Spring Break
Edwards' Play Energizes Team
Justin Verrier
Issue date: 12/7/07 Section: Sports
With about eight minutes left in the first half, the ball careened off the rim and fell lifeless on the ground. Players from both teams dove to the floor in desperation, jumping all over each other to seize the loose ball opportunity.
And just as it appeared that a Northeastern player had grabbed possession, Gavin Edwards jumped on top of the pile, wrapped his arms around the ball and wouldn't let go. The whistle blew for a jump ball and Edwards emerged from the fray with a furrowed brow and look of determination.
Over the past few games, head coach Jim Calhoun has praised the work of Edwards, saying he has been one of the few players who makes the most of his time off the bench. But his one criticism has been his lack of assertiveness.
Thursday, Edwards set out to show the coach just how assertive he could be.
"I'm definitely trying to be a lot more aggressive," Edwards said. "Coach tells me that pretty much every day in practice and games. I'm just trying to put that into my game a little bit more."
The sophomore would have another visit with the Gampel Pavilion floor, as he laid out again in the second half in attempt to grab another loose ball.
The two plays may have gone unnoticed by some, but according to Jerome Dyson, that type of attitude displayed by the usually shy and quiet Edwards is something the team needs to embrace.
"We need that fight to let everybody know they need to get on the floor and try to get every loose ball possible,"' Dyson said.
Benching The Load
The UConn sideline looked more like a revolving door Thursday night. Calhoun used 35 substitutions against Northeastern, but the intense substitution strategy seemed to pay off in the end.
In the first half alone the bench scored 17 of UConn's 34 points. Stanley Robinson led the group with seven points before halftime, Curtis Kelly and Edwards pitched in six and four, respectively.
"[Coming off the bench I need to] just play hard," Edwards said. "That's what coach has been preaching to us all year so far."
And just as it appeared that a Northeastern player had grabbed possession, Gavin Edwards jumped on top of the pile, wrapped his arms around the ball and wouldn't let go. The whistle blew for a jump ball and Edwards emerged from the fray with a furrowed brow and look of determination.
Over the past few games, head coach Jim Calhoun has praised the work of Edwards, saying he has been one of the few players who makes the most of his time off the bench. But his one criticism has been his lack of assertiveness.
Thursday, Edwards set out to show the coach just how assertive he could be.
"I'm definitely trying to be a lot more aggressive," Edwards said. "Coach tells me that pretty much every day in practice and games. I'm just trying to put that into my game a little bit more."
The sophomore would have another visit with the Gampel Pavilion floor, as he laid out again in the second half in attempt to grab another loose ball.
The two plays may have gone unnoticed by some, but according to Jerome Dyson, that type of attitude displayed by the usually shy and quiet Edwards is something the team needs to embrace.
"We need that fight to let everybody know they need to get on the floor and try to get every loose ball possible,"' Dyson said.
Benching The Load
The UConn sideline looked more like a revolving door Thursday night. Calhoun used 35 substitutions against Northeastern, but the intense substitution strategy seemed to pay off in the end.
In the first half alone the bench scored 17 of UConn's 34 points. Stanley Robinson led the group with seven points before halftime, Curtis Kelly and Edwards pitched in six and four, respectively.
"[Coming off the bench I need to] just play hard," Edwards said. "That's what coach has been preaching to us all year so far."
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