UConn 73, Villanova 70 (OT): Wrapping Things Up From Philly

By On 2012/02/21 · 6 Comments

PHILADELPHIA - Just another day at Drama U, as some around here call it. Some notes, quotes and thoughts from UConn’s 73-70 OT win at ‘Nova.

Okay, okay, I won’t get carried away. This was not a good Villanova team, and it was without two starters, so UConn was supposed to win, and win more comfortably than this. The wins over Seton Hall and DePaul proved to be, not mirages, but just wins over beatable teams that did not carry over when the opposition was better. So UConn needed a win here and got it, just barely. It doesn’t mean they will beat Syracuse on Saturday.

What does it mean? UConn was 27th in the latest RPI ratings. The Huskies are on the bubble. If they do lose to Syracuse, they’ll be right back in the same boat – with  must-win games against Providence and Pitt. For now, they’re alive. The game story is here.

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There was briefly a report out there that Jim Calhoun was returning on Saturday. The school shot it down, saying someone misread their last release, ruling Calhoun out through this game and assuming he would be back for Syracuse. There is no change in his status. He’s evaluating the effectiveness of his current treatment and if the pain in his back and legs has sufficiently subsided, he could return Saturday. No decision yet.

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The day started with no news from the NCAA, which is bad news for UConn. This, I addressed in a prior post and in the notebook for the Tuesday Courant.

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An hour before the game, UConn spokesman Phil Chardis tweeted that Shabazz Napier’s foot injury made him doubtful for the game. He ended up playing 30 minutes off the bench.

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No lingering effects from Napier’s rant Saturday, unless you want to blame it for the Huskies’ ridiculously bad start. Players were ticked, no doubt. Roscoe Smith said ”we didn’t need that. I think Shabazz knows he kind of messed up,” and Jeremy Lamb, asked if Napier’s remarks were accurate, said, “I don’t know. … I don’t know.”

But players apparently were willing to chalk it up to Shabazz being Shabazz. “We just moved on,” Smith said. “We’ve got bigger things to worry about.”

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Got to save something to write for tomorrow. How about Roscoe Smith playing 40 minutes? He was smiling ear to ear, happy to be playing such a big part and George Blaney loved his defense on JayVaughn Pinkston. Here is Blaney’s complete take.

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And of course, there was drama in the game. All things aside, great finish. And great Bettina Hansen’s pics to  match.

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Don’t know what this Holy Water thing with Alex Oriakhi was all about. Jeff Jacobs was on the case for us, though.

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Training it home Tuesday. Will talk to you then. Don’t forget our live chat at the usual time, Thursday at 10:30 p.m.

 

 

 

 
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6 Responses to UConn 73, Villanova 70 (OT): Wrapping Things Up From Philly

  1. Michael K says:
    2012/02/21 at 9:45 am

    Although, as Dom says, this is a game Uconn was supposed to win anyway, it sure looked like they weren’t going to- at least through the first third of the game or so. Regardless of the fact this undermanned Villanova team was without key players Wayns (especially Wayns) and Bell, this was a game the where the struggling Huskies could have just folded after falling so far behind so quickly- but they didn’t. They showed something rarely on display up to this point in the season which is grit, determination and persistence through the rest of the game. For that, they get my applause.

    Win or lose, as a fan, all I expect from them is to give their all for the entire 40 minutes (+ OT if applicable) every game. If they can work together as a team and never, never quit, I believe they can beat anyone- even Syracuse. I really do believe that.

    In closing, I’d also like to say I feel for Jay Wright and his Villanova Wildcats; it’s been a tough season. As Huskies fans, we definitely feel their pain. They have put forth some spirited efforts against good opponents this season, but just haven’t been able to sustain/finish and come up with many wins. I really do believe the program will turn around and we will see the to-be-reckoned with Wildcats us Big East fans are accustomed to.

  2. Courant Photo Blog | UConn beats Villanova at the Buzzer says:
    2012/02/21 at 10:32 am

    [...] Read all about it in the game story from beat writer Dom Amore. [...]

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  3. Michael K says:
    2012/02/22 at 10:15 pm

    When the Huskies lose, there is a lot more activity on the blog. Kind of sad, actually.

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