Do It!

The Huskies Amazing

Run to the Title
By Jeff Franklin
 ALL SMILES
It is simply remarkable what Con-
necticut has been able to do this
season. Winning the Maui Invita-
tional, Big East Tournament and
NCAA Tournament all in one
season, the Huskies know what it
takes to win big games. Few saw the
hot streak coming even after the
impressive Maui performance be-
cause the Huskies fell to 9th in the
Big East Standings at season’s end.
Though it had never been done
before, the team battled its way to
victory for 5 straight days in the Big
East Tournament and had all the
momentum on Selection Sunday
where the team earned a 3 seed.
Leading the charge for the Hus-
kies was Junior sensation Kemba
POY Candidate Kemba Walker looks back on his dream season.
Walker, who matured greatly in
the offseason to become the leader
of this talented squad. Finishing
second in the National Player of
the Year Race to a talented senior
in Jimmer Ferdette, Walker was “all
smiles” once given the opportunity
to participate in the tradition of
great teams: cutting down the nets,
throwing on the championship
t-shirt and ball cap and holding up
“It’s surreal. When we cut
down the nets, words can’t
describe it.” -Kemba Walker
the hardware. Walker averaged 23.5
points, 4.5 assists, and 1.9 steals
per game for the season and his
most staggering production came
in tournament play. Though he has
recently announced that he will be
testing the waters in the NBA next
season, UConn fans everywhere
should be thanking Kemba for all
that he has done in his short time
in the College Basketball spotlight.
 Starting
Fresh
Freshmen Jeremy Lamb and Shabazz Napier begin the celebration as the final seconds expire in Houston.
While Kemba Walker gets all the
credit, don’t count out freshman
phenom’s Shabazz Napier and
Jeremy Lamb. If Kemba is Super-
man, these two are Batman and
Robin. As part of the supporting
cast, Napier and Lamb are part of
the reason Kemba is so successful.
Assists are only possible when the
guys you pass the ball to make the
shot, something that comes natural
to both young athletes. Napier’s 7.8
PPG, 3.02 APG and 1.61 SPG along
with Lamb’s 11.14 PPG, 1.61 APG
and 4.46 RPG have picked the Hus-
kies up when their star has strug-
gled or aided in destroying teams
when each are “on their game.”
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 Repeat?

Many people may give the Huskies Jamal Coombs-McDaniel. While it this team has a lot of depth, great
a “slim to none” chance at reclaim- is near impossible to replace a star coaching, and young players be-
ing the title for a number of rea- contributer like Kemba Walker, coming more experienced and ac-
sons. Kemba is off customed to win-
to the NBA and ning in the clutch.
Jim Calhoun has Watch out for
to sit out a number the Huskies next
of Big East regular season because this
season games for time, they will not
NCAA recruit- be flying under the
ing violations. Not radar.
the best start but
it could happen,
right? Along with
the aforementioned
Lamb and Napier,
the Huskies will be
returning multiple
starters from their
post presence, Alex
Oriakhi, to Roscoe Kemba Walker cuts down the net to cap off his college career.
Smith, and 4