IRISH STEW
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SOUTH BEND, INDIANA- Sunday morning @ 12:35. If you are a UConn fan, it was a great night for the Huskies. The 69-61 win at Notre Dame ended the Irish 45 game home winning streak, their 20 game Big East home winning streak and established the Huskies as one of the nation's best team.
It also established this team's identidy. We have been wondering all year what it was. Well after the last three halves of basketball we know. It is a defensive team that is willing to get its hands dirty to play the type of defense necessary for big things in March.
When Kyle McAlarney knocked down three- three pointers in the first 5:31 of the game, you got the feeling he might go off like he did last year at the Joyce Center. He proceeded to miss his next TWELVE field goal attempts. Jerome Dyson, Craig Austrie and Kemba Walker all took turns guarding the sharp shooter. And all stayed with him. Yes, McAlarney missed some open shots but for the most part, the Huskies stayed with him.
Luke Harangody did what he always does, work as hard as anyone. But Hasheem Thabeet played him tough and Harangody had to work for all of his 24 points. And Dave Borges writes in his New Haven Register blog that the two big men hugged and talked after the game. Good for both of them.
A.J. Price played like the leader he has become. The best number from his stat line, no turnovers in 35 minutes. Jerome Dyson led the defensive effort of Harangody, went to the boards for nine rebounds and led the offense with 15 points. Austrie, Walker and Gavin Edwards combined for 20 points in 46 minutes off the bench, Edwards contribution of 8 points was especially critical. And Jeff Adrien continued to play with great tenacity, as you can tell by his career high 19 rebounds.
As Jim Calhoun noted when he joined us after the game, if the Huskies had made their free throws down the end (going 7 for 14 in the final 1:31) it may have been one of the best halves of UConn basketball in a long, long time. Even with the missed chances at the line, it was still 20 minutes that Huskies fans should cherish.
The team gets tomorrow off, the broadcast team heads for Chicago where we will set up shop for the next four days with De Paul looming on Wednesday.
I hope you tune into NBC 30's Sunday Sports Replay @ 11:15 tonite, I will join Mike Ratte from Chicago for the Husky Insider segment, lots of talk about.
Enjoy your Sunday, even if there is no NFL!
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