CT Coverage of Tonight's Game

[Amal_00]

Calhoun saying the right things to his guys:

www.ctpost.com

Calhoun not ready to panic

STORRS — Jim Calhoun doesn't want to panic. Nor does the UConn coach want to drastically change the way he leads his team on a day-to-day basis.
So even though the No. 24 Huskies have lost two of their last three games, Calhoun is trying to stick to his routine. That includes keeping his occasionally gruff outlook in practice.

"He's still been very supportive, but he's still been getting into us," point guard A.J. Price said Tuesday of Calhoun. "It's about 90 percent getting on us and 10 percent supportive. But, I mean, that 10 percent helps us."

As the Huskies (12-2, 1-1) practiced for tonight's matchup with Marquette (13-4, 0-2) at Gampel Pavilion, Calhoun was still mulling some changes to his starting lineup and in other areas. He had previously hinted that Price may even be benched.

But on Tuesday the coach only sounded about 10 percent likely to make a switch.

"I don't like to make changes for change's sake or panic's sake," Calhoun said prior to a workout in Guyer Gym. "We just have to be more efficient.

As he has for most of his 21 seasons as UConn's coach, Calhoun continues to downplay the importance of a starting spot.

"They know the guys who are going to play," Calhoun said of his team. "If somebody doesn't start, it's not going to affect me or anybody else. Our preparation is the same."

Based on his recent play, forward Stanley Robinson is likely to see more playing time, but he's not a shoo-in to start. And Price says he's not pinning his hopes on continuing in his role as a starter, either. "It wouldn't be tough at all," Price said of coming off the bench. "I'd just have to come out and perform, regardless of whether I start or come off the bench. I have to pick my game up and in turn, as a team, we have to get better."

Price, who has connected on just seven of his last 27 shots (26 percent), and the UConn guards will have a big challenge tonight against the Golden Eagles.

Although it is rather desperate for a league win, Marquette has a team that is seemingly capable of beating anyone in the nation. Their three sophomore guards, Dominic James, Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews, average a combined 42.5 points per game.

"They get enough out of their front court. It's pretty good, better than everybody gives it credit for," Calhoun said. "But we all would be foolhardy not to say that the three kids with the ball — Matthews, McNeal and James — might be the best threesome in the country. They're big, they're strong, they're physical."

McNeal missed one game after bumping heads with Matthews in practice, but returned to the lineup Sunday against Syracuse. Matthews, son of the legendary Bridgeport star by the same name who played at Harding and in the NBA, missed last year's game against UConn because of an injury.

A long workout for the Huskies on Monday, which was highlighted by some 45 minutes of foul shooting, was followed by a shorter, intense workout Tuesday. The Huskies are anxious to get the taste of Saturday's LSU loss out of their mouths.

The Huskies dismissed any talk of being desperate or having a particular sense of urgency, but clearly have to make strides in the near future.

"We're young, but we all have heart," forward Curtis Kelly said. "We have a lot of things to do, a lot of things to prove. People are saying, 'Next year. Next year.' We're trying to make it happen this year."

Marquette at No. 24 UConn

WHAT — Men's basketball

WHEN — Tonight, 7

WHERE — Gampel Pavilion, Storrs (10,167)

ON THE AIR — Ch. 61, SNY; WICC-AM 600, WTIC-AM 1080

BROADCASTERS — TV: Dave Sims and Ron Perry; Radio: Joe D'Ambrosio and Wayne Norman

RECORDS — Marquette 13-4, 0-2 Big East; UConn 12-2, 1-1

LAST MEETING — Marquette upset No. 2 UConn 94-79 on Jan. 3, 2006, in Milwaukee.

SKINNY — UConn hasn't lost two games in a row since Feb. 9 and Feb. 15, 2004, when it lost at Notre Dame and at Pittsburgh. ... The Huskies have won 31 straight games at home. ... No Big East team has ever won on its first trip to Gampel Pavilion. ... UConn will unveil a banner honoring coach Jim Calhoun's induction into the National College Basketball Hall of Fame prior to the game. ... After being 15th last week, Marquette dropped out of this week's AP poll following losses to Providence and Syracuse. ... UConn is shooting 51 percent (47-of-92) from the free-throw line in its last four games.

Marquette STARTERS — 5-11 Soph. PG Dominic James (16.1 ppg, 5.5 apg), 6-3 Soph. SG Jerel McNeal (14.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg), 6-10 Jr. C Ousmane Barrow (7.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg), 6-5 Soph. SF Wesley Matthews (11.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg), 6-6 Fr. PF Lazar Hayward (6.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg). Reserves — 6-9 Jr. F Dan Fitzgerald, 6-0 Fr. G David Cubillan, 6-8 Soph. F Dwight Burke, 6-8 Jr. F Lawrence Blackledge, 6-7 Sr. PF Jamil Lott.

UConn STARTERS — 6-2 Soph. PG A.J. Price (12.0 ppg, 5.3 apg), 6-3 Fr. SG Jerome Dyson (13.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg), 7-3 Fr. C Hasheem Thabeet (7.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg), 6-6 Soph. SF Marcus Johnson (8.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg), 6-7 Soph. PF Jeff Adrien (12.9 ppg, 10.1 rpg). Reserves — 6-9 Fr. F Stanley Robinson, 6-3 Soph. G Craig Austrie, 6-1 Fr. G Doug Wiggins, 6-9 Fr. F Curtis Kelly, 6-9 Fr. F/C Gavin Edwards, 6-2 Soph. G Rob Garrison.

INJURIES — UConn: none; Marquette: McNeal (concussion) is probable.

[rocky_warrior]

A surprising lack of talk about the Uconn game tonight, and lots of talk about people still riled up from the 'cuse game.

Fire up people!  It's game day!  UConn will be looking for some revenge (esp their fans!) but UConn is younger and possibly more erratic than Marquette at this point in the year. 

It's gonna' be an all out battle, with both teams looking to regain some respect.    My logical side says the advantage goes to UConn at their place, but my Homer side says MU in a close one.

[Amal_00]

Following the loss at LSU, the general feeling in UCONN land is concern. The only two games they played outside of CT have been losses (WVU, LSU).  Given their inexperience and lack of competition, journalists and fans are still unsure about this team.

I think UConn will be willing to run with Marquette.  It will be interesting to see if Tom Crean is content to allow the game to be up/down.

Unless MU hits FT down the stretch, I think we'll be 0-3.  At least the students aren't back in session at Gampel Pavillion!

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

I'll say this...I was absolutely CERTAIN we were going to get destroyed by UCONN last year.

[tonyreeder]

Getting Adrien in early foul trouble would be a nice start.  That guy could dominate MU on the offensive glass.  Between him and Thabeet I see a lot of put back opportunities for the Huskies. 

[rocky_warrior]

Looking forward to seeing the probably Dyson / McNeal match up.  I'd like to believe McNeal's experience would let him get the best of the Dyson.  But those two will likely be duking it out all night.  Unless they foul each other out