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Sully’s Court: More UConn
Thoughts from the last two days:
UConn: The Huskies are really improved as can be easily seen after they won the Maui Classic, beating Michigan State and Kentucky in back-to-back games. UConn is well coached and playing the Jim Calhoun-inspired man-to-man defense that dictates the pace of the game. Two individuals stand out as markedly different from last year. First, point guard Kemba Walker, always quick afoot and with the dribble and a tough defender, has added an outside shot to his game and also increased his court awareness. If he keeps playing like this, hell be All-American. Second is sophomore center Alex Oriakhi, who has developed a dangerous low-post game on offense and affects games defensively with his shot blocking. In Maui, he tried to block every shot. Meanwhile, freshman Shabazz Napier from Boston is going to affect games as a bench player. Hes ultra quick and a tremendous defender.
Familiar complaint: Two things Ill always argue about are offensive fouls and the idea that a player with two fouls is in foul trouble. Kentucky was in a tight game with UConn in the first half partially because freshman forward Terrence Jones was unstoppable. Then he picked up two fouls and to the bench he went. Offense was hard to come by and UConn zoomed to a 50-29 halftime lead. The game was over. John Calipari isnt the only coach to do it but its ridiculous. He should have put Jones back in the game. He was saving him for a second half that was meaningless as UConn won 84-67.
Surprising scores, amazing margins: Cal 57, Temple 50: The Bears lost everyone from last season’s Pac 10 champs but Mike Montgomery has put together another nice team. They now own consecutive impressive victories over New Mexico and Temple. Point guard Jorge Gutierrez is a potential All-Sully, great team player and fearless. Chaminade 68, Oklahoma 64: The Silverswords are the Maui tournament host and theyve only won six games in 26 years. Oklahoma is obviously in rebuilding mode. Presbyterian 69, Princeton 67: A score like this tells me Harvard has a chance in the Ivy League. Air Force 72, Wofford 66: Wofford, last years Southern Conference champion, gets upset at home and is a disappointing 2-4. Jackson St. 87, Chattanooga 75: Hey, a SWAC gets a nice road win. It was the first win after five losses for the Fightin Paytons. Iowa State 91, Kennesaw State 51: Cant help but think that Kennesaw beat Georgia Tech. This game was in Ames and it was the fifth win without a loss for Iowa State and first-year coach Fred Hoiberg. LSU 78, Centenary 36: Hard to believe that its not a record for fewest points allowed but LSU beat Nicholls State 68-24 in 2002. Eastern Illinois 63, Bradley 56: The Braves used to be a lot tougher at home. Oregon State 83, Charlotte 70: The game was in Corvallis so not all that surprising but Oregon State has been unimpressive, not youd have to say Charlotte is too.
Great reading: John Branch in the NY Times on Villanova’s Corey Fisher and his notorious drug-dealing uncle.
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