UCONN 'STICKS' IT TO MARQUETTE
By Zach Smart
It wasn't a coming out party as much as it was a loud thud of a wakeup call for UConn wing Stanley "Sticks" Robinson.
The message sent to Sticks during the Huskies' 93-82 win over No.10 Marquette Wednesday night?
You can be a dominant player in this league, but you've got to want it.
Sticks, a starter averaging a meager five points, wanted it bad.
The freakishly athletic 6-foot-9 jumping jack used his explosive first step, attacked the rims early and often, and scored crucial buckets en route to a wowing 19-point, 10-board performance.
Read More...Click Below!
From the beginning, Sticks played like a possessed man, soaring in for emphatic two-hand dunks and letting out ecstatic roars that ignited his teammates and bench.
"If he can play 60 percent of that, we can maybe overcome Jerome (Dyson)'s loss," said Huskies coach Jim Calhoun, who became just the seventh coach in NCAA history to reach the 800-win milestone.
"It will be hard though," he told ESPN after the game.
There had been a mammoth man hunt out for Sticks' game, seen only on milk boxes and missing signs prior to Wednesday night.
The Connecticut State Police nearly called off the search warrant after Robinson busted out for 18 points in a drubbing of Providence on Jan. 31.
But the offensive woes continued for Robinson, who averaged over ten points last year.
Calhoun challenged the junior from Alabama to step it up, explaining he needed much more out of the kid with athletic gifts few players can simulate.
As good as Robinson was at Marquette, he was hardly the headliner.
A.J. Price poured in 36 points, establishing a new career-high. He left the nets burnt on 8-of-15 shooting from beyond the arc.
It's this type of game that Calhoun has come to expect from his high pressure and high caliber point guard, a kid who he remembers hounding down at Amityville (N.Y.) High back in 2004.
Marquette may have suffered a severe setback with the loss of electrifying guard and floor leader Dominic James.
James played just four minutes and left the game with a broken foot. He could be out for the remainder of the season.
Calhoun consoled him after the game and told him too keep his head up. Price also offered his support to his counterpart.
The two teams ran toe-to-toe in the first half, engaged in a wild game of momentum tennis.
The seesaw battle became most intriguing around the 7-minute mark of the second half, when UConn freshman Kemba Walker's traditional 3-point play gave the Huskies a 76-74 lead.
A pair of Hasheem Thabeet free throws padded the lead to 78-74.
Sticks then converted an errant shot into a putback plus the foul. He knocked down the free throw to complete the three point play.
On UConn's ensuing possession, Sticks recovered an up-for-grabs rebound and threw down an authoritative two-handed dunk that had him screaming louder than any of the 19,091 in attendance.
This is the Sticks who UConn needs to see more of.
With Dyson's scoring aptitude and propensity to turn steals into fast break dunks off display until next season, the time is now.
Sticks can be as good as anyone in this wild, talent-leaking conference.
He's got to want it.
It wasn't a coming out party as much as it was a loud thud of a wakeup call for UConn wing Stanley "Sticks" Robinson.
The message sent to Sticks during the Huskies' 93-82 win over No.10 Marquette Wednesday night?
You can be a dominant player in this league, but you've got to want it.
Sticks, a starter averaging a meager five points, wanted it bad.
The freakishly athletic 6-foot-9 jumping jack used his explosive first step, attacked the rims early and often, and scored crucial buckets en route to a wowing 19-point, 10-board performance.
Read More...Click Below!
From the beginning, Sticks played like a possessed man, soaring in for emphatic two-hand dunks and letting out ecstatic roars that ignited his teammates and bench.
"If he can play 60 percent of that, we can maybe overcome Jerome (Dyson)'s loss," said Huskies coach Jim Calhoun, who became just the seventh coach in NCAA history to reach the 800-win milestone.
"It will be hard though," he told ESPN after the game.
There had been a mammoth man hunt out for Sticks' game, seen only on milk boxes and missing signs prior to Wednesday night.
The Connecticut State Police nearly called off the search warrant after Robinson busted out for 18 points in a drubbing of Providence on Jan. 31.
But the offensive woes continued for Robinson, who averaged over ten points last year.
Calhoun challenged the junior from Alabama to step it up, explaining he needed much more out of the kid with athletic gifts few players can simulate.
As good as Robinson was at Marquette, he was hardly the headliner.
A.J. Price poured in 36 points, establishing a new career-high. He left the nets burnt on 8-of-15 shooting from beyond the arc.
It's this type of game that Calhoun has come to expect from his high pressure and high caliber point guard, a kid who he remembers hounding down at Amityville (N.Y.) High back in 2004.
Marquette may have suffered a severe setback with the loss of electrifying guard and floor leader Dominic James.
James played just four minutes and left the game with a broken foot. He could be out for the remainder of the season.
Calhoun consoled him after the game and told him too keep his head up. Price also offered his support to his counterpart.
The two teams ran toe-to-toe in the first half, engaged in a wild game of momentum tennis.
The seesaw battle became most intriguing around the 7-minute mark of the second half, when UConn freshman Kemba Walker's traditional 3-point play gave the Huskies a 76-74 lead.
A pair of Hasheem Thabeet free throws padded the lead to 78-74.
Sticks then converted an errant shot into a putback plus the foul. He knocked down the free throw to complete the three point play.
On UConn's ensuing possession, Sticks recovered an up-for-grabs rebound and threw down an authoritative two-handed dunk that had him screaming louder than any of the 19,091 in attendance.
This is the Sticks who UConn needs to see more of.
With Dyson's scoring aptitude and propensity to turn steals into fast break dunks off display until next season, the time is now.
Sticks can be as good as anyone in this wild, talent-leaking conference.
He's got to want it.
Labels: Connecticut news
posted by NBE Blogger @ 12:29 PM
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