UConn Falls to Arizona State; Season Comes to an End
Photo credit: Ian Bethune – SOX & DAWGS
The day started with questions, continued with disappointment and ended with reflection as UConn ended their 2014-15 season with a 68-61 loss to Arizona State at Gampel Pavilion, the fourth loss on campus this year. Three was the previous record, set by this team after falling to Memphis on senior night, two weeks ago.
Rodney Purvis continued to lead the team with 19-points, Daniel Hamilton had 16-points, 7-rebounds and 2-assists and Terrence Samuel scored in double figures with 10-points, 6-assists and 4-rebounds.
A first round NIT exit was not what anyone had in mind for a squad behind the leadership of senior Ryan Boatright.
The lasting memory of Boat will be unfair. The worst shooting performance (1-for-12) of his career in the conference championship game, despite getting banged up twice; the second ending his season, as he was forced to sit today’s game due to his shoulder injury. He came out for warm-ups looking distraught that one, he wasn’t suiting up and two, that UConn was hosting the NIT, instead of attempting another Cinderella run through March and into early April.
“[I] definitely would have played [if this was the NCAA Tournament],” Boatright said following today’s loss. “This is my last year, I’d be lying if I told you differently. Just talking with everybody and coach, he just thought it was a good idea to not get out there. I couldn’t be the player I am and I could possibly risk hurting it even more, so the plan was to win tonight and I’d be back out there on Saturday, but we fell short of that.”
Boatright thinks it’s a rotator-cuff, but he’ll get a further examination, including an MRI as the days pass. Sitting on the sidelines, it was hard for him to watch for the first time in his career, due to injury. He had missed games, but those were due to an NCAA mandate, as well as the loss of his brother, a year ago.
“It was extremely tough,” he said. “I contemplated five minutes in, if I wanted to go in there and throw on my stuff, but I had belief in my team, I really thought we were going to pull that game out. It sums up the season, just inconsistent and we need to get better, period, in all forms of the game. I think that my team has really grown from the beginning of the year, they’ve learned and matured. If they put in a hard summer, they have the potential to be a great team.”
In what is unique these days, Boat stayed all four years at UConn, unlike both players he came in with in his class, DeAndre Daniels and Andre Drummond.
“Everybody’s situation is different,” he said. “All I can do is tell [future players] that this is a great university, they will always love you. As long as you continue to work hard, play your heart out and leave it out on the floor, this state, this program and the fans will always embrace you.”
Head coach Kevin Ollie was able to reflect on Boatright following the loss, as the season came to a close.
“[He’s had a] great career and I know there’s going to be great things for him in the future,” he said. “I think he grew up as a man and as a basketball player. He has a lot of pride to get better. I know he wanted his team to go out on a better note and I know he wanted himself to go out on a better note, but God’s preparing him for something great.”
“He has a bright future, if he gets to the NBA or wherever he plays, I’m going to be backing him,” Ollie continued. “Boat wants it, he’s going to do whatever it takes to get it and I’m very proud to say that I’ve been his coach for four years.”
Those four years have made the man and Boatright will never forget that, as he hopes to come back to Storrs as often as possible.
“UConn is forever a part of me, this will always be my second home outside of Chicago,” he said. “Whenever I get a chance to come back up here to help the team, talk to kids and coach with camps, I’ll definitely be here to do it.”
He also had one final thank you to the fans, who chanted his name on more than one occasion tonight, his last appearance at Gampel as a member of the team.
“It meant a lot,” Boatright reflected. “They continue to support me and show me love no matter where I am; in the gym, outside of basketball and even at the barber shop. They just showed me so much love and support and I will always appreciate that.”
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