University of Connecticut Athletics
Gordon Nets Career-High in Win Over Sacred Heart
12/3/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
(full postgame quotes follow the story)
STORRS, CT -- Sophomore guard Ben Gordon (Mt. Vernon, NY) set career-highs with 31 points and 10 assists and sophomore center Emeka Okafor (Houston, TX) notched his fourth consecutive double-double as 11th ranked Connecticut overwhelmed in-state rival Sacred Heart 116-78 before a sellout crowd of 10, 167 at the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.
The victory improved the Huskies record to 4-0, while the Pioneers slip to 0-4.
UConn seized control of the game from the outset, bolting out to a 13-0 lead in the first 3:41, holding Sacred Heart without a point for the first 4:44. The Huskies dominated throughout, leading at the intermission 59-34 behind Gordon’s 17 points. Okafor, who finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds, was in command in the paint in the first half, scoring nine and pulling down nine boards. UConn scored 34 of their 60 points in the paint in the first half. The 59 first half points was the most by a UConn squad since November 27, 1998 when the Huskies outscored Wagner, 63-23, in the first stanza.
The second half was more of the same for UConn as head coach Jim Calhoun was able to substitute freely. Fifteen different Huskies’ saw game action. Point guard Taliek Brown (Queens, NY) was nearly flawless running the UConn offense. Brown reached double figures in assists for the second time in four games with 10 and turned the ball over just twice. By each Husky (Brown and Gordon) dishing off the 10 assists, it was the first time in UConn history that teammates reached that milestone in the same game. The assist records date back to the 1972-73 season. Okafor’s double-double streak to start the season is the most by a UConn player since Tony Hanson started the 1976-77 season with five straight double-doubles. Okafor added seven blocks.
Also in double figures for UConn were sophomore Scott Hazelton (Somerville, MA), who came off the bench to score 11 and freshman guard Denham Brown (Toronto, ON) scored 10. Senior forward Mike Hayes (Hartford, CT) made his first career start and scored nine and grabbed nine boards. UConn shot 50% from the field (42-84) and dished out 34 assists against just 10 turnovers.
Chris Assel led the Pioneers with 15.
The Huskies return to action on Saturday, December 7, when they play host to Wagner at the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. WTXX-TV 20 will televise the game locally.
Postgame Quotes
December 3, 2002
UConn vs. Sacred Heart
UConn Head Coach Jim Calhoun
Dave's team being down big guys…it became relatively apparent from the beginning we would have some size advantage. We were fearful that they would sit back in a tight zone which they did early. Second, we were fearful that they would probably try to take some time off the clock given the fact of the injuries and lack of size. First couple of possessions they did, and we pressed and opened up the floor and really tried to get the game going. It did lead to some opportunities for them, but more importantly it led to a lot of fastbreak opportunities for us.
I don't think we did as well as I would have liked defensively, but I think we did exactly what we wanted to do, which was make sure early and often that the game was at our pace. Early, particularly, we claimed every rebound….When were pressing and it was one and done, we were able to get up the floor really quick and build up almost a 20 point lead fairly quickly.
Overall, a good performance. I'm disappointed with the defense. It seems to me that when we press and we get them to really run, we get loose ourselves, defensively. And we play scoreboard instead of game…We only gave up in the seventies 4 times last year. We've given up three already this year. In fairness to them, I was the one that wanted the game to be as fast and quick as possible, so I'm being a little unfair to them. But I think we could have done a much better job. And I'm only talking 10, 15 points. There were so many quick possessions by both teams that I am being unfair to them, but that's nothing that's not normal.
On guard play
Taliek was terrific with the ball. He had opportunities, but instead he threw to other people. I don't remember having two guards get 10 assists a piece. It's an unusual thing to have happen. And that 34 of the 42 baskets were assisted is really a very good sign for us.
On Gordon
Tonight he played at a better speed, tonight he was more assertive and he had pretty good results.
Connecticut Basketball
Connecticut vs. Sacred Heart
Tuesday, December 3, 2002
We tried to work on our defense but we still let them score too many points. We knew what we were going to do offensively, but we really wanted to work on our defense.
On Ben Gordon: He was explosive tonight. He was really excited that he played his game and he did what he had to do…he had to redeem himself from last game so he came out all fired up tonight. He just said that he had to redeem himself…everyone knew what he had to. He was probably just more relaxed, he just needs to come out more explosive like he did tonight...he came out explosive, ready to score, ready to shoot, ready to penetrate…ready to just do everything.
We really needed a game like this…a good blowout win. Now we have a day off, we are going to try to relax and come back for Saturday.
It was an “us” game. Coaches just told us to come out and play hard.
I’ve been confident since the beginning of the year. I felt as though I’d get in there and try to rebound, run the floor, get some lay-ups and try to do what I can do for the team. Anytime you get some playing time it is good to build your confidence.
This is my first career start…I’m grateful. I think I did a pretty good job. I’m just glad to be healthy, and out there helping my team.
On being injured in the pre-season: It was very discouraging…I was grateful to get back on the court with my teammates. My teammates always told me to get back, get back healthy, and keep my head up. Caron (Butler) called me and he heard I was hurt. He told me to keep my head up….and that’s what I’ve been doing…even when I was on the bench I was cheering for Shamon (Tooles) and Hilton (Armstrong) and the other guys that played the four spot. I’m just grateful to have the honor of starting tonight.
On the fast start and the threat of letting up: We are young, it is early in the season, we are going to build upon that, we are going to get better at that.
At the end of the game, when the walk-ons started to hit the glass real good…they hit it better than we did.
We just tried to go in and take care of business.
On the comeback of Ben Gordon: I wasn’t surprised…it was just Ben being Ben.
I was frustrated during the (Vanderbilt) game…throughout the whole game I realized “boy I’m really going to be mad after this” because I really wasn’t playing well. After the game I kind of got over it pretty quick.
I think we definitely play towards the other team’s intensity level. When we play the bigger team we are going to be at the same intensity level.
I didn’t know I had 10 assists…but it is not a big deal…we just want to go over the things we did in practice every day and try to get better.
I watched tape earlier this afternoon…we went over the Vanderbilt game…I wasn’t playing hard…from the tape it looked like I was out there by myself the way I was just jogging up and down...I wasn’t cutting hard…That is just something I am going to have to key in on. I think I was just too relaxed that game and it just showed on the tape.
December 3, 2002
UConn vs. Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart Head Coach Dave Bike
They're good. Naturally I'm disappointed. I don't know how many points I could hold them to. We're not going to stop them by any means.
I thought we got some decent looks. We were trying to let the guys play a little bit.
We're constantly trying to learn from UConn, the way they play, the style, the performance, the guts and everything else. I can't say there's anything astounding here. They're in a different class than us. And we appreciate the opportunity to be here and hopefully we can get something positive from it.
I think, where we are, we should be playing a couple of marquee games….On the recruiting scene, it's a great game – until now, after the game. But it helps our program to have it on the schedule. It's a luxury, in terms of distance traveled, to play a quality program like this. This has got to be the best deal in the country. Right here in our own backyard you're playing one of the best programs in the country….We came up on a bus today. It's a big game, we're not going to get a better name on our schedule and the guys went to school this morning.
On Gordon
We took a poll before the game (the coaching staff). We predicted Gordon was going to get a bunch of points today.
