The Rutgers Scarlet Knights came into the game tonight against the No. 2 UConn Huskies wanting to play a slowdown game and hoping the Huskies were still down from their loss to Georgetown Monday night. And that’s what pretty much happened in the first half.
But a 51 point second half by the Huskies propelled them to a 80-49 win over Big East foe Rutgers in at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, CT. It’s the 8th straight win for UConn and 16th in 17 games against the Scarlet Knights.
The win for the Huskies improves their record to 12-1 (1-1 Big East) while the Scarlet Knights fall to 9-6 (0-2).
UConn played the second half with out head coach Jim Calhoun who stayed behind in the locker room as he was battling his annual flu bug. It was the 20th time in 23 seasons that Calhoun has a missed a game or left early.
Hasheem Thabeet overcame a right hip-pointer and 2 first half points to lead the Huskies in scoring with 15 points and 8 rebounds. Jerome Dyson added 14 points while Jeff Adrien had 13 points and 7 rebounds. Stanley Robinson made his return to the starting lineup with 13 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks and Gavin Edwards came off the bench to score 10 points.
Rutgers was paced by Gregory Echenique’s 17 points and 3 blocked shots. Talented freshman Mike Rosario added 10 points and JR Inman had 9 points. Hamady Ndiaye led the Scarlet Knights with 7 rebounds and also had 6 points.
For the Huskies, it was a case of here we go again as they fell behind the Scarlet Knights 7-2. UConn went on a 8-0 run led by Robinson and Craig Austrie to take a 10-7 lead. Rutgers kept it close but a Dyson 3-pointer pushed the Huskies lead to 8 at 23-15 as UConn used a 17-7 run to take a 29-18 lead into the locker room.
Maybe it was the fact that Calhoun was in the locker room and that associate head coach George Blaney was leading the Huskies but they looked a little more relaxed in the second half. Probably because they knew they weren’t going to get too quick of a hook.
The Huskies used a 12-2 run in the second half to push the lead to 22 at 53-31 to put the game out of reach.
Next up for the Huskies is a trip to beautiful Morgantown, West Virginia to take on the Mountaineers on Tuesday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 PM and the game will be somewhat nationally broadcast on ESPNU.
Notes and musings:
Rutgers Scarlet Knights @ UConn Huskies 1.3.09 box score
The starters tonight were A.J. Price, Jerome Dyson, Stanley Robinson, Jeff Adrien and Hasheem Thabeet.
UConn wore their alternate gray uniforms for the game tonight.
Don Criqui pulled off a double dip today as he broadcast the UConn women’s game for CBS in the afternoon and then the UConn men’s game with the Big East Network.
UConn shot 51.9% (28-54) while Rutgers shot 28.8% (15-52) from the floor in the game.
Rutgers had as many turnovers (15) as they did baskets. On the other hand, UConn didn’t commit a turnover in the 1st half and had just 6 in the game.
UConn had 20 points off of the 15 Rutgers turnovers.
Rutgers put on a clinic at the free throw line making 17-of-18 (94.4%). UConn was 20-of-29 (69%) at the charity stripe.
UConn won the battle of the boards 37-29.
Jeff Adrien moved into 23rd place on the UConn career scoring list and into 8th place on the career rebounding list.
