It must be heartening for UConn fans to know that even when head coach Dan Hurley says the team played “below brand,” the Huskies can still win a game by almost 40 points.
The 92-53 final score doesn’t show it, but UConn had to scrap and claw its way to providing distance early from visiting New Hampshire on Saturday night in Hartford. It’s the second year in a row that the Wildcats were able to frustrate the Huskies, and for the second year in a row, UConn should come out better for it.
With the Huskies’ shooting taking that patented XL Center dip, they struggled to score in the first half. Credit to New Hampshire as well; the Wildcats’ on-ball defense was excellent, and they kept much better athletes in front of them.
UConn held serve defensively, showing the unity needed on the court to provide near flawless help. 1-on-1, Hurley was less pleased.
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“That was clearly a below-standard performance for us in a number of ways, in particular on-ball defense,” Hurley told reporters after the game. “Offensively, I thought we were just scatterbrained, especially in the first half. It was typical of an early season performance.”
While the Huskies did enough to go to the locker room up 11, perhaps the team’s biggest flaw was also on display. Samson Johnson and Tarris Reed Jr. were responsible for the first four UConn fouls of the game, putting Hurley in a bind before the 10-minute mark. Jaylin Stewart, the de facto five in their absence, picked up the next two.
But the Huskies weathered it. More importantly, both UConn bigs were smarter and better in the second half. Johnson committed another late in the first, but didn’t foul again until 8:55 remaining in the game, ending the contest with four fouls, two points and one rebound. He now has nine fouls this season in 27 minutes played.
“I think he’s such a great guy and he wants to do well so badly that he’s pressing and he’s fighting for every inch and he’s playing with a level of desperation that’s admirable,” Hurley said. “But in playing with that level of desperation, he’s mauling people.”
Johnson’s subpar performance meant there was more pressure on Reed, and he posted an 11-and-8 stat line typical of his career so far.
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The Huskies clung to a 10-point lead with 16:17 remaining in the game before UConn embarked on a 9-2 run, punctuated by a three from Jayden Ross.
Ross, who was a seldom-used freshman last year and had Hurley hyping him up in the preseason like he could be a lottery pick, delivered in his sophomore debut. After missing the season opener against Sacred Heart, Ross turned it on in the final 15 minutes, showing fans why Hurley said after the first game that he could have started.
“You saw the flurry,” Hurley said. “He’s a guy that I think is gonna be get a lot better.”
Ross shot 6-10 from the field (2-5 3PT) to finish with 14 points. He was also a team-best +34.
Also of note: Alex Karaban turned in his second straight All-American caliber performance. This time, it was 17 points, five rebounds, four assists, and four blocks. Filed under the “small sample size” category, it means Karaban is averaging 5.5 blocks per game, third-best in college basketball this season.
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“Alex is playing the way a Big East Player of the Year is supposed to be playing,” Hurley added. “From a statistical standpoint, efficiency standpoint, but he’s also really leading. He’s been super vocal and doing everything we want him to do right now.”
Liam McNeeley turned in his second-straight double-double as well, posting 11 points and 10 rebounds in the second game of his career. He became the first Husky since Jeff Adrien in 2006 to open the season with consecutive double-doubles.
By the end of the game, the team-wide numbers didn’t look so bad either. They shot better than 50% from the field (32-63) and while 32% from three isn’t great, they were 7-15 in the second half.
The Huskies return to the court on Wednesday when they host Le Moyne, Division I’s best team that’s based in Syracuse, New York. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. and it will air on FS1.
CONCORD – While Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte has said she opposes increasing highway toll rates across the state, the Senate voted Thursday to increase rates for out-of-state license plate holders.
It now goes to the House for consideration.
This would be a $1 increase for those who have out of state plates going through the tolls at Hooksett, Hampton and Bedford for out-of-state plates, a 75 cent hike for those taking Hampton’s Exit 2 and on the Spaulding turnpike at Rochester, and a 50 cent hike for those taking the exit off I-93 to Hooksett.
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An analysis in the bill shows that this would increase toll revenue by $53.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and go up each year to generate $81.4 million a year in 2036.
Senate Bill 627 passed on a voice vote with two Republicans, Senators Regina Birdsell of Hampstead and William Gannon of Sandown opposing.
Senator Mark E. McConkey, R-Freedom, moved to take the bill off the table and offered an amendment. He said the last time there was a systemwide increase to the turnpike toll was 19 years ago.
“I am sure we could all agree the cost of operations…has continued to escalate when revenue is not rising with it,” and he noted that with an enterprise fund, the state can only spend what it takes in.
The state has just completed a 10-year highway plan and there was a $400 million shortfall in projects that could not be paid for under the current income.
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McConkey said the measure would not increase tolls for New Hampshire drivers with a state license plate.
“Why don’t we ask our neighbors,” to pay a toll increase. “We are getting the best of all worlds,” by passing the bill, he said, including “protecting our residents” and having resources for improvements to the turnpike system.
Sen. Gannon, R-Sandown, asked McConkey if there are any studies on impacts near the border on businesses.
If implemented, McConkey said the state will be the 27th lowest in per mile cost still. McConkey said the bill would also increase from seven to 14 days the amount of time for those with NH license plates to pay for a toll adding there are other states that also have different rates for out-of-state users.
The Hampton toll cost would go from $2 to $3, while Hooksett and Bedford would rise from $1 to $2 for out-of-state plates.
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New Hampshire currently has the lowest rate per mile among states with tolls roads. The governor said she does not support a toll increase.
“We are not going to put a burden on drivers for a toll increase,” Ayotte said. “Families are struggling.”
WILTON, N.H. (WHDH) – A woman died in a Wilton, New Hampshire, house fire Wednesday morning, according to the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office.
At 9:08 a.m., Wilton firefighters responded to Burns Hill Road after a caller said their home was filling up with smoke. When they arrived, a single-family home was on fire and they found out two people were still inside on the second floor.
A man and a woman were both taken out of the house by firefighters and taken to Elliott Hospital. The woman was pronounced dead and the man is in serious condition.
Officials have not released the name of the victim at this time.
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At this time, investigators are looking into the cause of the fire and are trying to determine if a power outage in the area played a factor. The fire is not currently considered suspicious.
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