Alec Millender Deserves a Shout Out

[gwhuskyfan]

Outside of 17 mins against Lowell hasn't played more than 6 mins all year. Played 7 tonight. Quality minutes too. Needed all hands on deck with the PG spot tonight and he gave them some good stuff in a tournament setting. Props to him.

 

[caw]

Guy got a bucket in the NCAAT and it wasn’t garbage time. Super happy for him.

 

[mauconnfan]

Kids a great teammate and a leader on the bench as we have seen all year. He played as well as expected and provided meaningful rest for Malachi in the situation. Kudos to Alec👍🏻

 

[Husky Alien]

Much appreciated effort from Alec. You really can’t ask for more considering he’s barely seen the floor most of the year. Stepped in, gave quality minutes, stayed poised, that’s what experience brings.

 

[superjohn]

It's cool he filled in and gave us 7 minutes and he has his role as the personality of the team but that was 95% Tarris. We lose that game by 10 without him going Moses Malone. I love Millender as a teammate.

 

[Umami Zen]

Glad to see Alec getting some minutes when needed. Was impressed with his shot off of the top of backboard in traffic. Acted like it was just another day at the office! His and Malachi's confidence from their PT vs Furman on the Big Stage will pay dividends as we advance.Happy for Alec.

 

[jibsey]

He was our backup parachute and he did what was asked well.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

Kept the offense moving, played good D, and even had a positive +/-. I’ve been waiting for the game that having him on the bench would come in big and this was it. Awesome to see a guy like that, who has put in the work all year and is a great team culture guy, step up in a big moment.

 

[Shamon30]

That may have been the all-time best circus layup I've ever seen by a Husky

 

[Icehawk]

I thought Dan should have played him more mid/late season when Malachi was struggling. Glad to see them both play well last night.

 

[BGesus4]

Very few players, of any talent level, could be as composed as he was last night after playing so little during the season. True veteran presence

 

[HCCForever]

Alec did an admirable job. He helped cause that turnover which led to his circus shot. I’m surprised that Furman didn’t pressure him more as he looked shaky on one possession.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Honestly, my favorite play of the game was the Jayden Ross pick-six double barrel-roll pass to Millender's and-1 that almost Tony Hawk grinded at the top of the backboard. Harlem Globetrotters type ish.

 

[Stinger92860]

I thought he might foul out in just a few minutes initially but he adjusted and gave Smith a much needed breather. The shot he hit was icing.

 

[superjohn]

That may have been the all-time best circus layup I've ever seen by a Husky

When did shots off the top of the backboard become legal in college? I remember a time when they weren't allowed.

 

[jostar1]

Alec Millender saw some early action with Demary out and scored his first points since Dec. 21 after Jayden Ross dove for a steal and flipped it ahead for a transition layup through contact, which hit off the top of the backboard and fell in.

“I’m living in answered prayers,” Millender said. “This is something I dreamed of for so long. Just an amazing moment, exhilarating, just blessings… I’ve worked so hard my whole career for moments like this. I feel like everything I’ve ever been through prepared me for this.”

https://www.courant.com/2026/03/21/uconn-men-outlast-no-15-furman-82-71-in-ncaa-opener-thanks-to-epic-double-double-by-tarris-reed/

 

[nomar]

He did well! Scored a hoop and played good D on Wilkins when he was on him despite the difference in size and athleticism.

I had confidence that he'd be able to fill the break-glass-in-case-of-emergency role, and I'm glad he proved it, but I think this game showed just how important Silas is to the team. If nothing else, Malachi's poor FT shooting makes him a liability at the end of games. He did make a couple big ones but 53% is 53%.

 

[Jaydumo20]

When did shots off the top of the backboard become legal in college? I remember a time when they weren't allowed.

I thought the same thing. I also remember more blocked shots allowed. It seems that more than 50% of blocked shots are whistled. This an unconscious, reflex of officials. No human can assess that so quickly and we saw it a lot last night

Oh yeah, and happy for Alec. He did a great job. Much deserved

 

[Shamon30]

Also worth noting is he never turned the ball over. He almost did twice on the same play: once from a lack of focus, then from a moment of panic. He collected himself and held on though, greatly frustrating Wilkins or whoever was guarding him. The floor slap said it all. Proud of AM for holding his own and contributing to the win. The 2nd foul on him was BS - he was pushed into contact by the guy on Furman via a moving screen that didn't get called.

 

[DogMania]

Happy and so proud of him.

Few bench players who hadn't played meaningful minutes for months could have held their own like he did.

I was so worried when he got in there and had the ball, but seeing how composed he played, I was like, "Okay, he's got this."

 

[navery12]

When did shots off the top of the backboard become legal in college? I remember a time when they weren't allowed.

Top of the backboard has always been in bounds as far back as I can remember. As long as it doesn't hit the cables above the backboard it's in bounds

 

[Dove]

That may have been the all-time best circus layup I've ever seen by a Husky

I can't remember seeing a basket made like that. Was expecting it to be called OB

 

[bendm]

Props to millender. Relatedly, Has any UConn player had a higher percentage of their shots blocked than Malachi?

 

[Umami Zen]

Props to millender. Relatedly, Has any UConn player had a higher percentage of their shots blocked than Malachi?

Gotta learn to use the eye brows as an up-fake gesture like the Nova guys do.

 

[Nameless]

Top of the backboard has always been in bounds as far back as I can remember. As long as it doesn't hit the cables above the backboard it's in bounds

I think you're right as far as college goes. The reason it gets confusing to some of us is in certain highschool gyms the top of the backboard is right on the out of bounds line and is thus out of bounds if the ball hits it. It gets easier and easier to conflate the rules as the years go on.