It?s UConn.
For the University of South Florida Bulls, trying to keep their heads above water in the American Athletic Conference, not much else needs to be said.
?When you hear that name, you already know the history,? USF junior point guard Anthony Collins said.
It?s a big opportunity for coach Orlando Antigua?s Bulls (7-8, 1-1 AAC) tonight when the Connecticut Huskies (7-5, 0-1), the defending national champions, roll into the Sun Dome.
For Antigua, the UConn brand carries a haunting quality. While playing at Pittsburgh, Antigua?s Panthers once led No. 2-ranked UConn 40-15 in the first half ? only to lose by nine points as UConn star Ray Allen took over. And last season, of course, Antigua was on the Kentucky staff when the Wildcats fell to the Huskies in the national title game.
UConn, obviously, isn?t the same team as last season and not just because star guard Shabazz Napier graduated to the NBA.
The Huskies have endured defeats ranging from the predictable (Duke 66, UConn 56) to the inexplicable (Yale 45, UConn 44). There was a disheartening 57-53 overtime loss against Temple in the AAC opener, but it was followed up by a riveting 63-59 victory at Florida, a Final Four semifinal rematch, when the Huskies rallied from a 13-point second-half deficit.
Huskies coach Kevin Ollie, who played against Antigua in UConn-Pitt matchups during the 1990s, said he was searching for leaders and toughness during a stretch when UConn lost five of eight games. He found both in guard Ryan Boatright (17.3 points per game), who scored 14 points and played 39 minutes against the Gators, despite a deep left thigh bruise that had his availability in question.
UConn, which remained in Florida during the weekend, hopes to build upon that quality.
USF, too, got a potential building block in Saturday?s 58-50 home victory against the East Carolina Pirates, a needed win after the Bulls had dropped seven of eight games.
?At this point in the season, we want to come out early and give ourselves a chance to win the game,? Bulls redshirt freshman forward Bo Zeigler said. ?We feel like we can compete with anyone with our dribble-drive offense and our versatility on defense. The big thing with us is competing for 40 minutes, giving ourselves a chance.?
It happened against ECU.
But at other moments this season, the Bulls have gone from borderline brilliance to a disappearing act.
?I think it?s a product of the inexperience,? Collins said. ?We have a lot of guys who had never played college basketball before. Becoming a team is not as easy as it looks. You can look to the NBA and see the (Cleveland Cavaliers) having trouble jelling together.
?It?s attention to detail. Younger guys can forget stuff. It?s not high school, where you can just go out there and play. I think we?re coming along.?
Against UConn, that process must be expedited.
?It?s another good U- Conn team, well coached, and some of them were part of that (championship) team last year,? Antigua said. ?(Against Florida), they showed resilience. They defended. They got down in the second half, but they kept plugging away. They got stops and made plays.?
?It?s very motivating (to play UConn),? Collins said. ?UConn is UConn. Any competitor wants to play against the best and they?re the defending champs. The students are back (on campus). It?s a good opportunity for us and I think there will be a lot of energy in the building. Everybody knows that name.??
It?s UConn.
For the University of South Florida Bulls, trying to keep their heads above water in the American Athletic Conference, not much else needs to be said.
?When you hear that name, you already know the history,? USF junior point guard Anthony Collins said.
It?s a big opportunity for coach Orlando Antigua?s Bulls (7-8, 1-1 AAC) tonight when the Connecticut Huskies (7-5, 0-1), the defending national champions, roll into the Sun Dome.
For Antigua, the UConn brand carries a haunting quality. While playing at Pittsburgh, Antigua?s Panthers once led No. 2-ranked UConn 40-15 in the first half ? only to lose by nine points as UConn star Ray Allen took over. And last season, of course, Antigua was on the Kentucky staff when the Wildcats fell to the Huskies in the national title game.
UConn, obviously, isn?t the same team as last season and not just because star guard Shabazz Napier graduated to the NBA.
The Huskies have endured defeats ranging from the predictable (Duke 66, UConn 56) to the inexplicable (Yale 45, UConn 44). There was a disheartening 57-53 overtime loss against Temple in the AAC opener, but it was followed up by a riveting 63-59 victory at Florida, a Final Four semifinal rematch, when the Huskies rallied from a 13-point second-half deficit.
Huskies coach Kevin Ollie, who played against Antigua in UConn-Pitt matchups during the 1990s, said he was searching for leaders and toughness during a stretch when UConn lost five of eight games. He found both in guard Ryan Boatright (17.3 points per game), who scored 14 points and played 39 minutes against the Gators, despite a deep left thigh bruise that had his availability in question.
UConn, which remained in Florida during the weekend, hopes to build upon that quality.
USF, too, got a potential building block in Saturday?s 58-50 home victory against the East Carolina Pirates, a needed win after the Bulls had dropped seven of eight games.
?At this point in the season, we want to come out early and give ourselves a chance to win the game,? Bulls redshirt freshman forward Bo Zeigler said. ?We feel like we can compete with anyone with our dribble-drive offense and our versatility on defense. The big thing with us is competing for 40 minutes, giving ourselves a chance.?
It happened against ECU.
But at other moments this season, the Bulls have gone from borderline brilliance to a disappearing act.
?I think it?s a product of the inexperience,? Collins said. ?We have a lot of guys who had never played college basketball before. Becoming a team is not as easy as it looks. You can look to the NBA and see the (Cleveland Cavaliers) having trouble jelling together.
?It?s attention to detail. Younger guys can forget stuff. It?s not high school, where you can just go out there and play. I think we?re coming along.?
Against UConn, that process must be expedited.
?It?s another good U- Conn team, well coached, and some of them were part of that (championship) team last year,? Antigua said. ?(Against Florida), they showed resilience. They defended. They got down in the second half, but they kept plugging away. They got stops and made plays.?
?It?s very motivating (to play UConn),? Collins said. ?UConn is UConn. Any competitor wants to play against the best and they?re the defending champs. The students are back (on campus). It?s a good opportunity for us and I think there will be a lot of energy in the building. Everybody knows that name.??
It?s UConn.
