"Heart and soul of the team": Dan Hurley reflects on "major problem" in 6'10" UConn senior's absence
Dan Hurley and the No. 11 UConn Huskies extended their winning streak to five games on Wednesday night, beating the Xavier Musketeers 94-89 in an overtime thriller at XL Center. The Huskies pulled off the win in their Big East opener without big man Samson Johnson, who was sidelined due to concussion protocol.
Johnson picked up the injury during the first half of Saturday's game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the Hall of Fame Series. He exited the contest with 11:09 remaining in the opening period after hitting the Madison Square Garden floor hard while attempting to block Khalif Battle's layup. Hurley talked about Johnson's absence in the press conference following the win over Xavier.
"Obviously, not having Samson for us is a major problem. Because Samson is the heart and soul of the team," Hurley said. (Timestamp 7:24)
Johnson has been a vital cog for the Huskies this season, averaging 7.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks through 11 games. His next opportunity to play will come on Saturday against the Butler Bulldogs. The Huskies head into that showdown with a 9-3 overall record.
Dan Hurley praises Tarris Reed Jr. for stepping up in Samson Johnson's absence
Tarris Reed Jr. started the game in place of Samson Johnson and provided quality minutes to coach Dan Hurley at the center position. He made the most of his opportunity, scoring 20 points and grabbing 13 rebounds against Xavier to record his fifth double-double of the season.
Hurley praised Reed for picking up the scoring slack during the closing stages of regulation and overtime.
"For so long, to be shooting it as poorly as he was shooting it to that point of the game. He was frustrated. To get on that run was huge for us, and the defensive plays he was able to make," Hurley said.
Reed amassed 10 points in the second half and scored back-to-back layups in overtime to give UConn an 85-80 advantage during the extra period. It wasn't just Reed's offense that took center stage against the Musketeers. He also displayed his defensive prowess, recording four blocks and two steals in 35 minutes of action.