Jim Calhoun probably won’t be happy with his team for their play in the first half. But he should be somewhat pleased with the way his team responded in the second half.
Stanley Robinson was perfect from the floor as he led five UConn Huskies in double figures to lead them to a 77-63 win over the Colgate Red Raiders at Gampel Pavilion to advance to the second round of the NIT Preseason Tip-Off on Monday night.
It will be a quick turnaround as the Huskies (2-0) will take on the Hofstra Pride for the right to go to Madison Square Garden on November 25 and 27 on Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m. The game will be televised locally on My-TV9 and SNY.
Robinson, who was 8-for-8 from the floor and 2-for-2 from beyond the arc, had 18 points, three rebounds and three assists. The only shots Robinson missed were from the free throw line. Kemba Walker chipped in with 16 points, six assists and five steals while Gavin Edwards had 14 points, five rebounds and three blocks.
Freshman Jamal Coombs-McDaniel added 11 points and Jerome Dyson had ten points. Freshman Alex Oriakhi led the Huskies with eight rebounds while scoring four points.
Colgate (0-1), who will take on Yale in the consolation game at 4:30 p.m., was led by Mike Venezia who had 17 points. Kyle Roemer and Yaw Gyawu both had 12 points.
It wasn’t pretty for the Huskies in the first half at all. They started out quickly but then got sloppy and that allowed the Red Raiders to stay in the game. They got out to a nine point lead at 15-6 behind a dunk by Robinson on the fast break but Colgate responded with a 7-2 run to cut the UConn lead to four.
After exchanging baskets, the Red Raiders went on an 13-2 run and got out to a four point lead at 26-22. After a Walker layup, a three pointer by Roemer gave them a five point lead at 29-24. The Huskies closed out the half on a 9-3 run to take a one point lead into the locker room at 33-32.
Whatever Calhoun said to them at the break worked as the Huskies seemed to figure out how to beat the Colgate zone. The Red Raiders did look a little heavy-legged as UConn ran them to death going on a big 21-5 run to break the game wide open. UConn’s lead swelled to 22 points before Colgate worked it back down into the teens but it was too late for them.
For three halves this season, the Huskies have looked a little ragged. For them to have any success against zones this year, they will need to repeat their second half performance from Monday. Otherwise it might turn into a long season.
Notes and musings:
Colgate Red Raiders @ UConn Huskies, 11.16.09 box score
The starters were Kemba Walker, Jerome Dyson, Stanley Robinson, Gavin Edwards and Alex Oriakhi.
The Huskies shot 55.2% (32-58) from the floor while the Red Raiders shot 47.2% (25-53).
Robinson, who made all of three from beyond the arc last year, had two of them during the game. Overall the Huskies were 8-of-19 (42.1%).
Free throw shooting to continues to hurt UConn as they shot 50% (5-10).
Who says the Huskies need Hasheem Thabeet blocking shots in the middle. The Huskies had eight on the night, led by Edwards three blocks.
UConn barely won the battle of the boards 29-27.
UConn’s bigs were 18-of-19 (94.7%) from the floor which was why they outscored Colgate 38-22 in the paint.
The Huskies had 27 points off of 19 Red Raiders turnovers while committing 13 of their own.
UConn had 14 second chance points and 10 points on the fast break.
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