UConn's Silas Demary expected to be at 90% for Final Four - ESPN

INDIANAPOLIS — UConn point guard Silas Demary Jr., who has been hobbled with a high ankle sprain during this NCAA tournament, is nearing full strength for the Final Four this weekend.

Coach Danny Hurley said Demary is expected to be about 90% when 2-seed UConn takes on 3-seed Illinois on Saturday.

Demary suffered a high ankle sprain against St. John's in the Big East title game on March 14 and missed the opening game of the NCAA tournament against Furman.

«This guy played at probably 65% the first weekend versus UCLA,» Hurley said. «He probably got to 75% in the Sweet 16/Elite Eight game, and I think he's much better this week.

»I think he's got a chance to play at like 90% physically for the Illinois game, which we're going to need all of that."

Demary, wearing an ankle brace in the locker room Thursday, said he's only wearing a boot on the ankle after games. He's still not cleared for live reps, which means he'll play another game with no consequential practice time, but said he's getting «closer and closer» to 100%.

«I think once I start getting up and down, I start to feel more comfortable,» Demary said.

Demary admitted to having some rust, but said once the game starts, he's stayed focused on his job. Hurley complimented his background, noting that his father was a football player at Virginia State and he's appreciative that he passed on that mentality. UConn assistant Luke Murray, the incoming coach at Boston College, said Demary's focus early in the NCAA tournament was compartmentalizing the game and focusing primarily on defense and initiating the offense.

That expanded against Duke on Sunday, as he made the key steal to set up Braylon Mullins' epic 3-pointer and hit back-to-back 3-pointers at a point in the