UConn Huskies player Silas Demary Jr. returned for the NCAA Tournament second-round game against the UCLA Bruins after missing the first-round game against the Furman Paladins due to a left ankle sprain. Demary Jr. sustained the injury in the Big East Tournament.
Coming off the bench, Demary Jr. played 22 minutes and contributed with two late free throws while also adding three rebounds, four assists and two steals. After the 73-57 win, Demary Jr. was interviewed by Rob Dauster, who asked for an update on how his ankle was feeling upon returning.
“I feel good man,” Demary Jr. said. “Just glad I was able to get back out there with the guys and give all I got, I told the guys I was gonna be selfless man, I just want to go out there and do what the team needed me to do.”
Before the game, UConn head coach Dan Hurley did say that Demary Jr. wouldn’t play heavy minutes as he’s still recovering and “not fully himself.”
Silas Demary Jr. Takes Mantle of Defending UCLA’s Best Player
Silas Demary Jr. was indeed selfless, as he was more focused on defense. He only attempted two shots from the field, missing both of them. He also took up the mantle to defend UCLA’s best player, Donovan Dent, in the second half. His astute defense was a big reason for restricting Dent to just 11 points in the entire game, as he could only shoot 2 of 9 from the field, including 1 of 3 from the 3-point line.
“Man, you know, I’m always there for the challenge man,” Demary Jr. said when asked about defending Dent. “I think he lives in the pain, he creates a lot of offense for them and my job was just to try to shut him down as best as I could and I feel like we just made him want to be more of a scorer and a shooter. Played into our parts instead of him dishing and getting everybody involved. So I feel like the second half I just stepped up and needed to defend, and I feel like that’s what I did.”
With some minutes under his belt, it remains to be seen if Hurley increases the workload of Demary Jr. for the Sweet 16 matchup against Michigan State.
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