Horror Show at the XL Centre; Cincinnatti 60-UCONN 48

I became a UCONN season ticket holder for the then Civic Center in 1988 and kept my tickets until 2001. During that time span I went to 7-8 games a year and watched as many as I could on TV. From 2002, I have followed the Huskies closely, been to several games a year and watched many on TV. I can say unequivocally that this afternoon's game was the worst performance by a Husky team I have seen in 22 years. Here's what returning coach Jim Calhoun had to say about today's game "I thought it was one of the worst performances I've had here at UConn in 24 years," said Calhoun, who had been sidelined with an undisclosed medical condition since Jan. 19. "I'm really incredibly disappointed by the performance, and I'm embarrassed by it, quite frankly."
This all came against, trust me on this one folks, a very mediocre Cincinnatti team. UCONN left the floor tied at the break in a tilt that was poorly played by both teams The Huskies were led by Stanley (first half) Robinson's 10 points. The pace was slow, exposing the Huskies horrendous half court offense. Walker made poor pass after poor pass and Dyson looked lethargic. Calhoun went right to his weird substituting pattern. Ten seconds into the game Majok, who has shown some promising flashes lately, took a bad shot and was yanked. He ended up playing eight minutes the entire game while the talentless Charled Oakwandu got about 20 minutes. About thirty seconds later Walker made a play Calhoun didn't like and he sat for the next fourteen minutes.
In the second half Robinson decided to order in Chinese Food and didn't score. The Bearcats led by 10-14 points almost all the way as they began to dominate the offensive glass and score many put backs. With 2;34 left to play the Huskies went to their full court press, forced two turnovers and narrowed the gap to six - their best stretch of the game. Why they did not start to press with 10 minutes left is beyond me. They then reverted and Cincinnatti closed it out by twelve. The Huskies were led by Walker with 14, Dyson 13 and Robinson with 10. They shot 35% from the field. I will not further analyze this game because you all know by now what I think- three players short. As I predicted Calhoun's return will have no effect on a very mediocre Husky squad.
News and Notes Speaking of Calhoun, sadly, I have to say that it was obvious to me that he is still quite depressed. He was clearly distracted at times and his body language and facial expression said "depression" I just hope that the people around him have the guts to tell him to get proper help.
I am wondering if any of the UCONN grads have been to any home games this year. Something very strange has happened to the UCONN cheerleaders who were always acrobatic and exciting. This years group does no acrobatics, their routines have been diminshed to simple boring moves. In addition, they have been largely displaced by a "pep" squad: sorry to say it but I think the criteria for the pep squad are to be unattractive and a very clumsy, slow moving dancer. Their routines are ridiculously simplistic and look like they are in slow motion. It moved my friend Ron Corwin, who was at the game with me to say "put a skirt on me and I could do a more exciting routine." In addition, the Husky Mascot no longer runs the floor and does those great headlong dives that excited the crowd but just walks around with his head down. He did seek me out at the half to have his picture taken with me. The place was a porpourri of depressing performances this afternoon.