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In the days before the huge game on Saturday, I decided it would be a good idea to watch this instant classic once again to get myself in the right mindset. A couple of things stuck out:
1. This has to be considered one of the best games in BET history. UConn and Syracuse shot 38 and 37% respectively, but I thought the quality of the game was better than those numbers indicated. In the first half Tyler Olander came out of nowhere to give UConn seven points off the bench. He hit the glass hard, made agressive moves to the basket, and shot with confidence. I'm not sure if Rick Jackson made a mean joke about his mom or what, because the way he played in this game is unlike any other game I've watched him play in his two years here. He had a certain edge to him that I hope he brings on Saturday.
After a sloppy first half, the second half was one for the ages. Both teams hit a ton of shots, the pace of the game was cranked up, the crowd was into it, and Kemba was trading jabs with Kris Joseph and Scoop Jardine. Once UConn built a six point lead with about fifty seconds left, the game looked to be over, before Cuse's press gave UConn fits, Jardine banked a three, Napier missed the front end of a one and one, Jardine hit another three, and Beverly threw the ball away because Cuse doubled Kemba on the inbounds. It was a crazy ending.
In the overtime guys just looked gassed out there. Kemba looked like he was about to pass out on free throws before suddenly finding another gear, Syracuse couldn't hit a free throw, and the only kid who played with any sort of composure was Lamb, who calmly drained two floaters within a minute to ice the game for UConn.
2. At times in the second half, UConn tore the zone to shreds. They would have Okwandu set a ball screen for Kemba, dump the ball to Lamb at the foul line, and then Lamb would either pass it out to the wing, take the ten footer, or dump it to Olander on the baseline. Really, I'm not sure why UConn does not use Lamb at the foul line more often this season, because he's long, he's a decent enough decision maker, and obviously he's money with that ten footer, which causes the zone to extend out further than they want to, leaving the wing and the baseline open.
Secondly, look at the screens Okwandu sets, and look at the way Kemba uses the screens. Kemba could basically get by the first defender in the zone any time he wanted to, much because of his advanced utilization of screens and Okwandu's advanced understanding of how to set one properly. Kids like Drummond need to take note.
3. Lastly, this game will remind you just how f'in good Kemba was. I can't explain in words how f'in good that performance was, so I'll just tell you that the game Kemba played against Cuse was one of the best (If not the best) individual performances I've EVER seen at the college level.
The kid had 33 points (9/18 from the floor, 13/14 from the line), 5 assists, 12 rebounds, and 6 steals, while playing every single minute of the game just a day after pistol whipping #4 Pittsburgh.
I'll say this: UConn has had a lot of really, really good players come through the program over the years, and none of them came close to effecting a game the way Kemba on this particular night. Often forgotten is the exceptional defender Kemba was, and this game was no exception. He shut down his man at the top of the defense, rotating between Jardine and Waiters, he consistently slid on help side defense to either strip the ball or contest a shot, he barked out signals on defense all night long (which is absolutely crucial to such a young team), forced his teammates to rotate and hedge properly on screens, and singled handedly turned UConn into the best defensive team in the nation.
I'm not exaggerating when I say every single lose ball that was available during that game was scooped up by Kemba. UConn outrebounded Syracuse 45-37 simply because Kemba wanted the ball more than anyone else, even at a generous 6'1. His instincts, tenacity, and toughness are to be marveled at like a famous Picasso painting.
As I've said before, UConn has had many great players play here, even Hall of Famers. Kemba was just a little bit better than all of them during this season, and for the most part, that's why his departure for the NBA has caused so much damage. We, as UConn fans, are truly blessed to have watched a player such as Kemba Walker. He's one of those guys who comes around maybe once every 20 years if you're lucky.
1. This has to be considered one of the best games in BET history. UConn and Syracuse shot 38 and 37% respectively, but I thought the quality of the game was better than those numbers indicated. In the first half Tyler Olander came out of nowhere to give UConn seven points off the bench. He hit the glass hard, made agressive moves to the basket, and shot with confidence. I'm not sure if Rick Jackson made a mean joke about his mom or what, because the way he played in this game is unlike any other game I've watched him play in his two years here. He had a certain edge to him that I hope he brings on Saturday.
After a sloppy first half, the second half was one for the ages. Both teams hit a ton of shots, the pace of the game was cranked up, the crowd was into it, and Kemba was trading jabs with Kris Joseph and Scoop Jardine. Once UConn built a six point lead with about fifty seconds left, the game looked to be over, before Cuse's press gave UConn fits, Jardine banked a three, Napier missed the front end of a one and one, Jardine hit another three, and Beverly threw the ball away because Cuse doubled Kemba on the inbounds. It was a crazy ending.
In the overtime guys just looked gassed out there. Kemba looked like he was about to pass out on free throws before suddenly finding another gear, Syracuse couldn't hit a free throw, and the only kid who played with any sort of composure was Lamb, who calmly drained two floaters within a minute to ice the game for UConn.
2. At times in the second half, UConn tore the zone to shreds. They would have Okwandu set a ball screen for Kemba, dump the ball to Lamb at the foul line, and then Lamb would either pass it out to the wing, take the ten footer, or dump it to Olander on the baseline. Really, I'm not sure why UConn does not use Lamb at the foul line more often this season, because he's long, he's a decent enough decision maker, and obviously he's money with that ten footer, which causes the zone to extend out further than they want to, leaving the wing and the baseline open.
Secondly, look at the screens Okwandu sets, and look at the way Kemba uses the screens. Kemba could basically get by the first defender in the zone any time he wanted to, much because of his advanced utilization of screens and Okwandu's advanced understanding of how to set one properly. Kids like Drummond need to take note.
3. Lastly, this game will remind you just how f'in good Kemba was. I can't explain in words how f'in good that performance was, so I'll just tell you that the game Kemba played against Cuse was one of the best (If not the best) individual performances I've EVER seen at the college level.
The kid had 33 points (9/18 from the floor, 13/14 from the line), 5 assists, 12 rebounds, and 6 steals, while playing every single minute of the game just a day after pistol whipping #4 Pittsburgh.
I'll say this: UConn has had a lot of really, really good players come through the program over the years, and none of them came close to effecting a game the way Kemba on this particular night. Often forgotten is the exceptional defender Kemba was, and this game was no exception. He shut down his man at the top of the defense, rotating between Jardine and Waiters, he consistently slid on help side defense to either strip the ball or contest a shot, he barked out signals on defense all night long (which is absolutely crucial to such a young team), forced his teammates to rotate and hedge properly on screens, and singled handedly turned UConn into the best defensive team in the nation.
I'm not exaggerating when I say every single lose ball that was available during that game was scooped up by Kemba. UConn outrebounded Syracuse 45-37 simply because Kemba wanted the ball more than anyone else, even at a generous 6'1. His instincts, tenacity, and toughness are to be marveled at like a famous Picasso painting.
As I've said before, UConn has had many great players play here, even Hall of Famers. Kemba was just a little bit better than all of them during this season, and for the most part, that's why his departure for the NBA has caused so much damage. We, as UConn fans, are truly blessed to have watched a player such as Kemba Walker. He's one of those guys who comes around maybe once every 20 years if you're lucky.
