Live-Blogging Shish on College Basketball-2022 Big East Semifinals-U Conn Huskies vs. Villanova Wildcats

Hello, and welcome to another edition of ‘Live-Blogging Shish on College Basketball’. Tonight, it is a 2022 Big East Men’s Basketball Semifinal, between UConn Huskies and Villanova Wildcats.

The last time U Conn and Villanova faced each other in the Big East Tournament. Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon led that Husky Team to a National Championship in 2004.

Since then, UConn won a couple more national championships before going to the American Athletic Conference in 2013-14 and then returning back to the Big East in 2020-21.

What happened during U Conn tour in the AAC, is that Villanova won a couple of national championships. And now these two will face each other, for the right to play Creighton in the Big East Championship.

Huskies are led by R.J. Cole in scoring and assists. While Adama Sanogo leads University of Connecticut in rebounding.

As for the Wildcats, they are led by Collin Gillespie in scoring and assists. While Eric Dixon leads rebounding.

It is U Conn Huskies and Villanova Wildcats, coming up shortly.



Possible Starting Lineups:
U Conn Huskies:
G: RJ Cole
G: T. Martin
G: A. Jackson
F: I. Whaley
F: A. Sanogo

Villanova Wildcats:
G: C. Gillespie
G: C. Daniels
G: J. Moore
F: B. Slater
F: E. Dixon​

Villanova Wildcats Preview

3Huskies are in their navy uniforms. While Wildcats are in their home white uniforms.

1st Half:
20:00: Wildcats win tipoff. Villanova to attack the left basket. While U Conn to attack the right basket and have the possession arrow, in their favor.
19:09: Martin buries a 3-point FG. UCONN 3, NOVA 0
18:10: Samuels nails a 3-point FG. UCONN 3, NOVA 3
17:46: Jackson hits a 3-point FG. UCONN 6, NOVA 3
16:49: Daniels makes a 3-point FG. UCONN 6, NOVA 6
16:11: Sanogo with a rebound and FG. UCONN 8, NOVA 6
15:42: Samuels drains a 3-point FG. UCONN 8, NOVA 9
14:40: Cole drills a 3-point FG. UCONN 11, NOVA 9
14:12: T.V. Timeout #1: UCONN 11, NOVA 9

​13:31: Longino buries a 3-point FG. UCONN 11, NOVA 12
12:10: Martin hits a FG. UCONN 13, NOVA 12
11:53: T.V. Timeout #2: UCONN 13, NOVA 12
​
11:53: Slater makes both free throws. UCONN 13, NOVA 14
10:52: Sanogo makes a jump shot. UCONN 15, NOVA 14
10:21: Slater makes a 3-point FG. UCONN 15, NOVA 17
10:02: Sanogo makes 1 of 2 free throw. UCONN 16, NOVA 17
9:23: Jackson with a jump shot. UCONN 18, NOVA 17
8:51: Polley drills a 3-point FG. UCONN 21, NOVA 17
8:01: Slater buries a FG. UCONN 21, NOVA 19
7:13: T.V. Timeout #3: UCONN 21, NOVA 19
​
6:59: Samuels nails a 3-point FG. UCONN 21, NOVA 22
6:32: Sanogo with a jump shot. UCONN 23, NOVA 22
6:02: Slater makes a 3-point FG. UCONN 23, NOVA 25
5:40: Cole with a jump shot. UCONN 25, NOVA 25
4:39: Daniels buries a 3-point FG. UCONN 25, NOVA 28
4:02: Gillespie with a layup. UCONN 25, NOVA 30
3:28: T.V. Timeout #4: UCONN 25, NOVA 30

​3:00: Martin makes a layup. UCONN 27, NOVA 30
1:35: Martin drills a 3-point FG. UCONN 30, NOVA 30
:48.7: HUSKIES TIMEOUT #1: UCONN 30, NOVA 30
​:41.0: Jackson with a hook shot. UCONN 32, NOVA 30
:33.6: WILDCATS TIMEOUT #1: UCONN 32, NOVA 30
:09.5: Samuels with a layup and foul. Samuels makes a free throw. UCONN 32, NOVA 33
:00: The End of 1st Half. Huskies to inbound to start the 2nd Half.

Halftime:
UCONN 32, NOVA 33

Halftime Leaders:
Scoring: Samuels (NOVA) 12 points
Rebounding: Sanogo/Samuels 5 rebounds
Assists: Cole (UCONN) 5 assists

Halftime Thoughts:
A slugfest in this marquee game. The 2nd Half will be key in whether UConn's inside scoring or Nova's 3-point shooting will prevail.

