UCONN Men Run Over Central Arkansas

On Friday, November 17th, the UCONN Huskies men’s team, led by Jerome Dyson and Jeff Adrien, ran over the Central Arkansas Bears 88-59 in the second game of the 2006 Hispanic College Fund Classic. The field also includes Mississippi and Fairfield University. Dyson scored 20 pts for the Huskies while Adrien added 14 pts and 11 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double.

Notes and Observations from the game:

• Starters for UCONN were Price, Dyson, Thabeet, Johnson, and Adrien.
• The leash for Calhoun wasn’t as short as it was in the first game
• AJ Price was much better tonight then he was in the first game scoring 12 pts tonight while adding 8 assists. He committed only two turnovers. His play was a lot more under control then in the first game.
• Doug Wiggins played limited minutes tonight due to back spasms. To me from where I was sitting, it didn’t look like his back was bothering him at all as he was flying up and down the court. He also played a lot more under control then in the previous game.
• Hasheem Thabeet still struggled on the offensive end again missing some easy shots. His free throw shooting percentage resembles Shaq as he was 1 of 5 from the line.
• Overall the team’s free throw shooting was a little better as they shot 62.1% (18 for 29) from the charity stripe.
• The team defense was very active and strong tonight forcing 18 turnovers turning those into 28 points.
• UCONN scored 21 pts in transition tonight compared to 4 in the first game.
• Stanley Robinson made the most of his 15 minutes tonight scoring 13 pts including one stretch where he scored 8 in a row.
• Curtis Kelly came off the bench and played very well scoring 8 pts and pulling down 6 boards.
• Hasheem Thabeet blocked another 4 shots giving 11 blocks on the young season.

Overall, a much better effort from the young Huskies. The defense was solid and the offense looked like it was a little more in sync. I still don’t think they are where Coach Calhoun wants them to be right now but with 2 more games this weekend, I’d look for the Huskies to continue their growing process. Next up for the Huskies is Fairfield University at 8:00 PM on Saturday night in the second day of the 2006 Hispanic College Fund Classic.