a tough stretch, losing James after game one shortened the roster, and put more pressure on other people.”
WHAT NEEDS WORK
Offensive Funk: The Huskies offense was going to struggle with Bouknight out, but against DePaul, the team flatlined at times. UConn made 6 of 8 shots to start, but went 15-for-44 the rest of the way. The scoring lulls include a seven-plus minute stretch in the first half with just one field goal and an over four-minute stretch with a basket in the second half.
Hurley: “We have to get better at finishing or we’re not going to continue to win.”
Martin: “Everybody just has to dig deeper with (Bouknight) out. Today we had to gut one out.”
So Much For Charity: The Huskies were woeful at the foul line, making just 13 of 24 attempts to finish at 54.2 percent. Martin was just 4-for-8, while Cole was the only player over 50 percent going 4-for-6.
THIS ONE'S FOR DEE
After learning of former UConn coach Dee Rowe’s death on Sunday, assistant coaches Tom Moore and Kevin Freeman joined Director of Player Development Taliek Brown in addressing the team about their dearly departed leader. The Huskies dedicated the win to Coach Rowe and his family.
Hurley: “We asked to talk about the impact that man has had on the lives of people. Just what he means to New England, but specifically UConn. A cherished member of the UConn family.”
NOTES
Earlier in the day, UConn made its first return to the Associated Press Top 25 since the 2016-17 season, when it opened the season ranked 18th. The Huskies received 181 votes. … James Bouknight missed his second straight game with a left elbow. Hurley said the team expects to find out how long Bouknight will be out of action on Tuesday. Hurley: “We have a pretty good idea of where it's heading with him. If he misses time, it’s not going to be a lot of time.” … Freshman Andre Jackson (wrist) was also out of the lineup and missed his fourth-straight game. … UConn is 12-1 against DePaul in their series history and has won 11 straight, including a two-game sweep this season.
UP NEXT
UConn's next game is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 18 v. St. John’s inside Gampel Pavilion. Tip-off time has yet to be determined and the contest will be televised on FS1.