STORRS, Conn. – I covered the American Athletic Conference game between Louisville and UConn Saturday night. I’ve been reporting on UConn basketball since 1985-86 – before Jim Calhoun arrived in Storrs – and I’ve got to say this was the best crowd I’ve ever heard or seen at Gampel Pavilion.
It started with an early arriving student crowd and blue “Game Day in Olliewood” T-shirts passed out at all 10,167 seats. I think most of the fans – even the boosters and more “reserved” fans – pulled the shirts on and got into the atmosphere. I’ve never heard the fans sing the National Anthem the way they did Saturday night and if there had been a decibel meter, the first half would have shattered records.
The 76-64 loss and the first ejection of coach Kevin Ollie’s career led to more booing than cheering in the second half. UConn fans were not happy with the officiating. UConn was called for 24 fouls, Louisville picked up 19. And Ollie went wild, like we’ve never seen him.
“He just apologized for letting his emotions get the best of him,” UConn guard Ryan Boatright said of Ollie. “He apologized for not being there when he needed to be there on the sideline. We told him we appreciated him for having our back and for really saying the things we couldn’t say. He showed our emotions, how frustrated we were.”
Ollie’s ejection (he got two quick technicals for protesting a no call when there should have been a foul on Wayne Blackshear falling into Niels Giffey, who was shooting) did not cost UConn the game. I don’t think anyone can blame Ollie for blowing up over that call. And the officials should have given Ollie a longer leash because the wrong call was made. One T, yes. Ejection? No.
“I thought it hurt us, actually, because we missed our free throws,” Louisville coach Rick Pitino said. “We had momentum and we let the crowd get in the game. Especially Kevin Ollie, you don’t ever want to see him get thrown out. Jim Calhoun, you want to see get thrown out. I’m only kidding. Make sure you tell Jim that.”
Ah, that old rivalry from the days of Pitino at Boston University and Calhoun at Northeastern. It just won’t ever go away.
By the way, with Ted Valentine on this officiating crew, you would guess he had something to do with Ollie’s ejection. Teddy V loves to be on television. But not so fast, my friend. This was the work of Mike Stuart and Brian O’Connell.
O’Connell, by the way, was working his second game of the day. He also officiated a noon Big East game Saturday between Seton Hall and Georgetown at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. There were 37 fouls called in that game. Then 43 more came in the UConn game. It’s early Sunday morning. I’m surprised we’re not still watching the end of the game at Gampel.
You can click here to see my game story.
Come back to kendavisfiles.com Sunday for my thoughts on UConn guard Ryan Boatright and the difficult week he experienced.
Finally, thanks to my old friend Dick Vitale, for stoping to pose with me just before the game. Dick never minds posing for a camera and I told him I needed a publicity shot for my new book, 100 Things Kansas Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die. Dick is featured in Chapter 43, titled “Dickie V Gives Collison A Standing O.” It’s about a Kansas-Texas game on Jan. 27, 2003 when Nick Collison had 24 points and 23 rebounds to lead the Jayhawks to a 90-87 victory at Allen Fieldhouse. Vitale gave Collison a standing ovation when Collison fouled out of the game.
And thanks to Lee Lewis, from the Waterbury Republican-American, who took this picture on my iPhone.
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