No. 20 Huskies Rally to Defeat No. 25 Villanova, 81-76
Boxscore [.html]
Boxscore [.pdf]
 HARTFORD, Conn. (February
2, 2005) – Junior Rashad Anderson (Lakeland, Fla.) scored 21 points, and
sophomore Charlie Villanueva (Brooklyn, N.Y.) scored the tie-breaking
points in the final minute as 20th-ranked Connecticut came from
behind to defeat 25th-ranked Villanova, 81-76, before a sellout crowd
of 16,294 at the Hartford Civic Center Wednesday evening, in Jim Calhoun’s 1000th
game as a collegiate head coach.
The win improves the Huskies’ record to 13-5, 5-3 in the
BIG EAST Conference. The Wildcats slip to 12-5, 4-4 in league play.
The contest was tied at 72 apiece with 2:59 to go after a
three-pointer by Villanova’s Allan Ray. Villanueva was fouled by Ray, and made
one of two free throws to give UConn a lead it wouldn’t relinquish with 2:38 to
play. On the Wildcats next possession, Anderson made the two key defensive plays
of the contest, blocking Randy Foye’s jumper and rebounding Foye’s next
attempt.
 With just 31.5 seconds to play,
Villanueva hit a pretty hook shot in the lane, his only good field goal on the
night, to give the Huskies a three-point lead. Anderson hit two free throws
after a technical foul on the Villanova bench, and the Huskies secured the
victory. UConn made an astounding 74% (14-of-19) of their field goal attempts
after intermission.
Anderson finished with his 21 points, hitting five of eight
field goal attempts, and making nine of 10 free throws. The Huskies made a
season-high 30 free throws in 42 attempts. Freshman Rudy Gay (Baltimore,
Md.) scored 17 points for the Huskies, while Marcus Williams (Los
Angeles, Calif.) finished with 12 points and a game-high nine assists. Junior
Denham Brown (Toronto, Ont.) scored 10 points, while junior Hilton
Armstrong (Peekskill, N.Y.) was solid off of the bench again for UConn, with
five points and career BIG EAST-best 10 rebounds. Sophomore Josh Boone
(Mt. Airy, Md.) had eight points and nine rebounds, while Gay added nine
rebounds as well.
 The
Huskies led by as many as seven points in the opening half, but Villanova led by
some razor-sharp outside shooting roared back. The Wildcats made 11
three-pointers in the contest, six by Mike Nardi and four by Ray. UConn was able
to overcome 18 turnovers by shooting 51% (22-of-43) on the night. Nardi led
Villanova with 20 points.
Calhoun now is an impressive 693-307 in his 33 seasons, 19
of which have been at Connecticut.
The Huskies will conclude this brief two-game home stand on
Saturday, February 5, when they entertain St. John’s at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion
in Storrs. Game time is set for Noon and the contest will be televised locally
by FOX-61.
POST GAME QUOTES
Connecticut Head Coach Jim Calhoun
"We’ve been fortunate to play in two very good basketball
games (in a row)."
"At times, they gave us fits…Our goal was to use the size
that we had…. Villanova is a terrific team. They’re going to be a tough out for
any team that plays them."
"You have to fight for a win, compete for a win."
"It took us a while to adjust. They suckered us in."
On Hilton Armstrong
"Our big kids didn’t appear the way I like them to
appear…. Hilton took it personally. He had game, he had heart. He was really
special tonight. He deserves all the praise I can give him."
On Rashad Anderson
"Rashad got us going early and made big shots late."
On Rudy Gay
"We have to find ways to get Rudy the ball more. That might
have been – total package – as good as Rudy has played."
On technical foul at end
"I have mixed feelings about that. I thought we were going
to win regardless…. I hate that to be the thing… Jay is active on the
sidelines….I’m not crazy about it, but if it did occur and there was a bump
involved, then it was out of the official’s hands."
Villanova Head
Coach Jay Wright
"It was a very tough game. I give UConn credit. They just
gutted it out down the stretch."
"They hit some big shots. They hit some big threes."
On outscoring UConn in the paint
"It didn’t seem that way. I thought they were great on the
offensive glass."
On team’s foul trouble
"You can’t put a team on the foul line that many
times. That made it tough for us. It took away some of our defensive intensity."
On technical foul
"I shouldn’t have put our team in that position…. I just
feel bad for my players because they played so hard. I take responsibility for
it."
Were you shocked by it?
"Yes."
Charlie Villanueva
On his last shot
"It was big. When I got the ball all I heard was Coach Calhoun yell “Go
Charlie!” That’s the only voice I heard. It was big for us."
On the technical called on Villanova bench after he ran
by
"It wasn’t my intention (to taunt). I didn’t mean it that way, I apologize to
Coach Wright for that. I had no idea that they called a T because of me until
Coach Calhoun told me what had happened. I had no idea, I just went blank, I was
just so happy that I made the shot."
Rashad Anderson
On the crowd
"They were a tremendous help tonight. This is the reason I came to school
here…the fans…the crowd."
Marcus Williams
On shooting tonight
"We got a lot of open looks and got through our offense. The way they played
defense was loose. They were sitting back in the zone. It threw us off a little,
but in the second half we caught on."
On his improved 3pt shooting
"I’ve been working a lot of overtime on that…before practice, after practice…for
times like this."
Josh Boone
"That’s how we have to play every game. We played like our
lives were on the line."
On Hilton Armstrong’s play
"Hilton set the tone for us as far as battling out there.
He was rebounding, blocking and dunking."
On the physical play tonight
"Every game is a battle inside, that’s just the nature of
the BIG EAST."
Rudy Gay
On the importance of this win
"Villanova had been on a streak, and we ended it. That was
exactly what we needed. Now, maybe this will start a streak for us."
On the unity and closeness the team exhibited tonight
"We’ve been a close team all season, but now we’re learning
to play with each other."
Hilton Armstrong
On his strong physical play inside
"I saw our biggies getting pushed around
recently and was tired of it. I tried to step up and be a leader out
there. Every team needs someone to be energetic. I try and be the hype man, and
hope it will wear off on everyone else. I know, though, I have to stay poised,
keep your head in the game, and good things will happen." |
