Storrs, CT (Sports Network) - The 21st-ranked Connecticut Huskies entertain
the Stony Brook Seawolves in non-conference action on Sunday afternoon.
Stony Brook has gotten off to a fast start to the season, with wins in four of
its first five games. The Seawolves bounced back nicely from a heartbreaking
Nov. 18 defeat at the hands of Sacred Heart (64-62) to beat Canisius on
Saturday, 82-75.
The Huskies began their season overseas at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, and
they upset the 14th-ranked Michigan State Spartans, 66-62, which helped them
catapult into the Top-25. UConn is fresh off a run to the championship game
of the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas, but lost to New Mexico, 66-60, for Kevin
Ollie's first defeat as head coach.
UConn has won all four previous meetings with Stony Brook, most recently
claiming a 79-52 home win in November of 2010.
Coming into Saturday's matchup with Canisius, Stony Brook was making just 40.4
percent of its field goal attempts, and it was much of the same in the win as
the team shot just 39.7 percent from the floor, but it was able to hold onto
its lead in the second half by putting together an impressive day from the
foul line (27-of-31). Pacing the effort was Anthony Jackson, who went 5-of-11
from the floor and 8-of-10 from the line en route to 21 points. Jameel Warney
logged 18 points and seven boards, while Dave Coley added 14 points. Tommy
Brenton was plagued by six turnovers, but he was otherwise productive in the
low post with nine points, 14 rebounds, six assists and three steals. Jackson
is the leading scorer through five games with 13.4 ppg, and he's gone nearly
perfect from the foul line (17-of-19). Coley (12.0 ppg) and Warney (11.2 ppg,
7.0 rpg) have also been effective in the early going, and Brenton is as well-
rounded as they come with 7.0 ppg, 9.5 rpg, and 5.2 apg.
UConn's latest loss to New Mexico was its most lackluster offensive effort of
the season. Even though its percentages from the floor (.426) and three-point
line (.389) weren't exactly terrible, it did not help itself much at the foul
line (7-of-9) as it put up just 60 points in the defeat. The poor effort
spoiled a great performance at the defensive end, as New Mexico made less than
40 percent of its field goal attempts. Shabazz Napier continues to show why
he's considered one of the best guards in the nation, scoring 23 points on 9-
of-16 from the floor (4-of-7 from three) while adding four assists, four
rebounds and three steals. The junior is averaging 21.2 ppg and he is
converting 86.5 percent of his free throws, but perhaps his most amazing stat
is the fact that he's turned the ball over just three times in five games.
Ryan Boatright (13.6 ppg) is the only other Huskie to score in double figures,
and he also dishes out 4.6 apg. They haven't been very strong on the boards,
as no player grabs more than 4.6 rpg, and they are outrebounded by nearly nine
caroms per contest.
The Sports Network