At the Buzzer: Connecticut 63, Florida 59 (Instant Analysis)
Saturday, January 3, 2015 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
AT THE BUZZER
UConn 63, Florida 59
WHAT HAPPENED: The Huskies may have been struggling coming into the game, but they looked the part of a defending national champion Saturday in absolutely smothering the Gators in the final 10 minutes to hand UF yet another frustrating defeat. Connecticut, down 11 with less than 11 minutes to play, went on a 17-2 run over the next five minutes that included five, count 'em, five 3-point shots, including three from guard Rodney Purvis (11 points, 5 rebounds), who had just two points up to that mark. The Gators had their chances, including two free throws from forward Alex Murphy with his team down by one with 38 seconds left, but Murphy did what his teammates did all night: clanged the ball from the stripe. UF went a woeful 8-for-20 (40 percent) from the line. Florida shot just 32 percent from the floor in the second half.
WHAT IT MEANS: A sixth loss before the Southeastern Conference season has even begun. Granted the six have come against some high-profile, marquee programs (like Georgetown, North Carolina, Kansas and now UConn), but the Gators, who went with a ninth different starting lineup Saturday in search of something that works, have a lot to do relative to their postseason hopes.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Junior forward Dorian Finney-Smith scored 19 points, going 4-for-8 from long distance and grabbed five rebounds, but the story of the game was UConn's clutch shot-making down the stretch compared to UF's lack of poise and points.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: As badly as the Gators shot from the free-throw line -- and they were horrific -- the Huskies cashed on their chance, making 17 of 20 for 85 percent. That's a 45-percent discrepancy in game -- including 9-for-9 in the second half -- that came down to the final few possessions. What's worse, each Gator actually shot 100 free throws after each practice this week.
UP NEXT: Florida (7-6) opens its SEC schedule Wednesday night at South Carolina. The Gamecocks (8-3), who are much improved from the team that finished at the bottom of the league last season, face Iowa State tonight Barclay's Center in Brooklyn tonight.
