UConn 80, DePaul 54: Wrapping Things Up From Gampel

Some notes, quotes and thoughts from UConn’s 26-point blowout over DePaul.

First blush: Is this a good time to mention that it all started last March with a 26-point win over DePaul in the first round at the Garden? … Thought so.

Like the Seton Hall game on Feb. 4, UConn was in must-win mode against a very beatable opponent and they did what they had to do. “We’re in a great position,” George Blaney said, “we just need to  get some wins.”

The Huskies’ strength of schedule – so maligned early in the season – is actually No. 1 in the country and despite losses to Louisville and Syracuse, their RPI has improved. UConn probably gets in with 19 wins, so with 16 now and five to go they still have margin for error. If they can beat 12th-ranked Marquette on Saturday they will not only be in great shape, but will be playing well, too.

The most important thing about this game was how UConn looked – loose and confident. The Huskies may have stumbled on something at Syracuse, not in terms of X’s and O’s, but a way to release the pressure they’d been feeling. They had fun Wednesday night. Here is my game story for the Thursday Courant.

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Jim Calhoun will miss at least the next two games. Here’s the latest.

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Worthy Patterson, 80, who was inducted into the Huskies of Honor, looks about 20 years younger than he is. It was great to see the look of pride on his face, and on t he faces of the family of the late Bill Corley, who was also inducted. Two great Huskies from the past were welcomed back with class.

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 Congrats to Alex Oriakhi, Kyle Bailey, P.J. Cochran and Ben Stewart, who were all honored for maintaining a GPA above 3.0. Oriakhi was justifiably proud. I asked him if it was difficult to concentrate on schoolwork while he wa striggling on the court. He said yes, but “Coach Blaney always says, you focus on basketball when you’re in the gym …” and school work at other times.

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How about DeAndre Daniels, who didn’t play at Syracuse, but came off the bench to hit a couple of key threes. It’s been a rough first year for him, but he said he’s never doubted his choice to come to UConn. I’d tell you more, but I have to save something to write tomorrow …

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Blaney was really impressed with the way Andre Drummond handled smaller, quicker Cleveland Melvin, holding him scoreless over the last 17 minutes. Here is Blaney’s take on the game.

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Key stat: UConn shot 35.9 percent in the first half, 63.3 in the second. Here is your box score.

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Shabazz Napier, as he has said many times this season, said he would rather get assists than points. He had 11. “I tell Andre, he’s the fastest big guy there is. Just run and I’ll find you.”

I asked Alex Oriakhi, a Red Sox fan from Lowell, Mass., what the heck he was doing with a Yankees hat on. He blushed and said he had it and just threw it on. Shabazz Napier, from Boston, said, “I said, ‘what are you doing?’ He must be bipolar.” That little anecdote seemed to get a lot of re-tweets. Speaking of which, Jeff Jacobs puts out a good read on the hazards of Husky tweeting.

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Here are some great pics from the game from John Woike.

Don’t forget our live chat tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. I’ll join in from 11 to 12.