Ryan Boatright’s UConn debut had a little bit of everything – drama, clutch shooting and even a future catch phrase.
The only thing missing? Photos.
Apparently places aren’t staffed to shoot college basketball tournaments in the Bahamas because none of the main photo providers -- AP, Reuters and Getty – have shots of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament. Too bad, too. Woulda been nice to see the freshman guard in action during the Huskies’ 78-76 overtime win over Florida State.
Wait. What am I saying? We have video highlights. Check these out.
That was Boatright at his best.
He finished with 14 points and three assists and hit those three free throws with less than eight seconds left, which ensured UConn could force OT.
“I knew everyone thought I was going to miss those,” Boatwright said of his trip to the line. “The way I grew up I had pressure every day, in a single-family home with my mom. My grandfather always used to say pressure was my middle name.”
Sophomore Shabazz Napier carried the rest of the load. He finished with 26 points and set up most of the Huskies’ points. Sophomore Jeremy Lamb had 19.
But it was Boatright, who sat out UConn’s first five games due an eligibility issue, who earned most of coach Jim Calhoun’s praise. He even dropped the phrase.
“He was the missing piece of the puzzle we needed,” he said. “To have him beside me is the best I can hope for. We rode the boat today.”
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