Huskies Can’t Avoid Letdown in Loss To Friars

Sadly for Huskies fans, the Providence partisans who jeered at UConn during the introductions would turn out to be correct Wednesday night at the Dunkin' Donuts center - Stephen Dunn/Hartford Courant

This was the perfect trap game for the UConn Huskies men’s basketball team. They were coming off a win over the then No. 1 Texas Longhorns while the Providence Friars were coming off a disappointing loss to the South Florida Bulls.

The goal for UConn was to not have a letdown and continue the momentum they built in Saturday’s win. Unfortunately for them that just didn’t happen on Wednesday night at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, RI as they fell to the Friars 81-66.

The No. 19 Huskies fall to 13-7 (3-4 Big East) while the Friars improve to 12-8 (4-4).

UConn acting head coach George Blaney does not like what he sees in the second half as the Friars pull ahead by 10 points - Stephen Dunn/Hartford CourantKemba Walker and Gavin Edwards led the way for the Huskies with 17 points each. Walker also added eight rebounds and seven assists while posting no turnovers after having a career-high six in the win over Texas.  Stanley Robinson added 14 points while Jerome Dyson had 12 points.

Jamine Patterson paced the Friars with 23 points and 14 rebounds.  Sharaud Curry chipped in with 18 points and Bilal Dixon added a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds.  Duke Mondy rounded out the Friars in double-digits with 10 points.

Things were looking good for the Huskies early on in the 1st half.

Dyson got them started with two 3-pointers as they took an early 6-2 lead. They then continued to build a lead that would grow to as high as 10 points at 29-19 that forced the Friars to take a 30 second timeout.

And that’s when the game changed. The Friars came out of the timeout all charged up as they went on a 12-2 run that forced George Blaney to take a timeout before the final media timeout of the half.

The Huskies scored the next four points but the Friars responded by scoring the final five points of the first half to take a 36-35 lead into the locker rooms.

UConn could never quite catch the Friars over the first part of the second half trailing by as much as seven points. They would work that lead down and would take a 56-55 lead on a Robinson layup with just over 10 minutes to go.

With 9:36 to go in the game, Robinson made a jumper to give the Huskies a three point lead at 58-55. From that point on it was all Friars as they went on a 20-3 run (that included a 14-0 run) to put the game away.

Edwards said it best after the game:

“We just took our foot off the gas. We thought that we had the game won already. Everybody was just resting on their laurels from the Texas game, and as a result, nobody really came out to play, and we got beat.”

Given what the Huskies had done on Saturday,  everyone did expect them to win. But they clearly got outplayed by a team that wanted it more than they did. There’s been losses during the year that have hurt but this one hurts worse.

They needed this win as they’ve yet to win a road game in the Big East or anywhere else for that matter this season. As good as that Texas win looks on their NCAA Tournament resume, if they don’t start winning some road games in the Big East they could find themselves back in the NIT.

UConn returns to action on Saturday afternoon as the Marquette Golden Eagles come to the XL Center for a Big East matchup. Tip is scheduled for 12 p.m. and will be televised locally on My-TV9 and SNY.

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UConn Women’s Streak Goes To 59 In Win Over Rutgers

For the first ten minutes of the game, it looked as though the Rutgers Scarlet Knights were going to have a chance to end the UConn Huskies 58-game winning streak.

Then the Huskies did what they do best, they delivered the knockout blow with a 20-2 run and never looked back in a 73-36 win in front of 12,437 at the XL Center in Hartford, CT on Tuesday night.

It’s the 59th straight win for the Huskies as they improve to 20-0 (7-0 Big East). The Scarlet Knights fall to 12-8 (4-2).

UConn guard Kalana Greene drives to the basket against Rutgers in the first half at the XL Center in Hartford on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010 - AP PhotoMaya Moore led the way with a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Huskies. She also four assists, three steals and two blocks. Kalana Greene chipped in with 17 point and five rebounds while Tina Charles had 11 points and eight rebounds.

Chelsea Lee had 10 points and six rebounds for the Scarlet Knights with April Sykes adding eight points and six rebounds. Rutgers’ leading scorer Brittany Ray was held to just three points.

This game was not pretty for the first few minutes as neither team could buy a basket. It took 2 minutes and 28 seconds before Moore opened up the scoring in the game with a layup. Rutgers scored the next four points before a Tiffany Hayes three-pointer gave the Huskies the lead for good at 5-4 with 15:49 to go in the half.

Normally after the first media timeout, if they already haven’t put the game away, the Huskies go on one of their patented runs. They didn’t though as Rutgers hung tough as they trailed 10-8. Then the Huskies turned it up going on the 20-2 run to open up a 30-10 lead.

