UConn thumps Hoyas at Big East tourney
Connecticut's Jeremy Lamb dunks as Georgetown's Jason Clark (21) looks on during a second round game at the Big East Tournament. (March 9, 2011) Credit: AP
It only seems right that it all comes back to Pittsburgh.
That is the prevailing feeling for Connecticut, which can't wait to meet top-seeded Pitt Thursday after the Huskies beat eighth-seeded Georgetown, 79-62, Wednesday in the second round of the Big East Tournament.
It was a game at Pittsburgh that rocked Connecticut's world back on Dec. 27. UConn entered it 10-0 with a No. 5 national ranking. Overwhelmed by playing a tough team in one of the toughest venues in the country, the young Huskies lost, 78-63.
This time, they believe things will be different. After riding the ups and downs of competing in what most consider the nation's toughest basketball conference, Connecticut seems to have rebounded after losing four of its last five regular-season games.
"I think Pitt is going to be a great measuring stick for us," star guard Kemba Walker said. "A lot of guys on this team have grown up a lot since the last time we played them. We've really come together."
Walker clearly leads everyone on those growth charts because he played head and shoulders above any other player on the Garden court. He led the No. 21 Huskies over the No. 22 Hoyas with 28 points, six rebounds and three assists.
"I think Kemba is the best player in the country," UConn coach Jim Calhoun said, adding that he thought it was ridiculous Walker was not a unanimous first-team Big East selection.
"I can't believe anyone would ever see him play with the speed he plays and the ability he plays with and the pure love of the game he has and think he's not as good of a player as he is."
It was the second straight dominant performance by Walker, who scored 26 points against DePaul Tuesday. The last time ninth-seeded Connecticut (23-9) opened the tournament with two wins was 2004, which was also the last time the Huskies won it.
Georgetown (21-10) is winless since losing guard Chris Wright, who suffered a broken left hand Feb. 23 against Cincinnati, the first of four consecutive defeats. Wright, who sat on the bench wearing a brace, might have wanted to put a towel over his head, too.
Georgetown managed to hang with the Huskies for the game's first nine minutes. But then it seemed as if Connecticut turned up the speed of its offense, going on a 22-7 run. After that, it never lost its double-digit lead.
Jason Clark had 23 points and Austin Freeman scored 20 for the Hoyas, but the two were 2-for-13 from three-point range.
There were plenty of NBA types in the stands, including Heat president Pat Riley, sitting directly across from the UConn bench. Walker, who scored the majority of his points off darting drives, clearly was trying to take advantage of the spotlight.
Said Walker: "I think we as a team have a lot to prove. I think we've come a long way this season, and we really believe in each other. Our next game is going to be a perfect test."
