Demary uses his sword to extend UConn’s season another night with another clutch play late

INDIANAPOLIS — Throughout the season, Dan Hurley has praised the impact of Silas Demary, Jr., calling his point guard the warrior his UConn team needed after a year where the head coach described last year’s iteration of the Huskies as “soft.”

The junior floor general has embodied the concept of a fighter on and off the floor, playing through an ankle sprain suffered three weeks ago to still make a difference as a two-way leader, doing whatever he deems necessary in the heat of hardwood combat.

Demary elaborated on his mentality Friday, explaining how he had grown comfortable with fitting in as needed, based on circumstances of in-game situations. Twice in the past seven days, the Georgia transfer has arguably been the most instrumental piece of the puzzle for UConn, but not with his offense.

Last Sunday, it was Demary’s deflection of a Cayden Boozer outlet pass that set the wheels in motion for Braylon Mullins to defeat Duke with his 35-foot prayer in the final second to send the Huskies to the Final Four. On Saturday, Demary had a sense of déjà vu.

With UConn clinging to a 63-59 lead approaching the final minute of regulation against Illinois, Alex Karaban lined up a potential dagger of a 3-point attempt that fell off the mark. Demary scooped up the offensive rebound and fired it to Mullins, who buried a triple with 52 seconds remaining that put the Huskies up seven. The Illini would answer with a three of its own from its own star freshman, Keaton Wagler, but never scored again as UConn closed out a 71-62 victory to advance to Monday’s national championship game.

“It’s definitely nothing but sheer effort,” Demary said. “Just to get that rebound was a big-time play in the game. I think it was probably a minute and some change to go (in the game). (The) first one to the ball gotta make those big-time effort plays, those 50-50 plays.”

“Just knowing that, being on a bum ankle, but still being able to give it my all and leave everything out there for my teammates, just making sure I’m not shorting them, it’s a great feeling.”

Hurley said Demary would likely be operating at 90 percent capacity, at best, leading up to this weekend’s matchups inside Lucas Oil Stadium. Whatever mobility issues Demary may still have were masked by his never-say-die mindset, which has brought the Huskies from a disappointing early exit last March to one of the last two teams standing this April.

“It was everything we were lacking last year,” Hurley said of Demary’s mentality. “What he’s done for our basketball team, just a guard like him…ball hawk, incredible toughness on the backboard, his on-ball defense. He’s a shell of himself offensively. He’s really gutting it out and the courage he’s shown, I think, has been inspiring for the group.”