GLENDALE, AZ- At 4:07 Mountain Standard Time this afternoon, the talk about recruiting violations will be put on hold. The focus will be on basketball for the UConn Huskies, specifically the NCAA Western Regional Semis against Purdue.
Matt Painter's team stumbled down the stretch, losing 3 of their last 4 but then ko'd Penn State, Illinois and Ohio State to win their first Big Ten tournament title. Then last weekend in Portland, they squeaked by Northern Iowa and then ko'd Washington in a very hostile environment. So the Boilermakers are tournament tested.
It's a team that can shoot from the perimeter, making 6.6 three's per game (UConn makes just under 5). They have one of the Big Ten's best defenders in 6'3 Chris Kramer, one of its most versatile players in 6'4 E'Twaun Moore, a real grinder in 6'8 Robbie Hummel, a speedster in 5'9 Lewis Jackson and an all first team Big Ten selection in 6'10 JuJuan Jackson. They are versatile and they can defend.
So, they won't be easy...by any stretch. UConn will receive it's best tournament test.
And we don't know if the recruiting violation stories will have any effect on the Huskies concentration. I am guessing it won't . What is more critical to UConn will be a better performance by Hasheem Thabeet. A stat line of 6 points, 4 boards and 2 blocks today won't cut it. Except Hash to be a major player tonite.
Enjoy the game, the broadcast starts @ 6:30 and ends after Husky Talk following the post game!
