Gilbert Shines as Huskies Start Off With Win
The Story: The men’s basketball team opened its season with a 103-64 win over Saint Michael’s in an exhibition at the XL Center last night. Alterique Gilbert scored 21 points to lead the Huskies.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Gilbert shot 8-for-15 in 25 minutes and Christian Vital added 15 points. UConn shot 50 percent after a cold first half in which they made just a third of their shots.
WHERE DID THAT COME FROM? Isaiah Whaley was excellent for the Huskies, showcasing a midrange jumper and putting up 14 points on 7-for-9 shooting, adding six rebounds and five blocks. Brendan Adams added 14 points and Tyler Polley scored 13.
FRESHMEN DEBUT: Akok Akok started and had nine points and four blocks. Jalen Gaffney didn’t look for his shot much and finished 1-for-4 in 20 minutes. James Bouknight did not play as he deals with his legal troubles.
WHAT DID HURLEY SAY? “I’m thrilled to get out of that hopefully pretty healthy. The exhibition games are what they are. It’s a chance to get out here and get some jitters out. … Now we can get down to the business of the season.”
SPRINGS TO REDSHIRT: Freshman Richie Springs won’t play this season as he redshirts because of his academics. Springs passed up a year of prep school, reclassified and committed to the Huskies during the summer, but the NCAA has apparently deemed him an academic non-qualifier. He figured to be the third-string center but his absence still hurts the Huskies’ depth, as they are down one scholarship due to NCAA sanctions and have one tied up with ineligible Howard transfer R.J. Cole.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE: The Huskies shot 21 of 26 from the free throw line. That’s a boring stat, we get it, but if they shoot that well from the line during the season at that volume, that alone will win them some games. The Huskies weren’t very good from 3-point range, shooting 6-for-22. The Huskies have to be a good 3-point shooting team to be in contention for an NCAA tournament berth and the upper half of the American.
UP NEXT: UConn opens the regular season against Sacred Heart on Nov. 8.
Poll Shocker: Women Ranked No. 5
The Story: The women’s basketball team opened the preseason ranked No. 5 in the Associated Press poll.
WHAT DISRESPECT! One of our favorite parts about writing about the women’s basketball team is the ridiculous faux outrage we can have. UConn is ranked No. 5 in the nation! The horror. The Huskies have not been ranked lower than No. 4 to start a season since 2006. It’s the lowest-ranked team to start a season in 13 years! Geno Auriemma has his work cut out for him.
WHAT A RUN: Here’s another tidbit we can refer to — the women are on a run of 239 consecutive weeks in which they are ranked in the top five. The last time the Huskies weren’t in the top five was January 2007. And we also love to remind ourselves that UConn hasn’t lost back-to-back games since the early 1990s.
FREE EVINA? A big question for the Huskies remains the status of Tennessee transfer Evina Westbrook. The NCAA moves like molasses and it has yet to definitively rule on Westbrook’s ability to play despite the first regular-season game in less than two weeks. What’s the holdup? It’s complicated, but essentially, Westbrook has to make a case that her transfer had some extenuating circumstances. Of the 54 waivers in women’s basketball applied last year, 34 were approved.
Morning Reads
SIX SAY GOODBYE: The women’s soccer will say goodbye to six seniors tonight during its senior night game against Temple at Dillon Stadium. (UConnHuskies.com)
PERRETTA TO RETIRE: Villanova women’s basketball coach Harry Perretta, one of Geno’s closest friends and favorite foes, will retire after the season, his 42nd at the school. He’s 64 and won’t be around for the Huskies’ return to the Big East. (Associated Press)
