MIDWEST MUSINGS
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ROSEMONT,ILLINOIS- Ok, having been here (meaning suburban Chicago) since Sunday afternoon, I, like the natives are Blaggo'd out! Today, the story of disgraced Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was on Page 22 of the Tribune (which is now a tabloid) and Page 18 of the Sun-Times. The TV stations didn't lead with it on their 11 AM News (don't forget, everything is an hour earlier out here).
Except of course for the game tonite which is at 8PM Local, 9 PM Eastern. It must be for TV since DePaul don't play all their weeknight home games at that time. The Blue Demons have really struggled this season and both newspapers wrote stories on the status of third year head coach Jerry Wainwright. De Paul AD Jean Lenti Ponsetto says he is safe. But it would certainly help Wainright's cause to win some games.
The Blue Demons have been a handful for UConn in their two Big East meetings but almost all of those players are gone. There is still talent there in Dar Tucker, Will Walker and Mac Koshwal but De Paul is still a few players short of competing with the upper echelon teams like the Huskies.
UConn will have to avoid falling into the trap of being lulled to sleep against an opponent they should beat in a building that won't be anywhere near as excited as the Joyce Center on Saturday Night. DePaul's biggest home crowd this season was 9,881 against ancient rival Notre Dame. I wouldn't expect that many tonite.
It is a big game for Stanley Robinson who has struggled at the offensive end for the last five games, Sticks contribution is critical to a long run for UConn and at some point, he has to establish himself.
For what may be the first time in my life, I went to movies on back to back days. Wayne and I saw Gran Torino on Monday (Clint Eastwood was great, although he was playing Clint Eastwood), then Wayne, my girl friend Cheryl and I saw "Slumdog Millionaire" on Tuesday (on the recommendation of Coach Calhoun and others. Terrific film, not at all what I expected. Then after talking to the Coach (and Jerome Dyson) when the Huskies arrived, we went to the House of Blues.
Great ribs and the Jimmy Burns Band. A great evening!
8:30 Pre Game on the Radio and on the web, Jim on SportsTalk @ 6:35 tomorrow night.
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