The UConn Fast Break - 5/3/21

All the UConn sports news you need to know. Not affiliated with the University of Connecticut.

We hope you enjoy this week’s edition of The UConn Fast Break!

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Weekly Rewind

The latest UConn athletics news

• UConn men’s golf earns NCAA Tournament automatic bid by winning Big East Championship for first time in 27 years:

BIG EAST Champs @BIGEASTchamps

𝗥𝗢𝗟𝗟 𝗦𝗞𝗜𝗘𝗦! @UConnMGolf returns to the Men's #BIGEASTGolf Championship with a bang, claiming the program's first conference title since 1994! The Huskies finished +5 for the tournament, out-pacing the field by six strokes.

• Hook C splits last two games of Xavier series then sweeps surprise two-game set with Bucknell after travel issues block scheduled showdowns with Butler

• UConn field hockey opens NCAA Tournament with rout of Rider but loses nailbiter to Louisville in quarterfinals

• Evolution of Jonny Evans emphasizes developmental capabilities of UConn men’s hockey program as new commit Ryan Tattle makes plans to hone craft in Storrs

• Paige Bueckers builds case as best college basketball player ever with offseason ankle surgery just another obstacle she’s determined to overcome:

Paige Bueckers @paigebueckers1

Took a much needed break from Twitter. Thank you for all the well wishes and prayers. God is still great and everything I go through He has already conquered! Through the ups and downs, highs and lows, peaks and valleys, my faith never waivers. Proverbs 3:5-6🤞🏼

• Former UConn football leading tackler Tyler Coyle preps for NFL Draft but doesn’t hear named called so inks undrafted free agent contract with Cowboys

• Ben Casparius loving life as UConn baseball’s top dog

• Autumn Chassion announces plan to transfer from UConn women’s basketball, joining short list of departed players who didn’t feel at home with the Huskies

• New on-campus hockey arena gains UConn Board of Trustees’ approval with university pooling money from numerous sources to fund project:

Daniel Connolly @DanielVConnolly

How UConn will pay for the new on-campus hockey arena, per the Financial Affairs committee: - Funds from sale of West Hartford campus/Nathan Hale Inn: $11.5 million - Philanthropy: $20 million (or more) - Bonding: $33 million

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Have you seen Homefield’s fresh lineup of Huskies swag?!

CLICK HERE to sneak a peek and get a code for 20% OFF!!!

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U Gotta See This

Video highlights

• Plenty of more plays like these coming during Jalen’s junior year:

860 Productions @860_media

Jalen Gaffney Sophmore Season Mix Bright future ahead @jalengaffney

• The power of Paige Bueckers infiltrates the booth at Citi Field:

Maria Marino @mariacmarino

Gary with the @paigebueckers1 shoutout on the Mets broadcast!

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UConn, Great Pic

Photos of UConn’s finest

Feast your eyes on the Huskies’ ice palace of the future:

Colonel Calhoun @CalhounColonel

I mean, cmon guys this is gunna be awesome.

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Coach’s Corner

Find out what UConn coaches are up to on and off the court

• Coach Penders reflects on Sunday’s come-from-behind win over Bucknell:

• Strength coach Mike Rehfeldt returning to Cincy after only one year with UConn men’s basketball

• Coach Rodriguez discusses UConn women’s soccer commits in 2025 class

• Dan Hurley’s job security in solid shape compared to Big East peers

• Coach Edsall to represent UConn football in Peach Bowl Challenge

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Big League Buzz

Catch up on former UConn players working across the sports world

• Rip Hamilton teams up with Travis Scott to promote new apparel collection:

TRAVIS SCOTT @trvisXX

JACK 6S AND CROSSOVER COLLECTION LIVE ON shop.travisscott.com

• George Springer makes triumphant return from injury:

Toronto Blue Jays @BlueJays

Spring in the castle 👑 #SpringerDinger

• Breanna Stewart adds two more trophies to historic April haul by winning Russian Premier League championship and Finals MVP honors:

Matt Ellentuck @mellentuck

so in her first year back from a torn Achilles, Breanna Stewart won: - 2020 wnba championship - 2020 wnba finals mvp - 2021 euroleague championship - 2021 euroleague final four mvp - 2021 russian premier league championship - 2021 russian premier league finals mvp ok i guess

• Stewie then proceeds to start off May in epic fashion by getting engaged:

Seattle Storm @seattlestorm

Ring season continues! 💍 Congratulations @breannastewart and Marta!

• Rudy Gay just keeps on scoring:

Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP

On the parquet floor here in Boston, Rudy Gay (16,787) just passed Buck Williams to move into the Top 100 on the @NBA all-time scoring list.

• Matt Barnes remains armed and dangerous:

Rob Friedman @PitchingNinja

Matt Barnes, 98mph Fastball (swinging strike) and 88mph Knuckle Curve (swinging K), Overlay

• Amida Brimah scores first NBA bucket:

Tony East @TEastNBA

First ever NBA points for Amida Brimah:

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Memory Lane

Revisit special moments in UConn sports history

• Byron Jones going 27th to the ‘Boys remains a lasting memory for Randy:

Randy Edsall @RandyEdsall

Throwing it back to the 2015 NFL Draft, when @Byron31Jump was selected in the first round. Good luck to everyone tonight!

• Relive the Top 10 Years In UConn Huskies History

• Take a closer look at UConn’s apparel deal with Nike

• Before serving as Donald Trump’s presidential aide, former UConn football QB Johnny McEntee was a social media star:

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Cause We Care

Learn about non-profits and causes worthy of UConn Nation’s support

In a little over a year, the partnership between Foodshare and the CT Food Bank has provided a whopping 7,835,053 meals and counting to Connecticut residents suffering from food insecurity! What makes this accomplishment even cooler is that the President and CEO of CT Food Bank/Foodshare is a UConn grad!

CLICK HERE to learn more about this incredible organization and find out how you can lend a hand to help a fellow UConn fan feed hungry folks in CT!

Jason Jakubowski @JayJakubowski

54 weeks... 165 distributions... 275,320 cars... 7,835,053 meals... Thanks to all of the volunteers, donors and staff who made this emergency food distribution a reality! Our @foodshare/@CTFoodBank team will always be grateful!

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Final Play

A parting sentiment from The UConn Fast Break team

Christyn Williams joins Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd on list of top 25 women’s college basketball players for upcoming season but younger tandem getting all the attention for good reason:

Overtime @overtime

This Paige Bueckers x Azzi Fudd duo at UConn is going to be INSANE 🤫 @paigebueckers1 @azzi_35 (via @jgarvinnn, jg2filmz/IG)

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CLICK HERE for Championship Collection gear!