Notes & Quotes: UConn Over Memphis
STORRS, Conn. – Sterling Gibbs scored 26 points to lead No. 23 UConn over Memphis 81-78 Saturday night in front of 9,409 fans at Gampel Pavilion in American Athletic Conference action.
Here’s a closer look at the win by the Huskies (11-4, 2-1 AAC):
WHAT WORKED
1. FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE: One of the strengths of the Tigers (10-5, 1-1) this season has been their ability to get to the foul line (436 trips to line ranked third in country), but the Huskies made sure they got to the line as well – shooting 26-for-33, which included 10-for-12 in the final 1:51. Memphis was 26-for-30.
UCONN COACH KEVIN OLLIE’S TAKE: “Free-throws were huge. … We learned a little from our mistakes against Temple. We played a little harder, played a little more aggressive and it paid off at the end.”
2. BIG MEN ON CAMPUS: Shaq Goodwin scored a team-high 23 points, but the Huskies’ inside combination of Shonn Miller (11 points), Kentan Facey (seven points-five rebounds, five blocks) and Phil Nolan (seven points, four rebounds) did its job to offset the dreadlocked paint beast for the Tigers. Miller helped Goodwin pick up two early fouls – and sit the final 16-plus minutes of the first half – and also got him to foul out with1:09in the game.
NOLAN’S TAKE: “It definitely helped (having experience against Goodwin). The first time I played against Shaq I was all messed up. I already knew what he was going to do.”
3. CAPITALIZING ON MISTAKES: The Huskies forced the Tigers into 13 turnovers and made sure they didn’t waste those opportunities by scoring 23 points off them. Gibbs and Daniel Hamilton each had two steals.
MEMPHIS COACH JOSH PASTNER’S TAKE: “Twenty-three points off thirteen turnovers – that bit us in the butt a little bit. … We lost because of the points off turnovers.”
4. A STERLING PERFORMANCE: Gibbs came into the night off a 1-for-8 shooting game against Temple and 8-for-33 over the last three games. He snapped out of that slump against the Tigers by hitting 7 of 11 from the field, including 5-for-7 on 3-pointers, and finished with his career scoring high as a Husky. He was 4-for-5 on 3s in the second half and also finished 7-for-8 at the foul line.
GIBBS’ TAKE: “I’ve been getting shots up before and after practice throughout the whole year, so it was just a matter of time making shots. I think I had a couple bad games with shooting games but at the same time, I wanted to really keep my head up and stay focused because I knew eventually the ball is going to go in. Once I see it go in a couple times I’ll be able to be more aggressive and hit a couple more shots.”
WHAT NEEDS WORK
1. THAT’S MY BALL: The Huskies got beaten on the glass 42-29 and allowed Memphis to grab 16 offensive rebounds, which it turned into 13 points. However, the Huskies sacrificed a bit on the boards on the offensive end to make sure they got back on defense and didn’t give Memphis easy transition baskets.
OLLIE’S TAKE: “We got outrebounded too much tonight, but I think the free throws, turning them over as much as we did and getting those points off turnovers really helped us combat that.”
2. STAR POWER OUTAGE: Rodney Purvis finished with 13 points, but had a quiet second half with just two points He was 5-for-10 shooting on the night. Hamilton had another rough shooting night – 2-for-11 – but finished with eight rebounds and four assists.
GIBBS’ TAKE: “Everyone on our team can score, that’s big for us. Daniel is a bit part of our team, but at the same time I think he struggled shooting wise, but he’s done a lot of great things, other things to get other people involved. … Everyone on our team can score, so it’s just a matter of stepping up.”
UNSUNG HERO
Miller finished with 11 points, but his physical play in the paint was the biggest factor from the fifth-year senior. He was not afraid to attack Goodwin, delivering a pretty good blow to the Memphis big man’s midsection trying to back him down under the basket, but was called for an offensive foul. Goodwin was in pain for several minutes afterwards. Miller also added three rebounds and two blocks.
FACEY’S TAKE: “Shonn was a big help because he got those guys in foul trouble because they were so concerned with him scoring down low on the block. They were always trying to help out and picking up fouls, so that helped out a lot.
NOTES: Facey once again started in place of the injured Amida Brimah (broken finger). The five blocks he had were a career high and UConn had nine as a team. Memphis, which came in averaging 7.0 bpg and was ranked second in the nation in that category, finished with just three. … Shabazz Napier’s mother, Carmen Velasquez, attended the game and brought a giant poster of a Shabazz head. … Shocking statistic: Memphis media notes say the Tigers are 158-0 under Josh Pastner when they outscore the opponent. Really? … Incoming UConn forward Mamadou Diarra attended the game along with Putnam Science Academy teammate Hamidou Diallo (Class of 2017). The Huskies are recruiting Diallo actively and aggressively.
UP NEXT: Thursday, at Tulsa, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)