Uconn 67 Syracuse 60

Take a deep breath, Calhoun. They’re finally coming around and you’re actually winning against quality opponents.

This is the first game that Uconn has been dominant on the boards and created deep foul problems for Syracuse’s big men. Uconn played stout down low, standing tall, with hands outstretched and blocked out. Syracuse were caught pulling and pushing for position.

On offense, the game has slowed down for the guards, passing it along the top and finding open shots and converting them. Uconn found the spark that they held for a brief instant in the Providence game. Threes splashed in flurries. Syracuse countered each spurt with a little of their own, no team pulling away with a double digit lead and this young team, who scrapped for the win two days ago, powered their way to the victory.

Now Syracuse has been plagued with putting up games where their effort on the offensive glass was less than satisfactory. This team has turned a major corner with this victory. They need to work on this momentum and take care of business. Beating Georgia Tech will add another piece to their resume and they need it.

This was a total team effort with five players scoring in double figures. Austrie led the way with 14 points and 7 boards. Price coming of a deep thigh bruise found his stroke and scored on some drives and long range, scoring 12 points in 20 minutes. He’s for real. Johnson shined with 10 points, a spectacular dunk, 3 boards and 4 for 6 shooting. Adrien is Adrien and did his work. 12 points, 12 rebounds, 5 offensive and being a force and fouling out two big men and two more on the ropes with 4 fouls.

It still ain’t all roses for these cubs. The free throw shooting was horrendous. Going 19 for 37 isn’t going to cut it. An experienced team would have been up by ten and sustained the lead from the line. But this team is improving and winning and with each win, the more confidence this team will have.

The next series of games are going to either lift this wave of momentum the cubs have garnered or wash their dreams of a post season away.