Giovanni Fanta
College basketball broadcaster and reporter
Reports on UConn’s demise following the Maui Invitational? Very exaggerated.
After the Huskies went 0-3 in Maui, Dan Hurley’s group did a complete 180 over the previous two weeks, beating Gonzaga 77-71 on Saturday night time in entrance of a packed home at Madison Square Garden to cap a streak that has began with Baylor and Texas.
In a sport that had a late-March really feel, Connecticut overcame the absence of beginning huge man Samson Johnson for the ultimate 31 minutes of the competition after he left with a concussion within the first half. The Huskies acquired the stops they wanted late within the sport and have been in a position to overcome a troublesome night time of perimeter taking pictures to flee with a win over the No. 8-ranked Zags. It’s a press release win by UConn, which ought to put the Huskies again in my high 15 this week.
With that mentioned, listed here are three key takeaways from UConn’s win over Gonzaga.
(Read extra: Gonzaga’s Mark Few is banking on the “aggressive spirit” within the ever-changing faculty panorama)
Liam McNeeley he is without doubt one of the 5 greatest freshmen in faculty basketball.
On an evening when UConn star Alex Karaban was ice chilly from 3-point vary, ending 0-for-7 from past the arc, the 6-foot-7 McNeeley was the Huskies’ alpha and appeared like among the best gamers within the sport. His sport and really feel are off the charts, which is why he will probably be a top-10 decide within the NBA Draft in June. He completed with a career-high 26 factors, seven rebounds, 4 assists and no turnovers. Whenever Connecticut wanted a play, McNeeley responded.
UConn’s protection understood the state of affairs.
The Huskies appeared misplaced on protection on the Maui Invitational. Now this group has improved sufficient on the perimeter to be strong. And as a result of this UConn group is such a fantastic group on the offensive finish, they do not should be wonderful on protection, however fairly strong. On an evening through which the Huskies shot simply 5-of-24 from downtown, that they had the nation’s second-best 3-point assault, holding Gonzaga to 6-of-16 from deep.
Ryan Nembhard scored 16 factors for the Zags, however UConn pressured him to take 15 photographs to take action. We thank Hassan Diarra for his 35 minutes. The fifth yr is a frontrunner on protection and has completed his half. Nolan Hickman was additionally held scoreless. The different breakout performer for UConn on the season and on this sport: Jaylin Stewart. He’s the newest standout within the Huskies’ participant improvement manufacturing facility, scoring 10 factors on Saturday.
Hassan Diarra turns and finishes a layup by contact, extending UConn’s lead over Gonzaga
Huskies personal the glass, even with out their huge man.
When Johnson acquired injured, you instantly questioned: How might UConn stand as much as Gonzaga on the within? The Huskies nonetheless managed to discover a technique to outscore Gonzaga, 35-34, and win the battle within the paint, 38-34. Michigan switch Tarris Reed offered 12 factors and 6 rebounds off the bench, and when he was in foul bother, Youssouf Singare contributed seven serviceable minutes.
More than something, UConn’s win over Gonzaga proved that, sure, a three-peat remains to be in play. This group has a fantastic benefit – and the highest quality of all – a high-level taking pictures method. McNeeley is past his years.
John Fanta is a nationwide faculty basketball broadcaster and author for FOX Sports. He covers sports activities in quite a lot of roles, from calling video games on FS1 to serving as a lead anchor on the BIG EAST digital community to offering commentary on The Field of 68 Media Network. Follow him to @John_Fanta.
(Want nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, observe leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a customized e-newsletter every day.)
College basketball
Gonzaga Bulldogs
UConn Huskies
Get extra out of faculty basketball Follow your favorites to get info on video games, information and extra
