Round 1: Tuesday Noon --> UConn vs. DePaul F:97-71
1 Big East win DePaul never stood a chance up against the Huskies. This game for UConn was going to be about the freshman and what they could do in this kind of arena. Despite Kemba Walker's ever dominating offense, Jeremy Lamb scored 19 pts and Shabazz Napier scored 11. Just a preview for the rest of the tournament.
Round 2: Wednesday Noon --> UConn vs. Georgetown F: 79-62
Georgetown we knew was going to put up more of a fight. They're a big team but the quickness of our young roster was no match. Once again leading the way was Kemba Walker with 28 points. That game seemed to have come and gone before anyone really knew what was going on.
Round 3: Thursday Noon --> UConn vs. Pittsburgh F: 76-74
Now here is where things started to get a little stressful. Jim Calhoun knew going into this game that Pitt was going to be tough, mentally and physically. They are a bigger team than UConn but rather than faltering, it brought out the best in the Huskies. UConn went down 20-8 in the 1st half and looked to be struggling to find their groove. Still with a lot of basketball left, no one thought it was over. Then something changed UConn hit their stride, made baskets left and right. Husky Nation knew it was going to be a game when Walker split 4 defenders to make a 2 pt basket. UConn finished the half down 1, 41-40. Pitt came out in the 2nd half, gave themselves a little cushion but the Huskies weren't going down without a fight. With :50 sec left we're tied at 74. Setting up the final play was Coombs-McDaniel with the rebound of the year. A missed lay up by Walker, brought the ball into Coombs-McDaniel's hands, rather than faltering his steps and traveling or getting fouled the TO. Despite walkers previous 4 missed lay up shots everyone knew who was getting the ball: Kemba. 18 seconds left on the clock both teams took the court, UConn could win or else we're going into OT. Kemba dribbling, guarded by McGhee, man to man, he never stood a chance. A few quick fakes, Walker had McGhee stumbling to the ground, Walker stepped back put up the shot right before the buzzer........ ITS GOOD! Another epic shot for Kemba and UConn is now in the Semi Finals. Another team bites the dust* (QueenC)
Round 4: Friday 7:00 pm --> UConn vs. Syracuse F/OT: 76-71
Almost 2 years to the day later here we are again: UConn vs. Syracuse in the Big East Conference Tournament. Emotionally, as a Husky fan, I was not ready for another game like the 6 OT thriller. At the beginning of the first half Syracuse jumped to a 12-5 lead, but once UConn went on a 7-0 run the game never stretched more than 4-5 points on their side of the court. Down the stretch UConn was up 68-65 but with :08 seconds left Scoop Jardine made a 3 point shot to tie the game. Overtime. Unlike 2 years ago, UConn took control and never looked back. Outscoring Syracuse 8-3 in OT, the Huskies won 76-71. Beautiful. We're in the Championship game feeding off of Kemba's 33 pt performance who now with 101 points has the Big East record for points scored in a single tournament (beating the previous record holder of Devendorf from Syracuse).
Round 5: Championship Game, Saturday 9:00 pm --> UConn vs. Louisville F: 69-66
The last time UConn was in the championship game was 2004, when they won with the likes of Ben Gordon, Emeka Okafor, Rudy Gay, and Hilton Armstrong. Was it possible that they could do the unthinkable? 5 games in 5 days and win them all? Teams have done 4 games in 4 days but never 5. The physical and mental endurance that a team has to go through to even make it that far is extraordinary. Leading up to Saturday, UConn looked poised to finish they're run in style. Half way through the 1st half UConn was up 27-15 and seemed to be in control when Walker picked up his 2nd personal foul. With that kind of lead, Calhoun sat him down for a while, smart, but the inexperience of the young team caught up with them and the Cardinals climbed they're way back into the game finishing the half only down by 6, 38-32. Before 5:00 passed in the 2nd half, Louisville had taken the lead. This is where UConn could have given up, let the exhaustion of playing 5 games in 5 days get the best of them, but they didn't. Playing smart deep into the 2nd half they still only had 3 teams fouls while Louisville had 10, giving the excellent free throw shooting UConn and excellent chance to score some easy points. The game became a rebounding challenge, which team could come up with the ball, but ultimately UConn won the battle on their ability to force turnovers. They never lost sight of the championship trophy, and Louisville wasn't going to stand in their way. Closing in on regulation play, UConn was up by 3 (67-64) when Walker fouled Mark Marra on his 3 point attempt (not sure of the call but oh well). Marra had to make all 3 free throws, but still gives UConn 4 seconds for a chance to throw it up to win. Tattoo clad Marra made the first... missed the 2nd... made the 3rd. UConn has the ball back, Louisville has to foul. :03 sec left Shabazz Napier goes to the line. Sinks both free throws. 69-66. One more shot for the Cardinals to tie it to go into OT. They hustle down the court, give the ball to Preston Knowles, who got off a great shot, but it wasn't enough. UConn wins. With 4 players in double digits, 3 of which are freshman, Louisville couldn't get past the Huskies. The Big East Conference Championship is now the property of The University of Connecticut.
While it's the entire team who wins the title, the MVP was no doubt Kemba Walker. Shattering the single tournament scoring record of 84, with 130, yes that's read right 130 points, Walker was unstoppable. His performances in every single game no only showed what skill he has, but also how much he's grown in the past 3 years at Connecticut. Evidence showed in plays like his drive to the basket when he split the Louisville defense but still had a tough shot. Rather than risking missing the shot which he probably would have done 2 years ago, he found Jeremy Lamb under the basket, passed and he scored. His leadership showed this week more than ever. He trusted his teammates and they trusted him in return. No other team played better than the Huskies this week. This tournament run and Kemba's games have showed that the Big East Player of the Year award needs to be awarded AFTER the tournament. Ben Hansborough, while a phenomenal player, doesn't deserve that award after what Kemba did this week. Walker told ESPN after the championship game: "Now that's it over I can definitely tell you I was tired. With about 2 minutes left I was gassed," he said with a smile that appropriately looked tired. "I just wanted to win this game so bad my heart took over." No one blames him for being exhausted, it's incredible he still put up 19 pts in the final game, but this shows how good he really is. Anyone who doubted his ability to play in the NBA is regretting that right now. He proved more than ever he can ball. If he is not the front runner for the NCAA Player of the Year award right now something is terribly wrong.
With the trophy and the team back in Storrs, with a day off today no doubt, they wait. Selection Sunday always seems to take forever. Where will they end up? What's going to be their seed. Right now they're the projected #2 seed in the East Region. Practically a home region for them. The last time UConn won the Big East Tournament, they went on the win the NCAA Tournament as well. Is it possible for them to do it again? Absolutely. If they keep playing like they did this past week, they're going to be tough to beat. No matter the outcome, this historic tournament will be talked about for years. Even if they win it all, I as well as many other Husky fans, have said that this championship run is more impressive. There is nothing like playing under the lights of Madison Square Garden for the Big East title. Right now, it's Husky Nation that everyone should be watching out for. We're taking over. I found the perfect quote to sum up this past week. From the Hartford Courant sports writer Jeff Jacobs: "Yet this much is certain: The 2010-11 Huskies have put the smile back on Calhoun's face, have put the smile back on Connecticut's face. The boys have got the joy, and it is infectious."
U! C! O! N! N! UCONN! UCONN! UCONN!
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