| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- University of Connecticut freshman Caron Butler wasn't
paying attention to the box score, but his teammates were.
|  | | Connecticut's Caron Butler reaches out for a loose ball, holding off Rhode Island's Zach Marbury in the process. |
He needed one more assist for a triple double, they told him. He
got it with 2:43 remaining when a quick inside bounce pass to
Johnnie Selvie paid off.
Butler finished with 14 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists
Tuesday to lead Connecticut (No. 11 ESPN/USA Today, No. 10 Associated Press) to an 87-76 victory over Rhode
Island. Selvie, the junior college player of the year last season, had
a career-high 26 points.
Butler is the first UConn player to achieve a triple-double
since Doron Sheffer did it in the 1995-96 season.
"I'm looking to get my teammates more opportunities," Butler
said. "I'm just very happy to be in this position. Hopefully,
there will be many more."
The freshman's performance stood out on a night when neither
team got style points for their play. The Huskies (10-1) were
coming off a record 31-assist performance in the victory Friday over
Fairfield, but stumbled and fumbled their way to this victory and
were 0-for-8 from 3-point range.
UConn coach Jim Calhoun attributed the miscues to immaturity and
sloppy defense.
"The team has to grow up a little bit and understand when we
get to the Big East, it's not always going to be showtime and
dunks and fastbreaks," Calhoun said. "Obviously for us to win we
need to do that, but also play some good defense."
The Rams (3-8) didn't fare much better and couldn't match
UConn's quickness and size inside. Both teams combined for 22
turnovers by halftime.
UConn built a 34-26 lead at the break, largely behind the inside
play of Selvie, who had 16 points in the first half.
The Butler-Selvie tandem worked well all night.
"(Butler) is mature enough to truly understand that when you
make your teammates better, everything good happens," Calhoun
said.
When Rhode Island doubled up on Butler, Selvie was right there.
"Caron draws so many double teams from his offensive presence.
And they forget about me," Selvie said. "So I'm just right there
to finish it up for him. He makes the pass and I finish it."
The Huskies opened the second half with a 9-4 run, getting two
quick baskets from center Souleymane Wane. Butler scored 10 of his
points in the second half and the Huskies led by as much as 21
twice.
"If there's a better freshman in the country than Caron Butler,
I want to know who he is," Rams coach Jerry DiGregorio said.
"He's hard to defend. Fans at UConn better enjoy him because I
don't think he'll be here that much longer."
Tavorris Bell led the Rams with 19 points and nine rebounds. The
game also marked the return of Brian Woodward, who was averaging 11
points, before a knee injury sidelined him for seven games. He
finished with 16 points.
Zach Marbury, the younger brother of New Jersey Nets' star
Stephon Marbury had 17 points for the Rams.
UConn holds a 77-68 series edge over Rhode Island and has
beaten the Rams six consecutive games. The programs are two of the
most successful in New England.
| |
ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard
Rhode Island Clubhouse
Connecticut Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 UConn's Johnnie Selvie takes it to the hole for a monster dunk.
avi: 514 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
UConn's Caron Butler finds Johnnie Selvie for the basket.
avi: 745 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
|
