UConn Goes Cold from the Field in 64-55 Loss to SMU
They say revenge is a dish best served cold.
However, the only thing that came out particularly cold was the UConn offense, as the Huskies couldnโt avenge their Jan. 4 loss to SMU in Sundayโs 64-55 loss at Gampel Pavilion.
The Huskies struggled from the field from the opening tip, as the hosts didnโt score until the 13-minute, 46-second mark in the opening half.
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โThe crowdโs supposed to stand up until we make our first basket,โ said UConn guard Ryan Boatright. โIt felt like they were standing up forever.
โWhenever you put the ball up and itโs not going in repeatedly, itโs frustrating.โ
UConnโs shooting woes continued throughout the afternoon. The Huskies shot just 29.6 percent against an SMU defense that has proved to be one of the toughest defenses in the American Athletic Conference.
โYou canโt shoot 29 percent,โ said UConn coach Kevin Ollie. โI look at my starters and, man, it was just a lot of missed shotsโฆ You just canโt win like that.
โThey are tough defensively,โ Ollie said. โTheyโre long and aggressiveโฆ They play hard and they know the system.โ
The Mustangs worked hard to limit easy baskets for star guards Boatright and Shabazz Napier, who were a combined 8-of-28 on the afternoon. The Huskies only scored 14 points in the paint, while only scoring 11 on the fast break.
โYou donโt give those guys opportunities in transition,โ said SMU coach and basketball Hall of Famer Larry Brown. โItโs hard for anybody to score against a set defense.โ
Ollie was disappointed with his teamโs ball movement, but the second-year head coach understands that shooting performances like the one against SMU are more the exception than the norm.
โWe wonโt shoot like this ever again,โ Ollie said. โHopefully, if we face them in the tournament, weโll be better prepared.โ
With the loss, the Huskies fall to 21-6 overall and 9-5 in the conference. UConn will look to rebound Feb. 26 when they travel to Tampa, Fla., to take on USF.
Did SMU expose the Huskies, or are the Mustangs just a bad matchup? Share your thoughts below, or tweet @R_Tolmich with your viewpoint.
*All quotes obtained firsthand.*
