WALKER'S HOMECOMING ONE TO REMEMBER
By Zach Smart
New YorkâFor UConn freshman Kemba Walker, being away from home is a major transition that college life has brought about.
As the sixth man on the Huskies Walker doesn't have much time on his hands, let alone time to spend in his old New York City stomping grounds.
So Walker made his brief homecoming worthwhile yesterday, torching St. John's for 21 points en route to a pivotal 67-55 UConn victory at Madison Square Garden.
Walker, a Bronx native who starred at Rice High School, stung the Johnnies with a little bit of everything Thursday night.
The 6-foot-1 point guard snaked through the defense, beating defenders off the dribble at will. Walker got players to bite on fakes, finished in transition, and facilitated an early 8-0 run that smacked some life into a sleepwalking UConn offense.
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Read More...Click 'Read More' Below!!!
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Simply put, the nifty neophyte played in a different zip code.
He connected on eight of 12 shots and doled out four assists. He provided the fireworks and crucial buckets before a crowd of 7,545 at the World's Most Famous Arena. In attendance were Donyell Marshall, Cliff Robinson, former SJU standout Walter "The Truth" Berry and the legendary Lou Carnesecca.
Jeff Adrien recorded yet another double-double, pouring in 17 points and pulling down 11 boards. The 6-foot-7 forward has more double-doubles than any active Big East player.
Adrien helped build a 14-point second half lead on a jumper and a pair of freebies. St. John's, which led during the first half and trailed by just a point at the half, cut the lead to nine after Stanley Robinson was charged with goaltending late in the second.
UConn responded as Walker danced around the defense and found a wide open A.J. Price for a three-point dagger. On the ensuing possession, Walker got out in transition and completed a traditional three-point play.
Paris Horne scored a career-high 24 points for the Johnnies (10-6, 1-3), who trek to Villanova on Jan. 18 before hosting Cincinnati Jan. 22.
Horne scored 13 first-half points, connecting on 5 of his first 7 shots as he kept the gritty Redmen in the game.
D.J. Kennedy, a presence in the running game, dished out six of his game-high seven assists in the first half. The Johnnies seized control of the lead early, with Kennedy's fast break layin giving them a 12-6 edge. They capitalized on a torrent of turnovers that incensed Jim Calhoun, and a trey from Horne made it 22 all.
Hasheem Thabeet looked like he hadn't touched a basketball in weeks in the first half. The surefire NBA draft pick was softer than a pillow purchased at Sleepy's. Softer than a Sidwell Friends bookworm. He bricked a layup and got called for steps as the momentum pendulum shifted in SJU's direction.
The second half was a different story. It looked as someone sparked a fire underneath him. The 7-foot-3 Center got free for some powerful dunks and delivered an eye-popping block on Kennedy. He punched Kennedy's shot attempt high in the air, as the ball soared before falling into the hands of Horne behind the arc. Thabeet finished with a game-high five blocks.
But it was Walker who emerged as the venomous buzz saw, soaring in for a fast break layup that culminated a 9-2 spurt.
Walker, a fixture on the hardscrabble New York City courts where go-go basketball is the norm, later banked a three that gave UConn a 51-38 advantage.
UConn recovered from a lackluster first half (scoring wise) by turning up the defensive pressure. They employed tight, lockdown defense in the second. The defensive upgrade and Walker's blink-quick antics proved to wear down the assertive, aggressive, never-say-die Redmen.
There are a number of dazzling Big East freshman that have come to fruition this season--Mike Rosario, Samuerdo Samuels, and Greg Monroe, to name a few. If Walker keeps turning in performance like he did Thursday, essentially a coming-out party on his homecoming, he'll be catapulted into this elite, high-rent district.
New YorkâFor UConn freshman Kemba Walker, being away from home is a major transition that college life has brought about.
As the sixth man on the Huskies Walker doesn't have much time on his hands, let alone time to spend in his old New York City stomping grounds.
So Walker made his brief homecoming worthwhile yesterday, torching St. John's for 21 points en route to a pivotal 67-55 UConn victory at Madison Square Garden.
Walker, a Bronx native who starred at Rice High School, stung the Johnnies with a little bit of everything Thursday night.
The 6-foot-1 point guard snaked through the defense, beating defenders off the dribble at will. Walker got players to bite on fakes, finished in transition, and facilitated an early 8-0 run that smacked some life into a sleepwalking UConn offense.
-
Read More...Click 'Read More' Below!!!
-
Simply put, the nifty neophyte played in a different zip code.
He connected on eight of 12 shots and doled out four assists. He provided the fireworks and crucial buckets before a crowd of 7,545 at the World's Most Famous Arena. In attendance were Donyell Marshall, Cliff Robinson, former SJU standout Walter "The Truth" Berry and the legendary Lou Carnesecca.
Jeff Adrien recorded yet another double-double, pouring in 17 points and pulling down 11 boards. The 6-foot-7 forward has more double-doubles than any active Big East player.
Adrien helped build a 14-point second half lead on a jumper and a pair of freebies. St. John's, which led during the first half and trailed by just a point at the half, cut the lead to nine after Stanley Robinson was charged with goaltending late in the second.
UConn responded as Walker danced around the defense and found a wide open A.J. Price for a three-point dagger. On the ensuing possession, Walker got out in transition and completed a traditional three-point play.
Paris Horne scored a career-high 24 points for the Johnnies (10-6, 1-3), who trek to Villanova on Jan. 18 before hosting Cincinnati Jan. 22.
Horne scored 13 first-half points, connecting on 5 of his first 7 shots as he kept the gritty Redmen in the game.
D.J. Kennedy, a presence in the running game, dished out six of his game-high seven assists in the first half. The Johnnies seized control of the lead early, with Kennedy's fast break layin giving them a 12-6 edge. They capitalized on a torrent of turnovers that incensed Jim Calhoun, and a trey from Horne made it 22 all.
Hasheem Thabeet looked like he hadn't touched a basketball in weeks in the first half. The surefire NBA draft pick was softer than a pillow purchased at Sleepy's. Softer than a Sidwell Friends bookworm. He bricked a layup and got called for steps as the momentum pendulum shifted in SJU's direction.
The second half was a different story. It looked as someone sparked a fire underneath him. The 7-foot-3 Center got free for some powerful dunks and delivered an eye-popping block on Kennedy. He punched Kennedy's shot attempt high in the air, as the ball soared before falling into the hands of Horne behind the arc. Thabeet finished with a game-high five blocks.
But it was Walker who emerged as the venomous buzz saw, soaring in for a fast break layup that culminated a 9-2 spurt.
Walker, a fixture on the hardscrabble New York City courts where go-go basketball is the norm, later banked a three that gave UConn a 51-38 advantage.
UConn recovered from a lackluster first half (scoring wise) by turning up the defensive pressure. They employed tight, lockdown defense in the second. The defensive upgrade and Walker's blink-quick antics proved to wear down the assertive, aggressive, never-say-die Redmen.
There are a number of dazzling Big East freshman that have come to fruition this season--Mike Rosario, Samuerdo Samuels, and Greg Monroe, to name a few. If Walker keeps turning in performance like he did Thursday, essentially a coming-out party on his homecoming, he'll be catapulted into this elite, high-rent district.
Labels: Connecticut news
posted by NBE Blogger @ 11:04 AM
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