They finished up the half leading by 25 points at 40-15.

Rutgers couldn’t do anything to get closer as a seven point run by the Huskies pushed the lead to 48-19 and they never looked back.

While it wasn’t pretty early on, the Huskies played the last 30 minutes as solid as they had at any other point this season. It’s still going to take a perfect game from someone and the opponent will need UConn to play like they did in the first ten minutes for a whole game.

The Huskies are back in action on Saturday afternoon when they head to the Peterson Events Center to take on the Pittsburgh Panthers. The game is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. and will be broadcast locally here in Connecticut on CPTV.

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2010 Boston Red Sox Spring Training Broadcast Schedule

Boston Red SoxBOSTON, MA – The Boston Red Sox have announced the broadcast schedule for the 2010 Spring Training season.

This spring, NESN will televise nine of the club’s 35 exhibition games, including seven games at City of Palms Park. The flagship radio station of the Red Sox will air 15 total games, including the April 3 matchup against Washington at Nationals Park at 4:05 p.m. Fourteen of those broadcasts will be carried on WEEI 850 AM with one game airing on WRKO 680 AM. Additionally, ESPN will televise two of Boston’s Grapefruit League contests.

Full broadcast schedule coming up after the jump.

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2010 NCAA Women’s Basketball Rankings (Jan. 26)

AP Top 25 ESPN/USA Today Poll
1. Connecticut (40)
19-0 1000 1. Connecticut (31)
19-0 775
2. Stanford 17-1 960 2. Stanford 17-1 742
3. Notre Dame 17-1 890 3. Notre Dame 17-1 702
4. Ohio State 20-1 854 4. Nebraska 17-0 676
5. Tennessee 17-2 832 5. Tennessee 17-2 649
6. Nebraska 17-0 826 6. Ohio State 20-2 585
7. Duke 17-3 754 7. Duke 17-3 577
8. Texas A&M 15-2 694 8. Texas A&M 15-2 552
9. Georgia 18-2 691 9. Georgia 18-2 547
10. Xavier 14-3 600 10. Xavier 14-3 504
11. Oklahoma 14-4 569 11. West Virginia 18-2 435
12. North Carolina 15-3 527 12. Oklahoma 14-4 429
13. Florida State 18-3 515 13. North Carolina 16-3 401
14. Baylor 14-4 480 14. Florida State 18-3 372
15. Oklahoma State 16-3 458 15. Georgetown 17-2 338
16. West Virginia 18-2 441 16. Baylor 14-4 312
17. Georgetown 17-2 369 17. Oklahoma State 16-3 249
18. LSU 14-4 348 18. Iowa State 15-3 210
19. Texas 13-6 184 19. LSU 14-4 184
20. TCU 14-4 181 20. Virginia 14-5 167
21. Virginia 14-5 169 21. TCU 14-4 141
22. Iowa State 15-3 94 22. Wisconsin-Green Bay 16-2 138
23. Penn State 15-4 84 23. Kentucky 16-3 100
24. Wisconsin-Green Bay 16-2 81 24. Vanderbilt 14-6 77
25. Georgia Tech 16-5 77 25. Texas 13-6 49
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES
Michigan State 59, Kentucky 53, Gonzaga 53, Vanderbilt 34, St. John’s 32, Mississippi 30, USC 13, Vermont 12, Hartford 11, Dayton 6, Temple 6, Duquesne 3, Marist 3, Wisconsin 3, Syracuse 2, Miami (FL) 1, Southern Methodist 1, Penn State 25, Hartford 16, Syracuse 16, Gonzaga 15, Michigan State 10, Gardner-Webb 9, James Madison 9, Dayton 8, St. John’s 8, Wisconsin 8, Vermont 6, East Carolina 5, Rutgers 5, Tulane 5, Georgia Tech 4, Temple 4, Marquette 3, Marist 2, Mississippi 2, DePaul 1, Fresno State 1, Miami (FL) 1, Purdue 1,
Dropped From Rankings Dropped From Rankings
Vanderbilt 21, Vermont 24. None

Red Sox, Hermida Avoid Arbitration

Florida Marlins' Jeremy Hermida celebrates as he runs to home plate after hitting a walk-off home run in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Land Shark Stadium in Miami on Tuesday, June 9, 2009. The Marlins won 4-3 - AP PhotoBoston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein has done it again. He’s once again avoided going to an arbitration hearing.

Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald is reporting that the Red Sox and Hermida have come to terms on a 1 year, $3.345 million deal.

Hermida had asked for $3.85 million while the Red Sox countered with $2.95 million. He had made $2.25 million while a member of the Florida Marlins in 2009.

