Joe D’Ambrosio and Wayne Norman talk with Ryan Boatwright, Alex Oriakhi , and Coach Kevin Ollie. Also all of the game’s highlights.
By PAT EATON-ROBB
Associated Press
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Ryan Boatright had 19 points and Jeremy
Lamb scored 17 for Connecticut, which played without coach Jim
Calhoun to beat Seton Hall 69-46 on Saturday.
Lamb added eight rebounds and Boatright had five assists and
four steals for the Huskies (15-7, 5-5 Big East), who ended a
four-game losing streak. Andre Drummond scored just seven points
but had seven blocks.
Jordan Theodore and Aaron Cosby each had 10 points to lead Seton
Hall, which was leading scorer and rebounder Herb Pope. The Pirates
(15-8, 4-7) have lost six straight.
Calhoun is taking an indefinite medical leave because of spinal
stenosis, a condition that causes him severe pain and hampers his
mobility.
Connecticut led 30-17 at the half and opened the second half
with a 9-2 run. A lob from Boatright to Andre Drummond for a dunk
became a three-point play after a foul shot, giving UConn a 48-29
lead and the Huskies cruised from there.
Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard was ejected after he picked up
two quick technical fouls with UConn up 55-38. Those came after a
foul on Theodore and brief altercation between him and Shabazz
Napier. Connecticut hit five of six free throws for a 60-38 lead,
but by that time the game already had been decided.
UConn assistant George Blaney coached in Calhoun’s absence.
Connecticut is 3-1 in games he has coached this season, all in the
Big East. They are 2-4 in conference games coached by Calhoun.
Blaney started a three-guard lineup, the eighth different
starting five the Huskies have used this season, going with
Boatright, Napier and Lamb. That allowed the Huskies to press. A
steal and dunk by Boatright gave UConn a 10-4 lead.
But Drummond picked up two early fouls and the Pirates came
right back. They led 11-10 after a 3-pointer by Brandon Mobley.
Connecticut got it going again late in the half. Napier made a
basket after 19 consecutive misses over three games to give UConn
an 18-13 lead. That was part of a 14-2 run.
Connecticut held the Pirates to six field goals and 24 percent
shooting to lead by 13 at halftime. The Pirates shot 26 percent for
the game and had 15 turnovers and 23 fouls. UConn blocked nine
shots and Drummond had seven of those.
The Huskies are now 11-2 at home. They entered the game out of
the Top 25 for the first time in 28 weeks. Seton Hall, which
started the season 15-2, is 3-5 on the road. The Pirates beat UConn
75-63 on Jan. 3, after losing 11 straight to the Huskies.
Pope bruised his ribs in Tuesday’s loss to Marquette and did not
make the trip. The 6-foot-8 senior is averaging 15.9 points and
10.2 rebounds.
It’s not clear how many games Calhoun will miss. He will not
travel with the team for its game at Louisville on Monday. Calhoun
has had a history of health problems. He is a three-time cancer
survivor, overcoming prostate cancer in 2003 and skin cancer twice,
most recently in 2008.
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spine, normally associated
with aging and sometimes arthritis. If physical therapy and
medicines aren’t effective, surgery may be considered, although
some people’s symptoms may not improve after an operation.
Calhoun has missed 22 games during his career at UConn, 18 for
medical reasons. He has had to leave another 11 games with health
problems. His last extended medical leave came in 2010, when he
missed seven games with stress-related issues.
He missed three games this season because of NCAA sanctions.
Calhoun, who will get credit for any wins his team earns during
his leave, is No. 6 on the career list with 868. He has won three
national championships at Connecticut and was inducted into the
Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005. He coached the team to its fourth
Final Four and third national title last April.
