Syracuse 85, UConn 67: Wrapping Things Up From The Dome

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Some thoughts, quotes, notes from UConn’s loss at Syracuse.

First blush: I know it sounds silly to be talking too many positives following a 17-point loss, but this really wasn’t a disaster for UConn. At Louisville, they lost by 21, but were down 30 with a few minutes to go. Here, they were two points behind with 6:36 left. You’d take that against this opponent as a Huskies fan, it’s the previous losses to teams that are not this good. That’s where the season went south.

My game story for the Sunday Courant, click here.

But it’s not over yet. UConn has six games left, and needs to win four or five. They must beat DePaul at home – they’d better. Than the game against Marquette at XL next Saturday could be the biggest game of the year.

“Connecticut is a really good basketball team,” Jim Boeheim said, “I would not count them out.”

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Jim Calhoun is “still in a lot of pain,” George Blaney said. He has been seeing specialists in New York and Boston, and is still deciding the best course of treatment for his spinal stenosis. If he decides to have surgery, it could mean he will not be back this season. “He’s one of the great coaches of all time,” Boeheim said. “When he’s not there its going to make a difference.”

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Andre Drummond was limping pretty badly, but since he did finish the game, you’d figure he will be able to  go against DePaul. Jeff Jacobs wrote on Drummond for the Sunday Courant. I also update on his injury on my notebook, which will be up on the website soon.

And here are some great pics by John Woike, our photo gallery.

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Would really be a shame if this turns out to be UConn’s last game here as a Big East rival. Remember when the Big East began and UConn was trying to put itself on the map? Winning in this special building was a big start toward that. A shame to lose that tradition. Anyway, the Huskies are 10-17 here all time.

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DeAndre Daniels didn’t  play – coach’s decision. There’s usually someone who doesn’t get in when Blaney runs the game. Niels Giffey didn’t play at South Florida, and only the last minute or so vs. Louisville. Saturday it was Daniels’ turn. The Huskies didn’t like the matchup against C.J. Fair.

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