The Huskies looked a little rough around the edges in the exhibition debut over Southern Connecticut Tuesday night, but that was to be expected. Somewhat more surprising was the play of junior college transfer Sam Cassell Jr., who scored 17 points off the bench and gives coach Kevin Ollie another weapon in the backcourt.
"It comes from me watching my father all the time," Cassell said, via the Hartford Courant. "I know how to pick different spots on the floor and my teammates get me open. I came off screens, and the big [guys] set good screens and got me open. ... I always have confidence, I always believe I am going to make the shot."
When it was over, Cassell, whose father starred at Florida St. and later the NBA, was 6 of 10 from the field and 3 of 7 behind the arc.
""I'm going to stay with the guy that's hot," Ollie said. "It's the only way I know how to coach. He's making shots, you keep him in there. ... Sam can play, he's going to be a spark for us. He can stretch the defense out. I'd have liked to see him penetrate on a couple of his threes, but he can play. Very crafty. He can shoot it with the best of them," he told the Courant.
Senior point guard Ryan Boatright added: "That's my man. I know what he's capable of. He's not exactly young, so he fits right in."
Cassell, Rodney Purvis and Terrence Samuel join Boatright in a backcourt that tries to overcome the loss of Shabazz Napier, who is now in the NBA.
