SATURDAY: Use any word you'd like to describe the end of UConn's season and you wouldn't be far off. Devestating ,disappointing, humblng they would all apply to the 70-69 overtime loss to San Diego. Losing like Drake did is one thing, losing for the most part a lethargic contest like the Huskies is another .
The game was lost long before De'Jon Jackson's right side jumper with 0:01:2 seconds to play. As Jijm Calhoun accurately pointed out, it was lost in the first half when Gyno Pomare dominated Hasheem Thabeet with 14 points, a performance that gave the rest of the Torreros confidence they could play with UConn. All the San Diego players and coach Bill Craig spoke respectfully, even reverentially towards Hash on Thursday. But 24 hourse later, they toyed with him on the perimeter. Calhoun said the Huskies coaches spent a long time Thurdsday night diagramming the play, called a "pick and pop" but in the first half, UConn never responded. Then later in regulation and overtime, it was 6'6" Rob Jones who drove the ball at the hoop. On the game's final play, UConn let Jackson catch the ball too easily and find the open space for the game winning bucket.
All of I have spoken about thus far is defense. And despite leading the nation in blocked shots again, it was on defense that this UConn team fell far short of their previous brethren. Look at all the players who scored 30 in a game on them. That never,ever happened with former Huskies teams. Those teams also had great shot blockers but they also had players on the perimeter who guarded.
Yes, the loss of A.J. Price hurt UConn on the offense end because for a long time they had problems getting into their offense. But it wouldn't be fair to the Torreros to blame the entire loss on A.J's departure. You have to feel for a kid who had waited four years to play in the big spotlight and then never even got to play for 10 minutes before his injury. We should know results on his MRI on Monday but there was rampant speculation that the injury may not be a good one .Again, just speculation.
The other thing that was mind boggling on the sidelines was the apparant lack of emotion by the Huskies. For all but two,it was their first NCAA tournament game but it didn't produce the kind of fire or enthusiasm shown by their head coach. When I spoke to Jim for our pre game interview, he was all fired up, anxious for this team to put the Big East loss behind them and to get on with the tradition that has become UConn in the NCAA tournament. Instead, nothing. It was the same way they looked against West Virginia.
And it was also obvious that the Western Kentucky-Drake game had drained the emotion from the building. Normally,when a 13 has the chance to upset a 4, the fans come alive, especially the neutral fans. Again, nothing. It was the worst atmosphere for an NCAA game that I can remember in all the years of broadcasting and before reporting on them.
So for the Huskies, it's back to a nomal life style on Monday with no plans to travel to Pheonix or play anymore. There are many question marks heading for the off season. Will Thabeet be back or go pro. I really really like Hash but I don't think he is anywhere near ready for the NBA. How severe is Price's knee injury, will some players seek to head eleswhere and how does the two season ending losses effect the Huskies mindset as they approach next season.
Thanks to the people who help us all season long, Jim Calhoun, George Blaney ,Andre LaFleur and Patrick Sellers are fantastic to work with, there is no other way to describe them. Basketball SID Kyle Muncy is clearly, clearly the best in the buisness. Trainer James Doran, Dr Jeff Anderson, Video Coordinator Dave Kaplan, Tim Tolokan, the legendary Dee Rowe, they make the winter months fly by. The players were always cooperative and gracious .
Thanks to our studio producer Joey Burgoin, who has really become terrific at what he does. And congratulations to Joey and his wife who found out they will soon become the parents of twins!
And finally from me, thanks to the two men who I have worked closely and travelled with since the end of August. Kevin Ingles, our producer/engineer is great, he is the most valuable member of our crew. His dillegence and attention to detail ensures that our broadcasts are top quality each and every time on the air. And every time I work with Wayne, I am thankfull that I do. His insight, analysis, ability to trends and to use statistics to point them out makes him a great anylist. Not once in 16 years has he jumped on a crucial call late in the game and when you listen to our color commentators, you realize that is a dying breed. And not only is he great at his job but he makes the road trips fun. He now goes back to being the morning Mayor of WIlliamantic and one of Connecticut's biggest Red Sox fans.
So our 16th year of UConn football and men's basketball ends, not the way Huskies fans had expected but that is the beauty and the disappointment of sports. But our broadcast season continues thanks to the women. Bob Joyce and Meghan Culmo will be live from Bridgeport tomorrow night at 6:30 as Geno Auriemma's team begins it's quest for a National Championship against Harvard.
Thanks for listening and logging on all season and we will have an open line session of SportsTalk Monday Night at 6:10 when you can convey your thoughts about the 2007-2008 UConn season, which as Jim Calhoun said was a very good season but not a great one.
Happy Easter!