NCAA MBK Scores:

2nd Half:
20:00: Huskies to inbound to start the 2nd Half. U Conn to attack the left basket. Villanova to attack the right basket and have the possession arrow, in their favor.
19:16: Moore with a layup. UCONN 32, NOVA 35
18:35; Martin buries a 3-point FG. UCONN 35, NOVA 35
18:13: Moore hits a jump shot. UCONN 35, NOVA 37
17:02: Martin nails a 3-point FG. UCONN 38, NOVA 37
16:24: Sanogo missed both free throws. UCONN 38, NOVA 37
15:22: Slater hits a 3-point FG. UCONN 38, NOVA 40
14:33: Slater with a layup. UCONN 38, NOVA 42
14:10: T.V. Timeout #5: UCONN 38, NOVA 42

​Earlier Tonight, I Live-Blogged Spartans 69-63 Victory Over Badgers in Big Ten Quarterfinals 

14:10: Cole makes both free throws. UCONN 40, NOVA 42
13:53: Moore with a layup. UCONN 40, NOVA 44
13:08: Cole with a rebound, jump shot, and foul. Cole missed a free throw. UCONN 42, NOVA 44
12:47: Gillespie with a layup. UCONN 42, NOVA 46
12:17: Polley makes a jump shot. UCONN 44, NOVA 46
11:49: T.V. Timeout #6: UCONN 44, NOVA 46

​​NCAA MBK Scores:

11:31: Samuels with a layup and foul. Samuels makes a free throw. UCONN 44, NOVA 49
10:31: Dixon buries a 3-point FG. UCONN 44, NOVA 52
10:15: HUSKIES TIMEOUT #2: UCONN 44, NOVA 52
8:59: Martin with a layup and foul. Martin hits a free throw. UCONN 47, NOVA 52
8:25: Sanogo makes both free throws. UCONN 49, NOVA 52 
8:25: Huskies are in the Bonus.
8:04: Samuels makes a layup. UCONN 49, NOVA 54
6:53: Samuels with a jam. UCONN 49, NOVA 56
6:27: Sanogo with a hook shot. UCONN 51, NOVA 56
6:15: WILDCATS TIMEOUT #2: UCONN 51, NOVA 56
​
5:53: Longino with a jump shot. UCONN 51, NOVA 58
5:33: Sanogo with a layup. UCONN 53, NOVA 58
5:00: Dixon with a layup. UCONN 53, NOVA 60
4:02: Sanogo missed a free throw. 
3:39: T.V. Timeout #7: UCONN 53, NOVA 60

​2:47: Cole makes both free throws. UCONN 55, NOVA 60
2:34: Huskies are in the Double Bonus.
2:11: Jump Ball! Nova Ball! Huskies will have the possession arrow, in their favor.
1:14: WILDCATS TIMEOUT #3: UCONN 55, NOVA 60
:54.5: Sanogo makes a layup. UCONN 57, NOVA 60
:54.5: HUSKIES TIMEOUT #3: UCONN 57, NOVA 60
:16.4: Wildcats are in the  Bonus.
:15.4: Samuels makes both free throws. UCONN 57, NOVA 62
:08.6: Jackson hits a 3-point FG. UCONN 60, NOVA 62
:08.6: HUSKIES FINAL TIMEOUT: UCONN 60, NOVA 62
:03.0: Gillespie makes 1 of 2 free throws. UCONN 60, NOVA 63
:00: Martin missed a half-court shot at the buzzer. The Game is over.

Final:
UCONN 60, NOVA 63

Villanova advances to 2022 Big East Championship. Wildcats will play Creighton Bluejays, Tomorrow Evening. 

Final Leaders:
Scoring: Samuels (NOVA) 21 points
Rebounding: Sanogo (UCONN) 13 rebounds
Assists: Gillespie (NOVA) 10 assists

Final Thoughts:
What a game! This game had some offense and defense. But it was Collin Gillespie took over the game, with his distribution of the ball. He had 10 assists in tonight's game. For the Huskies, they were just came up short tonight.

Wildcats will face Creighton, Tomorrow Evening. While Huskies await for the opponents to be announced on Sunday.

This is Paul Shishkoff, Junior. This has been 'Live-Blogging Shish on College Basketball'. Thanks for visiting this page.