Huskies off to the Races vs. SMU
The Story: Napheesa Collier had 22 points and eight rebounds and Katie Lou Samuelson scored 21 points as the No. 3-ranked women’s basketball team (17-1, 6-0) doubled up an opponent for the fifth time this season in a 79-39 victory over SMU at Gampel Pavilion last night.
NO ROOM TO MOVE: Geno Auriemma had been unhappy with his players’ pressure defense and transition game in recent weeks and let them take it out on the Mustangs (7-12, 1-5). UConn turned on the full-court press midway through the first quarter, spurring a 12-0 run, before relaxing it in the second half.
The Huskies were also very opportunistic with the ball, scoring 26 points off 24 turnovers — including 16 steals — and finishing with 26 assists on 31 baskets. Crystal Dangerfield had eight assists and also finished with eight points.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE: UConn was outrebounded for the fifth time this season and second time in the AAC, with SMU holding a 48-37 edge on the boards. Alicia Froling, one of the better rebounders in the conference and SMU’s all-time record holder, had a game-high 13 rebounds and Johnasia Cash, a cousin of Swin Cash, grabbed 12 rebounds. Despite that advantage, the Huskies still outscored SMU in the paint, 38-22.
The Huskies have also had better shooting performances this season as they went just 31-of-68 (45.6 percent) overall and 9-of-30 (30 percent) from the perimeter. They also went 8-of-14 from the free throw line, with Christyn Williams missing three of her four attempts.
WHAT DID GENO SAY? “We were trying to get ourselves some easy buckets if we can and trying to get the game going a little quicker. [We’re] trying to create as many possessions as we can.”
UP NEXT: The Huskies will look to make it seven in a row in the AAC when they host UCF at the XL Center on Sunday at 4 p.m. The Knights (17-2, 6-0) are a cut above every other team in the conference and will provide a good tune-up ahead of UConn’s game at No. 4 Louisville next Thursday.
Leading Sack Man Beavers to Transfer
The Story: UConn lost sophomore defensive end Darrian Beavers, who led the team with four sacks, by transfer to Cincinnati. He will sit out next season before the Cincinnati native is eligible for the final two years of his career.
BEAVERS A STARTER: Beavers was a starting outside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme before being moved to defensive end when the Huskies switched to a conventional 4-3 front. He finished with a total of 23 tackles last season.
IMPACT OF LOSS: It’s difficult to say that losing anyone from a defense that was statistically the worst in the modern college football era is a big loss. No one on the defensive side played well enough to not have their position challenged. Still, Beavers did get to the quarterback and he suffered through the experience of playing on a defense that struggled. The Huskies will have to replace a lot of snaps without Beavers on the squad.
NEXT UP? The Huskies have a new defensive coordinator and have been on the recruiting trail looking to help shore up their defense. Freshmen defensive linemen Eric Watts and Jeff Woods have enrolled in school already and will practice this spring. The key for the Huskies will be more veteran transfers as junior college recruit Dillon Harris, a linebacker and Bloomfield native out of Lackawanna College, and grad transfer Michael Hinton, a defensive end from Columbia, will be in the mix for immediate playing time.
Morning Read
THOMAS BACK IN SCHOOL: Linebacker Eli Thomas, who suffered a stroke in the weight room this year, is back in school. Thomas’ football future is uncertain, but that he is taking classes again is a good thing. (Hearst Connecticut Media)
ORLOVSKY GETTING LOVE: Former UConn quarterback Dan Orlovsky, once best known as the guy who ran through the back of the end zone, has found his true calling as an analyst for ESPN. He speaks about that moment, as well as his life as a backup quarterback. (ESPN Radio)
WHITMER, BELL LAND COACHING GIGS: Former UConn quarterback Chandler Whitmer, who was a quality control coach at Yale this past season, will serve as a graduate assistant at Ohio State next season. Also, former cornerback Tre Bell, a defensive graduate assistant at Mississippi State last season, is slated to join the UConn staff in some capacity. (The UConn Blog)
’99 CHAMPS TO BE HONORED: The 1998-99 men’s basketball team will be honored at halftime of the game against Cincinnati on Feb. 24, recognizing 20 years since it won the national championship. (UConnHuskies.com)
