Two down, three to go. Unlikely, still, but it seems familiar here at Madison Square Garden.
The Huskies needed overtime to do it, and some serious heroics from Shabazz Napier, but they toppled West Virginia and moved on to a quarterfinal game against Syracuse. And we all know Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim doesn’t give a rat’s behind about the Big East tournament title while Jim Calhoun considers it close to everything.
Should be interesting as the two Jims face off for the first time this season. Calhoun was out for both regular-season meetings, both of which Syracuse won.
Some quick stuff as I work to make up time chewed up by a press conference announcing Temple as the newest Big East member:
- Napier had moments of incredible play, particularly a personal nine-point that tied the game late in regulation. He needed just 1:27 to score those points and came up with two huge steals and breakaway layups in the process. He finished with 26 points
- The Huskies got mangled on the boards, giving up 26 offensive, and still won. I have no idea how other than to say the Huskies seem to have captured something.
- Jeremy Lamb was invisible for most of the second half and early in overtime but managed to hit the 3-pointer that won the game. That’s what big-time players do. He appears to be playing for an NBA contract, scoring 47 points in two games here.
- UConn’s backcourt, including Ryan Boatright, accounted for 58 of UConn’s points. And Lamb had a team-high eight rebounds. The guards did everything. The front court, well, it played great defense at the end but the rest of it was nothing to write home about.
- West Virginia is officially done as a Big East team. It was fitting that it was knocked out by UConn and not fellow defector Syracuse.
- Lots of sentiment here that Syracuse will lose to UConn tomorrow. I don’t see it but the Huskies did play the Orange tough twice during the regular season.
OK, I’m toast. Long, long day.
