"In a double-overtime loss to Xavier in the second of three games in Charleston, Gilbert twice failed to get off a potentially game-winning shot and finished 2-for-13 from the field. That brought his total through five games to 12-for-58 (20.7 percent). He didn’t appear to have a handle on what was possible for, or required of, a point guard............."
"So to consider that is to understand what a breathe-easy moment Wednesday night really was. Gilbert stood in a Gampel Pavilion weight room, addressing the media and shedding any leftover heavy baggage, after pushing UConn to an 80-62 victory over Iona.....Efficient, responsible and even joyful, Gilbert had 12 points, 10 assists and just one turnover. He was the adult for 33 minutes, a dog on defense and an engineer on offense. ...........That dark hole? History. Maybe helpful, in the long run. The way Gilbert is playing and feeling right now represents all that is great about being able to bounce back in sports with some help. Even leaders — and Gilbert is, without question, UConn’s leader — sometimes need support. "
“I didn't do a very good job of coaching him early in the season,” Hurley said. “He's made adjustments, but as a staff I think we're not letting him down the way we were early. We really didn't have him playing to his strengths and the strengths of the team. I just love where it's going with him. He's so focused on his leadership and trying to make people around him better. It looks like he's really starting to understand the position.”
