Given the inconsistent play from his UConn Huskies team at times this season, it makes you wonder if Jim Calhoun is thinking that maybe he should have retired on top after they won the 2011 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship.
Jarnell Stokes, playing in just his third collegiate game, scored 16 points to help the Tennessee Volunteers to the 60-57 upset win over the Huskies in front of 21,114 at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN on Saturday afternoon.
It’s the second straight loss for the Huskies, a feat that’s been accomplished twice now this season, who fall to 14-5. The Volunteers ended their three-game losing streak and improve to 9-10.
Jeremy Lamb woke up from his slumber to lead UConn with 23 points. Shabazz Napier added 18 points, four rebounds and four assists while Andre Drummond had six points and a team-high nine rebounds.
Besides his 16 points, Stokes added 12 rebounds for a double-double and also had two blocks. Cameron Tatum was the only other Volunteer in double figures with 15 points.
The Huskies jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first two and half minutes of the game before the Volunteers responded with a 7-2 run to take a one point lead. After an exchange of baskets, Tennessee went on a 6-0 run to open up a five point lead.
UConn bounced back with a 5-0 run capped off by a Napier three to tie the game back up. The two teams would stay close for the rest of the first half with Tennessee’s biggest lead coming at three points and UConn’s at two points. They’d also have four more ties as well.
The Huskies did hold a two point lead at the half at 27-25 but the Volunteers would take the lead for good by opening up the half on a 9-0 run to open up a seven point lead. UConn would respond with a 6-0 run to cut the lead to one but that’s the closest they would get.
Tennessee would build their lead to 10 points at 53-43 with 3:15 to go before UConn would battle back. Part of the reason that UConn was able to get back in the game was the fact that the Volunteers couldn’t make a free throw.
But down the stretch run while Lamb and Napier would hit threes, Tennessee would hit 7-of-10 free throws to seal the three point win.
We know the Huskies really miss Ryan Boatright. It was definitely evident in the loss.
Sure it was nice to see Lamb get involved with the offense again but the problem was the only two who really could do anything were Lamb and Napier. The problem was that Napier looked tired at times and seemed to be forcing shots, more than likely a result of being fatigued. Having Boatright would have eliminated that.
UConn hasn’t been able to do much in their offensive sets in the two straight losses. The good news is they’ll have eight days to correct the problem.
The Huskies aren’t back in action until next Sunday, January 29th, when they’ll host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the XL Center in Hartford, CT.
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Notes and musings:
UConn Huskies @ Tennessee Volunteers 1.21.11 box score
UConn is now 6-3 without Ryan Boatright and 8-2 with him.
The starters for the Huskies were Shabazz Napier, Jeremy Lamb, Niels Giffey, Alex Oriakhi and Andre Drummond.
UConn shot 36.4% (20-55) from the floor while the Volunteers shot 42.3% (22-52).
The Huskies had just eight assists on their 20 made baskets.
Both teams were 6-of-18 (33.3%) from beyond the arc.
UConn was 11-of-17 (64.7%) from the free throw line. That’s not going to win ball games. Tennessee was 10-of-21 (47.6%) but as I said above, they hit 7-of-10 down the stretch.
The Volunteers outscored the Huskies 22-20 in the paint.
UConn outscored Tennessee 5-2 on the fast break.
The Huskies had nine points off of 10 Tennessee turnovers. The Volunteers had 11 points off of 11 UConn turnovers.
UConn outrebounded Tennessee 39-37.
The Huskies had nine second chance points to four for the Volunteers.
UConn got no production from its bench.
The Huskies wore shirts in pre-game warmups that support Tennessee women’s coach Pat Summitt who is battling dementia.
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Photo credit: AP Photo
