I predicted this game was not going to go UCONN’S way and unfortunately, I was right. Additionally, just about everything I mentioned in my pre-game blog was right on target. This game should be remembered as “THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS“. The final score was 70 to 60 yet, it could and should easily have been worse. I say that because Mr. Blair spent half the game on the bench and Fields, who had open looks the entire game, couldn’t shoot to  save his life. Here are the main points from my pre-game analysis, as well as my further observations relative to the actual  game.

1. A.J Price needed to step up and lead UCONN to victory. Well, he didn’t do that and his post game comments reiterated what I said about him coming into this game. Especially with Dyson out for the year, UCONN needed more offense against a team like PITT. I say again,  IT MUST COME FROM PRICE! I’d also suggest Austrie but, he’s been so poor this season, I’ve been forced to give up on him. After yesterday’s huge game, even A.J. (The Turtle) Price had to admit that he should  have pushed his offense more in the first half.  Moreover, he said that, going forward and into the Big East and NCAA Tournaments, this team can’t win unless he produces more offense. Again,  A.J got off to a slow start (His three point attempts were again coming up short) and when that happens, the “Turtle” sadly goes and hides in his shell. The “Turtles” two big threes, in the second half, may have brought UCONN back to within 2 but,  by then, the team was exhausted and unable to sustain the drive. That’s what happens, when you play on the road, in front of a boisterous home crowd and have to battle from behind the entire game. PITT,  simply refused to quit and that’s what good teams are supposed to do.

2. Looking at the box score, Hasheem Thabeet may appear to have gotten the best of Blair but,  that was primarily due to Blair’s early foul trouble. In the second half, the big guy basically ran out of gas (Zero points and only 4 rebounds for the entire half) and that isn’t something UCONN fans are used to seeing from “The Monster”.

3. Stanley Robinson, who by default, continues to be a starter, didn’t do much offensively and was PITIFUL on defense. No, horrific and despicable are better words to describe his play. The two half-hearted attempts he made to stop Young, when he was on break aways, really stick out in my mind and cause me to feel that PITT I mentioned above. Not only did his poor defense allow easy buckets, on those two plays, his foolish and patsy, reach in fouls, gave Young two complimentary trips to the foul line. Just once I’d like to see him hammer someone in that situation.  Really, someone needs to deliver a message and if nothing else, make them earn their points at the line.   “Jimbo” Calhoun must feel the same yet, for some unknown reason, I don’t hear him publicly voicing the same.

A good friend of mine, who happens to have played his fair share of ball, told me he used those two ugly plays as a means to teach his son a lesson.  He had taped the game and so he could show his  son, who plays junior high basketball, what never to do on defense.

4. Sam Young, as usual, totally destroyed the Huskies. At one point, he had 31 of the Panthers 62 points and that more than made up for the offensive shortcomings of Fields and Blair. That said, with the way Fields was wide open, every time he shot the ball, we have to feel fortunate that he was shooting so poorly. Needless to say, the final score, which was 70 to 60, would surely have been worse.

So, the regular Big East title goes to a streaking Louisville club. On the other hand, UCONN will have to regroup in a hurry to get ready for the BIG EAST Tournament. I’m sorry to have to say this but,  I’m inclined to think we will come up short when we play in New York.  I’ll  have more to say about that yet reserve my further comments until the Huskies are about to get underway.

In the interim,

I’m out of Here!    Sic Rick