Some pregame notes for UConn’s clash with No. 25 N.C. State.
EVANS A GO: Redshirt senior guard R.J. Evans, who gave the Huskies six points per game and immeasurable leadership before suffering a sternalclavicular sprain on Thanksgiving, will play tonight, according to a UConn spokesperson. His presence gives UConn another body — a fullback-sized one, at that — in the backcourt. I’d still expect major minutes from Omar Calhoun, though. He’s shown progress in the past few games.
DEFENDING THE PERIMETER: N.C. State has two 6-foot-5 guards in Lorenzo Brown and Scott Woods. Both have a length advantage on UConn’s Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright, which could limit the duo’s number of clean perimeter looks.
WHEN: Today, 9
WHERE: Madison Square Garden
WHAT: Jimmy V Classic
RECORDS: N.C. State 4-2, UConn 6-1
ON THE AIR: ESPN (Dan Shulman, Bob Knight, Dick Vitale, Andy Katz)
UP NEXT: Friday vs. Harvard, 7, at Gampel Pavilion (SNY)
N.C. STATE
Lorenzo Brown, G, 6-5 Jr.: 10.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 5 apg
Scott Wood, G/F, 6-5 Sr.: 10.5 ppg, 3 rpg
C.J. Leslie, F, 6-9 Jr.: 11.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg
Richard Howell, F, 6-8 Sr.: 14.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg
T.J. Warren, F, 6-8 Fr.: Team-high 15.3 ppg, 70.2 % FG
Rodney Purvis, G, 6-2 Fr.: 10 ppg
UCONN
Ryan Boatright, G, 5-10 So.: 13.7 ppg, 4.9 apg
Shabazz Napier, G, 6-0 Jr..: 18.8 ppg in second half of past six games
Omar Calhoun, G, 6-5 Fr.: Double-digits in four straight games
DeAndre Daniels, F, 6-8 So.: Single-digits in four straight games
Tyler Olander, F, 6-9 Jr.: 20 fouls, 18 rebounds in past five games
Niels Giffey, F, 6-7 Jr.: 2 pts, 3 rebs vs. New Hampshire
R.J. Evans, G, 6-3 R-Sr.: Missed past two games (sprained collarbone)
Enosch Wolf, C, 7-1 Jr.: 64.7 % FG
Phil Nolan, F, 6-9 Fr.: Scoreless in past three games
