By ADAM ZAGORIA
UConn has its best player back just in time for the Big East stretch run.
Sophomore guard James Bouknight returned Tuesday night and went for 18 points, four rebounds and two assists as the Huskies beat Providence 73-61 at Gampel Pavilion to improve to 10-5 overall, 7-5 Big East.
Bouknight underwent surgery last month on his left elbow and and had been out since he suffered the injury in the final minutes of the first half of UConn’s game at Marquette on Jan. 5, diving to the floor for a loose ball and having a Marquette defender land on his extended left arm.
“The expectation for myself was just to go out there, play my game, let the game come to me and not force anything,” he said. “I just went out there to help the team win. I just wanted to win the game.”
Bouknight is UConn’s leading scorer, averaging 20.3 points, as well as 5.3 rebounds per game, with a .451 field goal percentage. He was an All-BIG EAST Preseason Second Team pick and has twice been named to the league’s weekly Honor Roll.
He is projected as the No. 11 pick in this year’s NBA Draft, per ESPN.com.
His return makes things easier for his teammates as they head into Saturday’s big game at No. 10 Villanova.
“I like when he’s out there because everybody focuses on him, so everybody else just plays basketball,” said Tyrese Martin.
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