Carried by their poise, grit, intense man to man defense,and another sensational offensive showing by Kemba Walker and Jeremy Lamb, the UCONN Huskies continued their most improbable season in Jim Calhoun's Hall of Fame career. This will be the Huskies fourth trip to the Final Four and their second in three seasons, this one following their worst season in Calhoun's tenure. The Huskies started the season under the cloud of an NCAA investigation into recruiting violations and in what everyone thought would be a rebuilding year; their roster included 7 Freshmen and in the early part of the season this group did not look like an outstanidng crop. The Huskies season was marked by ups and downs but slowly but surely Freshmen Roscoe Smith, Shabazz Napier and Jeremy Lamb and Sophomore Jamaal Combs-Mcdaniels began to develop confidence and experience. After an early season high of a #4 national ranking the Huskies slowly slipped, lost four of their last five games and finished ninth at 9-9 in the Big East. They looked like they were headed for a quick ticket home in the Big Dance, however, not unnoticed was the emergence in the latter part of the season of Jeremy Lamb from a "diaper dandy" to a "PTPer" (in Dick Vitalespeak a prime time player). In addition, Roscoe Smith, although disappointing on offense, became a very good defender and defensive rebounder. Shabazz Napier, confident from the start, cut down on his turnrovers and was a reliable sometimes sensational point guard who could give Walker much needed minutes off the point. The constant was the sensational Kemba Walker, who both carried and helped develop the team simiultaneously.
Improbably, the young Huskies seemed to gel before our eyes as they won five games in five nights to win the Big East championship and added 3 more convincing wins going into last nights elite eight tilt against Arizona. This reporter had just settled into the press box, after rushing home from a professional commitment in New Haven only to watch Arizona open an 11-3 lead, led by fierce offensive rebounding and the play of their outstanding swingman, Derrick Williams.
The Huskies started to settle down and play their way into the game when the Wildcats Williams committed his second personal foul with the score 18-10. As Williams sat for 7 minutes Walker heated up and the Huskies went on 12-2 run to open up a 22-20 lead. Williams re-entered the game and quickly committed his third personal with 5:22 in first half. The Huskies went to the locker room with what looked like a comfortable 32-25 lead as Walker hit a three just before the buzzer.
With Williams back on the floor for the second half Arizona went on a 12-1 run to take back the lead at 37-36. The Huskies fought back after a Napier three they had what looked like an insurmountable 51-40 advantage with 10 minutes to go. In this fierce see-saw battle the Wildcats fought back once again and with 6;36 to go opened up a 55-52 lead. At this point Jeremy Lamb took over and moving incessantly without the ball, a la Rip Hamilton, freed himself for two baseline jumpers. Walker added a 15 fooot jumper and then Lamb made a cat-quick steal followed by a coast to coast (S)Lamb dunk to put the Huskies up 62-65. A Walker step back jumper with 1:17 left resulting in a 65-60 Husky lead looked like the last nail in the coffin. However, Williams hit a three, Shabazz missed a jumper and Arizona had the ball with 14.3 seconds left, down 65-63. Surprisingly, instead of working the ball inside Williams missed a long three, Arizona got the rebound and with 3 seconds left Horne missed an open three and the Huskies were in the Final Four.
Walker, again led the scoring with 20 hard earned points while Lamb added 19, 12 of which came at key moments in the second half. Napier played a solid 30 minutes and had ten points, including two treys while Oriakhi added 7 points and 6 rebounds.
UCONN will play the winner of the North Carolina-Kentucky East Regional final next Saturday night.In what my son Pete told me on the phone last night was the "worst timed vacation in history" I will be in Israel during the Final four. He suggested that "next time I plan a vacation, I might look at the NCAA basketball schedule". It is unlikely that I will be posting blogs but regardless of the outcome I will write one more wrap up blog about the "improbable season" The Huskies will have to step it up one more notch when they meet either Kentucky or North Carolina in the semi-finals with the likelihood of Kansas waiting in the finals on the other side of the draw. Can they do it? In this most "improbable season" who the heck knows. I assure everuone, I will find a TV in the middle of Israeli night and will be watching these games but will be counting on my followers to root in the Huskies.
"You Heard it here First"
Steve
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6 comments:
I am so sorry that the Steep Hill Dome was closed last night & will be closed next weekend. Yes Steve, Peter is correct, your vacation planning really sucks. That was even worse than my trip to St Maartan for the 1st 2 rounds of the Patriot League Championship in early March. It was an extremely exciting game as was the VCU win over FL. In my much less informed opinion than our intrepid reporter, 2 things won it for the Huskies. First was Lamb, he was the superstar & Walker was the assistant. Second was Williams, yes Derrick Williams. His quick 2 fouls & then after sitting out 7 or 8 minutes coming in & getting his 3rd before the half, changed his whole game. Good luck on finding a TV in Israel but make sure you set your DVR up properly before you leave!!!
At this point "you gotta believe." I never lost hope this season, always felt the talent was there, just needed to emerge and come together the right way.
From here it's gonna be nothing but excellent, well-coached teams that are playing well. Most likely it will be North Carolina and then Kansas.
I believe we can do it. Shalom Steve.
Actually, I think it's an admirable sacrifice on Steve's party to go on recruiting trip to Israel right now. If we happen to see the next Nadov Hennefield or Doron Sheffer on next year's squad we will know whom to give credit. (Obviously, for security reasons the Mossad has asked Steve to couch the trip as a "vacation"). Mazeltov steve.
On another note, I found Calhoun's comments after the game regarding this team very interesting. For whatever reason this team really has a special place in his heart.
Pete, hats off to you- all season you felt this team still had a huge upside. I had really thought they were thru after the Big East season. It is amazing how they gelled so late. At this point "I do believe"
Andy, agreed Calhoun really seems to love this team. It is interesting that the one game I went to this season I was sitting two rows behind the bench. Even though they lost that night I saw with my own eyes that the chemsitry on the team was excellent and the players liked each other. As a coach, when your team wins- you love them. Let's keep the scouting aspect of this trip quiet.
how big were those back to back baseline jumpers with less than a few minutes left by Lamb. This kid has ice cold veins in his blood. You can definitely see Kemba's influence on his confidence and ability to hit key shots at the right moment. they've been winning as underdogs at Maui, the BE Tourney, even the 1st round a few experts said they wouldn't be surprised if the Huskies lost to Bucknell, so we'll see how they react now that they are more likely the favorites to produce an undefeated tourney season with the teams remaining. They have a lot of passion for the game and I could only wish to see Kemba return for next season.
Brian, Lamb as emerged as a star- those short baseline jumpers and floaters are difficult shots to make.
There is no way Kemba is back next year. He is a high first round pick and a good chance he will go in the lottery
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