HUSKIES IGNORE DISTRACTIONS, CONTINUE MARCH THROUGH WEST
March 26, 2009
With distractions coming left and right at the Connecticut men's basketball team and head coach Jim Calhoun, it was a relief to get on the court and play basketball. For the two hour window that the Huskies took on Purdue in the West Regional Semifinal in Arizona, that was what mattered.
"My job today was to come and coach our basketball team, and the kids took care of that," said coach Calhoun following the game.
UConn jumped out to an 8-0 lead and led 14-3 just 5:14 into the game on a Gavin Edwards bucket. It looked like the rout was on.
"I think our guys did fight back from that poor start that we had." said Purdue coach Matt Painter.
A Robbie Hummel three-pointer with 3:47 left in the first half completed a 15-3 run to cut the UConn lead to 26-23, prompting Jim Calhoun to call for a timeout.
"We told ourselves all week if we got ourselves out to a good run, they were going to come back," AJ Price said of Purdue. "They are a very game team, tough team. They proved that time and time again. Every time we made a run, they seemed to cut it back to four, two, something like that."
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After UConn won their first two NCAA Tournament games by an average margin of 41 points, Purdue desperately wanted to get out to a lead and see how UConn would react to being down, especially early on. However, after the quick start, the Boilermakers were never quite able to catch the Huskies.
"We had to get them to play from behind," coach Painter said following the game. "We had to get the lead and get them playing on their heels a little bit."
"You have to give them credit, they didn't allow that to happen."
However, UConn knew they were in a game at the break. Despite their hot start, Purdue controlled the pace of the contest and went into halftime trailing just 30-25.
The Huskies once again came out of the locker room on a strong run with Hasheem Thabeet scoring eight of his 15 points in a 12-5 run over the first 6 1/2 minutes of the second half.
Once again, back came Purdue, and after a pair of free throws from JaJuan Johnson, the Boilermakers were back within 44-40 after a 9-2 spurt that took all off 1:26 to complete.
But, like he has done time and time again for his team, AJ Price asserted himself when he was needed.
Price hit a pair of jumpers and then assisted on a Jeff Adrien bucket, all sandwiched around a Stanley Robinson dunk that saw UConn regain control with a 52-42 lead. After a bucket from Johnson, Price found fellow senior Craig Austrie for a three-pointer and the UConn lead was 55-44, matching their largest of the game.
"I made two or three tough little floaters in the lane, and it was just being persistent and staying with it," said Price of his baskets starting the UConn run.
Thabeet would add another hoop at the 6:36 mark to make it a 67-55 UConn lead and that was the last made field goal of the game for the Huskies. They would make 15 of 18 free throws down the stretch to account for the final score of 72-60, advancing to the Elite 8 for the first time since 2006.
Austrie was the offensive catalyst for UConn, scoring 17 points while making all three of his three-point attempts and going 6-6 from the foul line.
"He got his confidence back tonight, I could tell," said Price of his fellow senior backcourt mate. "I love to see Craig Austrie smiling."
Thabeet added 15 points and 15 rebounds, with 4 blocked shots. Price, despite a tough shooting night, also accounted for 15 points, adding 7 assists. Stanley Robinson continued to step forward late in the season adding a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds and was a key defensive stopped against Hummel in the second half.
"Stanley, once again, has evolved into that role as our third scorer and rebounder," said Calhoun.
It continues to be a trying season for UConn. From off-court issues to the Jerome Dyson to the whirlwind of accusations of illegal recruiting practices of the last couple days, the Husky players just continue to forge forward and they are now one of just eight teams left standing.
"(It) felt great to get out there on the court and play basketball," Price said in regards to the distractions. "Like I have been saying all week, that's what we know how to do, that's what we focus on and that's what we do best."
Next, their best could lead them to a Final Four in Detroit, stamping a legacy for a group, led by seniors Price, Austrie and Adrien, that will be held in high regard with their Hall of Fame coach, not matter where this season ends up.
"They truly have won 30 games, they truly [formed a] legacy at UConn, won 101 games," Calhoun said. "As I told you all along, this has been a special group."
They are just a couple wins away from being special AND a National Championship group.
