By JOHN F. SILVER
STORRS, Conn. — Shabazz Napier has timing. He knows when the bright lights are on him. Napier knows when everyone’s watching. He can feel the tension in a building, such as the sell-out crowd at Gampel Pavilion against No. 15 Florida. When it all reaches a crescendo and the game is at a frenzied pace, Napier breathes and relaxes.
He waits, bides his time and never panics. Some players, even great players, run from the ball in the final moments.
Napier asks for it. He wants the game on his shoulders. He wants the game in his hands. He wants the responsibility of a win or loss.
So there he was, Monday night against Florida and the Huskies needing another last second shot.
Napier came out of the timeout with 17 seconds and the No. 12 Huskies trailing Florida by a point and knew a double team was coming on Monday at Gampel Pavilion.
UConn head coach Kevin Ollie drew up a simple play — “Shabazz make a play.”
Click here for the full story.
