Walker's 33 points lead UConn over Cincy
Connecticut head coach Jim Calhoun talks with guard Kemba Walker during the first half of the West Regional third-round NCAA tournament college basketball game against Cincinnati. (March 19, 2011) Credit: AP
WASHINGTON -- Even as the Big East has been stalled a bit in its work of trying to devour college basketball, there is -- within the brute conference -- a nasty internecine food-chain fight going on, the most recent development being UConn's 69-58 victory over conference opponent Cincinnati in Saturday night's NCAA round of 32.
A 67-59 winner over Cincinnati during the regular season, UConn (28-9) again reminded of the conventional pecking order, partly related to what everyone has done lately.
Bronx product Kemba Walker, the junior guard who is quicker than a hiccup and all-seeing as he orchestrates his team's offense, had 33 points and five assists as UConn shrugged off an early Cincinnati lead and a strong challenge midway through the second half.
Lifted by 22 points from senior Rashad Bishop, a former star at St. Benedict's Prep in New Jersey, Cincinnati (26-9) got its nose ahead on four occasions in the second half, but never by more than two points and never again after Walker's three-point basket with 11:42 to go.
Walker quickly added two free throws and then, flashing such a blur along the baseline that the officials didn't perceive his traveling violation, dropped in another three- pointer from the left corner.
Walker scored UConn's next basket as well, a zippy reverse layup through heavy Connecticut traffic, and the lead quickly was back to a safer five points at 52-47.
UConn, of course, already had to its credit this year's conference tournament title as it builds on a seven-game winning streak and further reinforces its status as a Big East charter member, while Cincinnati continues to play catch-up.
When the Big East was formed in 1979, UConn was one of the seven originals; Cincinnati, which belonged to the Metro Conference at the time, has spent almost three decades embarked on a slow ascent up the ladder of prestige, through the Great Midwest Conference and Conference USA. Cincinnati joined the Big East in 2005.
This past regular season, Cincinnati actually enjoyed the greater success, with an 11-7 conference record compared to UConn's 9-9. But fourth-year Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin explained the hierarchy in his profession with this little tale:
"I went to Danny Hurley" -- then coach of high school power St. Benedict's Prep -- "and Mo Hicks" -- New York's Rice High School and AAU major domo. "I said, 'I gotta rebuild this program and I need a player.'
"Danny said, 'I've got a guy, underrated, but he's tough. Rashad Bishop.' "
Cronin signed Bishop to a scholarship virtually unseen. Then "I said to Mo, 'Who you got?' Same description. Kemba Walker." Who chose UConn.