With distractions coming left and right at the Connecticut men's basketball team and head coach Jim Calhoun, it was a relief to get on the court and play basketball. For the two hour window that the Huskies took on Purdue in the West Regional Semifinal in Arizona, that was what mattered.
"My job today was to come and coach our basketball team, and the kids took care of that," said coach Calhoun following the game.
UConn jumped out to an 8-0 lead and led 14-3 just 5:14 into the game on a Gavin Edwards bucket. It looked like the rout was on.
"I think our guys did fight back from that poor start that we had." said Purdue coach Matt Painter.
A Robbie Hummel three-pointer with 3:47 left in the first half completed a 15-3 run to cut the UConn lead to 26-23, prompting Jim Calhoun to call for a timeout.
"We told ourselves all week if we got ourselves out to a good run, they were going to come back," AJ Price said of Purdue. "They are a very game team, tough team. They proved that time and time again. Every time we made a run, they seemed to cut it back to four, two, something like that."
READ REST OF THE STORY...CLICK "Read More" BELOW
After UConn won their first two NCAA Tournament games by an average margin of 41 points, Purdue desperately wanted to get out to a lead and see how UConn would react to being down, especially early on. However, after the quick start, the Boilermakers were never quite able to catch the Huskies.
"We had to get them to play from behind," coach Painter said following the game. "We had to get the lead and get them playing on their heels a little bit."
"You have to give them credit, they didn't allow that to happen."
However, UConn knew they were in a game at the break. Despite their hot start, Purdue controlled the pace of the contest and went into halftime trailing just 30-25.
The Huskies once again came out of the locker room on a strong run with Hasheem Thabeet scoring eight of his 15 points in a 12-5 run over the first 6 1/2 minutes of the second half.
Once again, back came Purdue, and after a pair of free throws from JaJuan Johnson, the Boilermakers were back within 44-40 after a 9-2 spurt that took all off 1:26 to complete.
But, like he has done time and time again for his team, AJ Price asserted himself when he was needed.
Price hit a pair of jumpers and then assisted on a Jeff Adrien bucket, all sandwiched around a Stanley Robinson dunk that saw UConn regain control with a 52-42 lead. After a bucket from Johnson, Price found fellow senior Craig Austrie for a three-pointer and the UConn lead was 55-44, matching their largest of the game.
"I made two or three tough little floaters in the lane, and it was just being persistent and staying with it," said Price of his baskets starting the UConn run.
Thabeet would add another hoop at the 6:36 mark to make it a 67-55 UConn lead and that was the last made field goal of the game for the Huskies. They would make 15 of 18 free throws down the stretch to account for the final score of 72-60, advancing to the Elite 8 for the first time since 2006.
Austrie was the offensive catalyst for UConn, scoring 17 points while making all three of his three-point attempts and going 6-6 from the foul line.
"He got his confidence back tonight, I could tell," said Price of his fellow senior backcourt mate. "I love to see Craig Austrie smiling."
Thabeet added 15 points and 15 rebounds, with 4 blocked shots. Price, despite a tough shooting night, also accounted for 15 points, adding 7 assists. Stanley Robinson continued to step forward late in the season adding a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds and was a key defensive stopped against Hummel in the second half.
"Stanley, once again, has evolved into that role as our third scorer and rebounder," said Calhoun.
It continues to be a trying season for UConn. From off-court issues to the Jerome Dyson to the whirlwind of accusations of illegal recruiting practices of the last couple days, the Husky players just continue to forge forward and they are now one of just eight teams left standing.
"(It) felt great to get out there on the court and play basketball," Price said in regards to the distractions. "Like I have been saying all week, that's what we know how to do, that's what we focus on and that's what we do best."
Next, their best could lead them to a Final Four in Detroit, stamping a legacy for a group, led by seniors Price, Austrie and Adrien, that will be held in high regard with their Hall of Fame coach, not matter where this season ends up.
"They truly have won 30 games, they truly [formed a] legacy at UConn, won 101 games," Calhoun said. "As I told you all along, this has been a special group."
They are just a couple wins away from being special AND a National Championship group.
Labels: Connecticut news
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