LYNDHURST, NJ – Have netbook will travel. Seriously, a time to assess the Big East Championship game. UCONN made it five wins in five days and one satisfying Big East championship at Madison Square Garden. The Huskies prevailed 69-66 in a game that literally came down to the final shot.
Possessions: UCONN 65 Louisville 65
Offensive Efficiency: UCONN 106 Louisville 102
* An inside job. Just looking at the free throw rates (FTM/FGA) tells you UCONN was more in the paint as opposed to Louisville’s perimeter game. The FT rates:
UCONN 36%
Louisville 12%
Only 20% of UCONN’s attempts were from beyond the arc. Louisville took 25 of their 58 attempts from three point range. That is nearly 50% of their shots dialed long distance. The three point percentages:
Louisville 7 of 25 (28%)
UCONN 3 0f 11 (27%)
Louisville was 19 of 33 from two point range. A 58% mark giving the Cards a 51% eFG percentage. UCONN managed only 41% eFG. The achilles heel for the Cardinals was the turnover. Louisville had a 25% TO rate, a decidedly high mark in a one possession game like this.
UCONN’s Kemba Walker was the Husky pacesetter with 19 points. Walker showed he IS only human with 5 turnovers but did have three assists and steals.
Preston Knowles led the Cards with 18 points. Knowles shot 4 of 7 from three. The last attempt won‘t be forgotten anytime soon. That one rimmed and could have tied it and forced OT for the Cardinals.
Call UCONN coach Jim Calhoun ‘persistent consistent’. Calhoun refuses to foul when the opposition is down three and going for a last second potentially tying shot. He wouldn’t foul against Syracuse and the Orange forced OT with a last second trey. Calhoun refused the common foul against Louisville as well. This time he refused to foul again but no basket. No overtime. You can give examples and site research why a foul should be committed to avoid a trey in that situation. Give Calhoun credit. He has a philosophy and sticks with it. Overall, his results aren’t too shabby.
