SENIORS LEAD UCONN TO WIN OVER CINCINNATI
High Adrenaline Adrien, Price Lead Huskies In Road Victory
By Zach Smart
Has Jeff Adrien's mohawk actually had an affect on his play?
What appears to be a mind-numbing question might actually raise some eyebrows. Look it up in the notes if you don't believe me.
Since Adrien arrived on campus with a fresh dome-slice and unique new style (prior to the Fairfield game), he's been a man amongst boys. The Brookline, Mass. native has been assertive as ever, hustling his hairdoo off and playing with a tenacity and passion that ignites fans, infuses confidence and offers instant energy.
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Read More...Click 'Read More' Below!!!
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It happens every game, like clockwork. Adrien scores crucial buckets, snares rebounds, and spills to the floor for loose balls like he just downed a 40 of Red Bull.
The mohawked man continued his exceptional play Saturday, notching his 38th career double-double while helo=ping propel the Huskies to an 81-72 victory over an obstinate Cincinnati club.
Adrien, the senior strongman who sported a Superman shirt and cape during UConn's First Night event, scored 13 points and ripped down a game-high 12 rebounds Saturday night.
Since deciding to shred some hair and go with the mohawk, Adrien is averaging a robust 15.8 points and 9 boards. His high-horsepower, high-stakes mentality bodes well for a UConn team that's looked sleepy-eyed and lackadaisical at times this season.
Adrien helped clog up the middle Saturday night, joining forces with 7-foot-3 center Hasheem Thabeet. The inside tandem manipulated and altered the trajectory of shots in the paint, en route to the road win. This made life difficult for freshman forward Yancy Gates, who had been shooting over 51 percent. Gates struggled Saturday, shooting just 4-for-14 and failing to perculate inside.
The Huskies out-rebounded the Bearcats by a 31-26 margin. Those 26 boards marked a season-low for Cincinnati, which fell to 10-6 and is still searching for their first Big East victory. Before a strongly partisan crowd of 9,029 at the Fifth Third Arena, it looked as if the Bearcats could pull off an improbable upset over the no.5 Huskies (13-1, 2-1).
UConn never led by over five points in the first half. Cinci tied the game on a Larry Davis three-pointer and seized a 32-30 lead following Gates' free throws with 1:16 to go in the first.
A.J. Price thwarted the thin margin with a big three from the corner. The Huskies quickly regained the lead, heading into the intermission holding a slim 38-34 lead.
The willful Bearcats kept within striking distance.
That is, until the Huskies ripped off a 13-4 run midway through the second half, landing a lead they wouldn't relinquish. In typical Husky fashion, they went through the motions before suddenly reeling off a surge. UConn's lead grew to 70-58 after Adrien's two-handed jam with 4:16 remaining.
The Bearcats responded with a jumper by Dion Dixon, but the Huskies found Thabeet for a layup that made it 72-61.
Deonta Vaughn (19 points), Mike Williams (14 points) and Rashad Bishop would hit shots, but it was too little too late.
The Huskies shot somewhere below freezing in their win over West Virginia. They re-wrote the script by showing some heat waves Saturday night, shooting the rock at 58 percent (29-for-50) clip, hitting 53 percent (8-for-15) from beyond the arc.
Price, the catalyst throughout UConn's pursuit of a Big East title last year, overcame an abysmal 0-for-9 shooting night at West Virginia. Price scored a game-high 22 points (hitting five treys) and doled out five dimes, outdueling the quick-sniping Vaughn.
Vaughn, who gave UConn 34 points on the strength of seven treys last year, shot 8-for-15 from the floor.
In the end, it was Adrien's interior toughness, ball denial, stingy defense and boardwork that brought the Huskies their second consecutive Big East road win.
Is it the shoes? No. Is it the mohawk? Maybe.
The mohawked man and the Huskies look to extend their conference win streak to three games on Jan. 15, as their road swing returns to the tri-state area for a stop at St. John's.
