STORRS, Conn. _ The Florida Gators tugged on Shabazz Napier’s cape. They trapped him, forced him to lose control of his dribble, and then coaxed him into an off-balance jump shot that had zero chance of dropping through the basket.
The hopes and dreams of the Connecticut Huskies probably should have died right there. But this is another story about Napier, the UConn guard who grew up wanting to be Superman.
Unlike Clark Kent, he doesn’t need a phone booth or a uniform with tights. Just give Napier a basketball court and some time left on the clock. He will find a way to demonstrate his superpowers.
There was extreme chaos on UConn’s final possession at Gampel Pavilion Monday night. When Napier’s doomed shot ricocheted of the backboard, DeAndre Daniels could only raise his hand and try to keep the ball alive. He blindly slapped the ball over his head with the hope that something good could still happen.
Daniels had no idea he was deflecting the ball directly into Napier’s waiting hands.
To that point, the Gators had done everything they could to hold on to their 64-63 lead. But now Napier essentially had a third opportunity to win the game. Nobody gives Napier three chances and escapes Storrs with a victory.
“I talked about it the last couple of days,” Florida coach Billy Donovan said. “I’ve got a lot of respect for Napier at the end of games. I think he’s a big shot-making guy.”
The senior guard from Roxbury, Mass. had time to catch the ball, square his shoulders, line up a final shot and hit a 15-footer at the buzzer to give the No. 12 Huskies (8-0) a 65-64 victory in one of the best regular-season non-conference games that might be played this season.
Instant classic.
Napier has done this type of thing before, but this one – well, this one was different. This one might have been better than all of Napier’s previous clutch moments rolled into one.
“I knew they [the Gators] were going to trap it,” Napier said. “As soon as I saw them trap it, I tried to get through it. [They] ticked the ball and it was a little chaotic after that. But I had the ball and I thought to myself, ‘I can take this shot.’ I shot it. I missed it terribly. I was glad DeAndre ran to the board. DeAndre put a hand on the ball and it bounced back behind him. I was able to be in the right spot at the right time. I shot the ball and I knew it was going in.”
The Huskies had inbounded the ball with 17.7 seconds left. Napier’s first shot came with under 3 seconds remaining. Looking at replays, it appears the game clock was down to 1.5 when Daniels batted the ball back.
“No, I didn’t know where [Napier] was,” Daniels said. “My main intention was just to crash the boards in case someone missed, to try to tip it back in. . . . I had no clue. So, I think that should be an assist.”
Daniels laughed. All the Huskies were laughing and celebrating. It all happened so fast – in real time. But for the players, the sensation was much different.
“When stuff like that happens and it’s coming down to the last seconds, the game seems much slower than it is,” Napier said. “As soon as I got the ball, there was point 9 seconds left. It just felt so slow. Point 9, point 8. I just tried to shoot the ball as quick as I possibly can. But at the same time, shoot it regular. And as soon as I shot the ball, I felt it was going in.”
College basketball is off to a great start this season. This was another dramatic and memorable moment. It will matter when it comes around to tournament selection time. That’s why more of these games should be on the schedule. The atmosphere at Gampel was incredible. No. 15 Florida (6-2) gave a remarkable effort. This is a very good Gators team that will be even better when the roster gets healthy.
Donovan essentially used six players Monday night. Point guard Scottie Wilbekin, the guy with the keys to the offense, twisted his right ankle and didn’t play the final three minutes. But the Gators still had a chance to win.
“I think when we had [Napier] trapped and he lost the ball, I think I should have tried to dive on the ball and see if I could come up with it,” Florida’s muscular center Patric Young said. “There’s nothing I can do about it now. Coach Donovan is going to address it and hopefully it’s going to help us in the long run.”
Donovan watched the tape before coming to the interview room and said he thought his defense “actually did a really good job.”
“We did trap him and we got him to take a very, very difficult, off-balance shot,” Donovan said. “The guy that won the game for them was DeAndre Daniels. He made an unbelievable tip out, off balance, which kept the ball alive.”
Donovan was more upset about the sequence that started with Florida leading 62-59 after a timeout with 1:12 to play. Napier missed a three and Lasan Kromah grabbed the rebound. Kromah missed a three, but Napier grabbed the rebound with 44 seconds left. Ten seconds later, Ryan Boatright fed Napier for a deep three that went in despite the fact he was fouled by Dorian Finney-Smith.
Napier fell to the ground and clutched his ankle. One point guard had already left the game. But Napier didn’t depart. He credited a good pre-game taping job for keeping him in the game. He hit the free throw for a four-point play and the stage was set for the final 33.5 seconds.
“He’s a tremendous player and a good teammate,” Boatright said of Napier. “He knows the game of basketball, he makes the right plays and he hit a big shot. I was happy to be out there and be a part of a historic game like that.”
UConn coach Kevin Ollie always talks about his team’s heart. The beat resides inside Napier’s chest.
“Hopefully, America is starting to look at him as that man,” Ollie said. “I love the kid to death. He’s one of the big time players to ever put this jersey on and walk on the court at Gampel.”
After hitting the winning shot, Napier also showed how to run off the court at Gampel. With the crowd erupting, Napier turned and sprinted to the tunnel leading to UConn’s locker room. The other Huskies followed, got to the hallway and celebrated with their hero. Then they returned to the floor.
Napier’s ankle didn’t seem to be bothering him at all. It immediately reminded me of a moment in January 1984 when Pearl Washington hit a half court shot to beat Boston College – and just kept running. I was at the Carrier Dome that night and I get goosebumps every time I watch the video.
“Let’s go to the locker room,” Napier said when asked what he was thinking. “I wasn’t really thinking too much. I knew [my teammates and the crowd] was going to try to trample me. I’m kind of claustrophobic. I don’t like everybody jumping on me. That’s not for me. I’d rather run to the locker room where I know I’m safe.”
After the game, Napier talked about the respect he has for his NBA idol, Steve Nash. He talked about learning from Kemba Walker, another guy who created magic in a Huskies uniform. He doesn’t try to be those guys, he just tries to absorb the lessons.
“I just want to be myself,” Napier said.
But when he was a kid, he did want to be someone else.
“You want to be the hero. Who doesn’t?” Napier said. “Growing up I wanted to be Superman. So, everyone wants to be a hero. I just felt I was fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time.”
Does that finally make him Superman?
“No, no, no,” Napier said. “Superman does it on his own, I can’t do it without my teammates. We found a way to win.”
No reason to argue his point. But there’s something special going on with the guy wearing that No. 13 UConn jersey.
At his request, we won’t call him Superman. But Superbazz somehow seems appropriate.
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