UConn-Cincinnati Preview: Huskies Looking for Offensive Spark
HARTFORD, Conn. – On paper the one thing the 2015-16 UConn Huskies appeared to have plenty of going into the season was offensive power.
But, the Huskies (14-5, 4-2 American Athletic Conference) have not been able to pour in the points during conference play.
UConn has averaged 75.1 points per game overall this season while shooting 46.5 percent from the field. Those numbers have dipped to 64.8 ppg and 38.2 percent field goal percentage in six games in The American with two of their top scorers, Rodney Purvis and Daniel Hamilton, experiencing slumps during that stretch.
In order to combat the offensive woes, the Huskies have stepped up on the defensive end where they lead the conference in points allowed at 59.8 ppg.
“As long as we play defense, as long as we get stops, we’ll be able to get out and run and be able to get easy buckets,” fifth-year senior Sterling Gibbs said.
Scoring might be hard to come by with Cincinnati (15-6, 5-3), which is allowing a league-low 62.4 ppg overall, at 7 p.m. Thursday night at the XL Center (ESPNU). UConn has won three straight and is looking for a three-game sweep on this home stand before returning to The American road.
The Bearcats are a bit more generous in conference play – allowing 64.9 ppg – but the Huskies can expect another old Big East-type battle like they hadSaturdaywith Georgetown.
“Everyone on our team can score, so it’s just a matter of stepping up,” Gibbs said, about the offensive struggles.
Of course, Gibbs (team-high 15.8 ppg in AAC play) and fellow fifth-year player Shonn Miller (14.5 ppg) have been pretty steady in league play, but Hamilton and Purvis have really struggled. Purvis, who has led the team in scoring most of the season, is averaging just 9.5 ppg and shooting only 33 percent – two stats that helped lead to his removal from the starting lineup.
“He had a couple tough games,” Gibbs said. “It can always be tough especially having to switch from starting to coming off the bench. But he’s handled it well.”
Hamilton is hitting just 25 percent of his shots, but still averaging 10.5 ppg in the conference along with a team-high 9.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists.
“It comes down to winning,” said Purvis, who snapped a four-game slide with 17 points against Georgetown. “Whoever is playing well has to play. … We are just going with who is playing well I guess, that’s how it goes on the college level. It’s not about Xs and Os it’s about guys making plays and getting stops – that’s who is going to play.”
NOTES: UConn owns a 12-6 all-time record against Cincinnati in a series dating back to the 1994-95 season. In 17 games as conference foes, UConn owns an 11-6 all-time record, including a 5-1 mark at the XL Center. … The last meeting between these two teams was when Ryan Boatright hit a last-second three-pointer to advance the Huskies to the semifinals of the AAC Tournament ... The Bearcats have won four of their last five, including a 97-75 home win over Tulane on Sunday. … Cincy is led by senior guard Farad Cobb (11.7) and junior guard Troy Caupain (11.3). Sophomore forward Gary Clark is the team’s top rebounder (8.4).