By Zach Smart
Has Jeff Adrien's mohawk actually had an affect on his play?
What appears to be a mind-numbing question might actually raise some eyebrows. Look it up in the notes if you don't believe me.
Since Adrien arrived on campus with a fresh dome-slice and unique new style (prior to the Fairfield game), he's been a man amongst boys. The Brookline, Mass. native has been assertive as ever, hustling his hairdoo off and playing with a tenacity and passion that ignites fans, infuses confidence and offers instant energy.
-
Read More...Click 'Read More' Below!!!
-
It happens every game, like clockwork. Adrien scores crucial buckets, snares rebounds, and spills to the floor for loose balls like he just downed a 40 of Red Bull.
The mohawked man continued his exceptional play Saturday, notching his 38th career double-double while helo=ping propel the Huskies to an 81-72 victory over an obstinate Cincinnati club.
Adrien, the senior strongman who sported a Superman shirt and cape during UConn's First Night event, scored 13 points and ripped down a game-high 12 rebounds Saturday night.
Since deciding to shred some hair and go with the mohawk, Adrien is averaging a robust 15.8 points and 9 boards. His high-horsepower, high-stakes mentality bodes well for a UConn team that's looked sleepy-eyed and lackadaisical at times this season.
Adrien helped clog up the middle Saturday night, joining forces with 7-foot-3 center Hasheem Thabeet. The inside tandem manipulated and altered the trajectory of shots in the paint, en route to the road win. This made life difficult for freshman forward Yancy Gates, who had been shooting over 51 percent. Gates struggled Saturday, shooting just 4-for-14 and failing to perculate inside.
The Huskies out-rebounded the Bearcats by a 31-26 margin. Those 26 boards marked a season-low for Cincinnati, which fell to 10-6 and is still searching for their first Big East victory. Before a strongly partisan crowd of 9,029 at the Fifth Third Arena, it looked as if the Bearcats could pull off an improbable upset over the no.5 Huskies (13-1, 2-1).
UConn never led by over five points in the first half. Cinci tied the game on a Larry Davis three-pointer and seized a 32-30 lead following Gates' free throws with 1:16 to go in the first.
A.J. Price thwarted the thin margin with a big three from the corner. The Huskies quickly regained the lead, heading into the intermission holding a slim 38-34 lead.
The willful Bearcats kept within striking distance.
That is, until the Huskies ripped off a 13-4 run midway through the second half, landing a lead they wouldn't relinquish. In typical Husky fashion, they went through the motions before suddenly reeling off a surge. UConn's lead grew to 70-58 after Adrien's two-handed jam with 4:16 remaining.
The Bearcats responded with a jumper by Dion Dixon, but the Huskies found Thabeet for a layup that made it 72-61.
Deonta Vaughn (19 points), Mike Williams (14 points) and Rashad Bishop would hit shots, but it was too little too late.
The Huskies shot somewhere below freezing in their win over West Virginia. They re-wrote the script by showing some heat waves Saturday night, shooting the rock at 58 percent (29-for-50) clip, hitting 53 percent (8-for-15) from beyond the arc.
Price, the catalyst throughout UConn's pursuit of a Big East title last year, overcame an abysmal 0-for-9 shooting night at West Virginia. Price scored a game-high 22 points (hitting five treys) and doled out five dimes, outdueling the quick-sniping Vaughn.
Vaughn, who gave UConn 34 points on the strength of seven treys last year, shot 8-for-15 from the floor.
In the end, it was Adrien's interior toughness, ball denial, stingy defense and boardwork that brought the Huskies their second consecutive Big East road win.
Is it the shoes? No. Is it the mohawk? Maybe.
The mohawked man and the Huskies look to extend their conference win streak to three games on Jan. 15, as their road swing returns to the tri-state area for a stop at St. John's.
Labels: Connecticut news
posted by NBE Blogger @ 11:18 PM
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