The No. 2 UConn Huskies needed a heroic performance from big man Taris Reed Jr. to advance past the pesky Furman Paladins, and Reed certainly delivered with an incredible game.
With comedian and actor Bill Murray watching, UConn’s center achieved a 31-point, 27-rebound outing, becoming the first player in the NCAA Tournament to do so since the late 1960s. That’s quite a feat, but with UConn missing its starting point guard, Reed stepped up under the pressure.
The Paladins were able to keep knocking down shots and hung around with the Huskies for much of the game, hitting a momentum-building three-pointer just before halftime. UConn, behind mostly Reed and some additional scoring from Karaban, who had 22 in the game, maintained a lead until the final minutes, when they were able to seal the win behind free-throw shooting.
A 45-second possession also arrived at a key moment, thanks to Reed hauling in multiple offensive rebounds to extend their time on offense near the game’s end and kill the clock.
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The 6-foot-9 center transferred from Michigan last season, joining the storied Huskies program that already had two championships under Hurley. After playing mostly as a backup in his first season, he’s emerged as a solid offensive threat capable of dominant performances, as he displayed tonight.
“That was the game,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said of his big man, adding, “This guy, with as dominant of a performance as you’ve seen from a big guy in tournament history.”
Hurley referred to Reed as a “total monster” and indicated that the Huskies can “win a lot of games” if Reed continues to play basketball at this level during this edition of March Madness.
According to CBS Sports, UConn’s star achieved a historic night, becoming the first player to record 30-plus points, 25-plus rebounds, and 80 percent field-goal shooting (12-for-15) in an NCAA Tournament game.
One has to go back to 1966 to find a monster performance like Reed’s. Basketball Hall of Famer Elgin Hayes recorded 31 points and 28 rebounds against Pacific. He then tallied 49 points and 27 rebounds in a 1968 tournament game.
The Huskies played their first-round game without starting point guard Silas Demary Jr., who was questionable ahead of the game and listed as out an hour or so before tip-off. Malachi Smith and Alec Millender filled in as backups throughout the game, with Smith carrying the bulk of the minutes and giving UConn a mostly turnover-free evening.
Next up, UConn will face the UCLA Bruins on Sunday night, who could make things difficult for Hurley’s squad if Demary does not play. However, if Reed can deliver a performance like the one he had in his team’s first-round win, UConn has a fighting chance.
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For more about the NCAA Tournament, visit Newsweek Sports.
