When you look at the box score for the UConn Huskies 55-54 loss to the Texas Longhorns, you would think because they shot 30.4% they would have been getting blown out. But when your opponent shoots 37% including 27.3% in the second half, you’ve got a chance.
Now imagine if the Huskies had shot 40%, they most likely wouldn’t have had to worry about hitting their foul shots down the stretch. But they didn’t shot 40% and we know what happened.
UConn can’t shoot 3-of-16 (18.8%) from three or 17-of-56 (30.4%) and expect to win games. It doesn’t matter who the opponent it is, that will not get it done.
So what can the Huskies do to get better?
They all need to put up an extra 100 shots or so after practice. Then after getting their academics done, they are after all, student-athletes, they need to go back to the gym and shoot more. The more they shoot, the better they will become.
That reasoning seemed to be what head coach Kevin Ollie, Daniel Hamilton and Ryan Boatright are thinking.
They’re going to need to get better quickly too.
There’s no telling how much time Boatright will miss with his injured ankle. Plus Rodney Purvis has an injured ankle and Omar Calhoun is out as well.
If none of those three are available against Yale on Friday night, the backcourt will be very thin with just Terrence Samuel and Sam Cassell Jr. After that, they only other guard left on the roster is Pat Lenehan. Hamilton could also play guard if need be.
The Huskies definitely need this final exams break to get healthy for the long stretch run of the 2014-15 season.
Watch and/or listen below as Ollie, Kentan Facey, Hamilton and Boatright talk about the shooting woes and how to fix them.
photo credit: ©2014 Ian Bethune
