No. 5 UConn does not want a lot motivation heading into its high-profile showdown towards No. 15 Florida within the Jimmy V Traditional on Tuesday in New York.
In spite of everything, the Huskies’ quest for a three-peat got here to a halt with a 77-75 setback to the Gators within the second spherical of the NCAA Match final March. Florida went on to win the nationwide championship.
Alex Karaban scored 14 factors in that sport and added 12 on Friday as UConn (8-1) recorded its fourth straight win with an 83-59 residence victory over East Texas A&M.
Freshman Eric Reibe collected 13 factors, six rebounds and three blocks versus the Lions whereas beginning instead of senior heart Tarris Reed Jr. The latter, who’s averaging 15.5 factors and eight.2 rebounds to steer the group, sat out his second straight sport and fourth within the final 5 contests with an ankle harm.
Celebrated five-star recruit Braylon Mullins scored all 10 of his factors within the second half on Friday. The freshman guard was taking part in in simply his third sport of the season and second since erupting for a team-best 17 factors off the bench in Tuesday’s 61-56 win at Kansas.
Jaylin Stewart, a junior, added 9 factors and a team-best seven rebounds for the Huskies on Friday.
Stewart advised reporters that he isn’t nervous about preserving his starter’s position over Mullins, who missed six video games because of an ankle harm.
“I really feel like my complete profession, I’ve all the time been a selfless participant,” Stewart mentioned. “To see (Mullins) go loopy that sport, I beloved each a part of it. There’s not going to be any change from me. I am simply going to do what I’ve bought to do for the group, and he’ll do the identical factor. It will work.”
UConn head coach Dan Hurley mentioned he has but to formalize a plan for Mullins.
“I do not know that is the position I essentially envision for him,” Hurley mentioned. “He is nonetheless working his manner again. He was superior in Kansas, however I simply do not know that he is fairly on the level the place he is at 28-Half-hour as a starter, doubtlessly. That is not the place we wish him to go tonight.
“I believe Braylon’s going to be a man, as soon as he catches his rhythm, that is going to be actually onerous to take off the court docket. However we have got lots of guys that do lots of issues that assist us win.”
Florida (5-3) fell for the second time in three video games with a 67-66 setback versus No. 4 Duke within the ACC/SEC Problem on Tuesday evening in Durham, N.C.
Gators junior ahead Thomas Haugh scored 24 factors on 9-of-15 taking pictures from the ground.
“He was distinctive,” Gators head coach Todd Golden mentioned of Haugh, who’s averaging a team-best 18.6 factors to go together with 7.6 rebounds and a couple of.8 assists.
“By no means taking it with no consideration, however he delivers each evening for us,” Golden mentioned.
Haugh collected seven factors and 7 rebounds off the bench within the NCAA Match sport versus UConn.
Alex Condon is averaging 15.1 factors per sport, adopted by Boogie Fland (12.5), Rueben Chinyelu (10.3) and City Klavzar (10.0).
–Area Degree Media