Get ready folks, baseball is right around the corner. Truck Day is just 17 days away.

Dyson Named To Big East Honor Roll

Texas' Avery Bradley can only watch as UConn guard Jerome Dyson puts the finishing touch on a score off of a Texas turnover late in the second half at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs on Jan. 23, 2010. Dyson led the Huskies with 32 points in their 88-74 upset over Texas - Patrick Raycraft/Hartford Courant

UConn Huskies senior guard Jerome Dyson was named to the Big East Honor Roll on Monday for his performances in UConn’s two wins last week.

Dyson averaged 26.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and four assists in UConn’s win over St. John’s and the then No.1 Texas Longhorns on Saturday.

In the win against St. John’s, Dyson had 21 points, six rebounds and five assists. In the win over the Longhorns, Dyson had a career-high 32 points, three rebounds and three assists.

The UConn men are back in action on Wednesday night when they head to the Dunkin Donuts Center to take on the Providence Friars. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. and will be televised locally on My-TV9 and SNY. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can listen to the game on the WTIC/UConn Radio Network.

Maya Moore Named Big East Player of the Week

UConn forward Maya Moore (23) blocks a shot by Villanova guard Rachel Roberts (2) during the first half on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 at The Pavilion in Villanova, Pa - AP Photo

Well Tina Charles reign as Big East Player of the Week is over. But the honor will be staying in Storrs, CT for another week.

UConn Huskies junior All-American Maya Moore has been named the Big East Player of the Week. It’s the second time this season that Moore has been chosen.

Moore averaged 22 points, 5.5 rebounds and four assists in UConn’s road wins over Duke and Villanova.

In the win over Duke, Moore has 20 points, including six 3-pointers, and had four assists. In the win over Villanova on Saturday, Moore had 24 points, eight rebounds and four assists in just 23 minutes played.

The UConn women are back in action on Tuesday night when the Rutgers Scarlet Knights come to the XL Center in Hartford, CT for a Big East matchup. The game will begin at 7 p.m. and televised somewhat nationally on CBS College Sports.  If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can listen to the game on the WTIC/UConn Radio Network.

2010 NCAA Men’s Basketball Rankings (Jan. 25)

AP Top 25 ESPN/USA Today Poll
1. Kentucky (65) 19-0 1,625 1. Kentucky (31) 19-0 775
2. Kansas 18-1 1,519 2. Kansas 18-1 739
3. Villanova 18-1 1,503 3. Villanova 18-1 714
4. Syracuse 19-1 1,455 4. Syracuse 19-1 680
5. Michigan State 17-3 1,324 5. Michigan State 17-3 627
6. Texas 17-2 1,307 6. Texas 17-2 613
7. Georgetown 15-3 1,124 7. Duke 16-3 555
8. Duke 16-3 1,120 8. Gonzaga 16-3 533
9. West Virginia 15-3 1,113 9. West Virginia 15-3 506
10. Purdue 16-3 977 10. Brigham Young 20-1 485
11. Kansas State 16-3 960 11. Georgetown 15-3 483
12. Brigham Young 20-1 894 12. Purdue 16-3 420
13. Gonzaga 16-3 847 13. Kansas State 16-3 409
14. Tennessee 15-3 837 14. Tennessee 15-3 385
15. Temple 17-3 707 15. Temple 17-3 339
16. Wisconsin 16-4 635 16. Wisconsin 16-4 282
17. Pittsburgh 15-4 599 17. Pittsburgh 15-4 267
18. Mississippi 15-4 411 18. Butler 16-4 213
19. Connecticut 13-6 286 19. Connecticut 13-6 199
20. Ohio State 14-6 270 20. Mississippi 15-4 151
21. Vanderbilt 15-3 264 21. Clemson 15-5 112
22. Georgia Tech 14-5 194 22. Georgia Tech 14-5 105
23. New Mexico 18-3 180 23. Vanderbilt 15-3 71
24. Baylor 15-3 157 24. Ohio State 14-6 62
25. UAB 17-2 125 25. Northern Iowa 17-2 60
Others Receiving Votes Others Receiving Votes
Florida State 111, Northern Iowa 106, Clemson 103, Wake Forest 98, Butler 69, Mississippi State 42, Texas A&M 29, Oklahoma State 25, Missouri 24, Maryland 22, Cornell 16, Old Dominion 11, Xavier 11, UNLV 6, Northwestern 5, Siena 3, Virginia 3, Saint Mary’s 2, Louisiana Tech 2, California 2, Coastal Carolina 1, Harvard 1. Florida State 50, Cornell 38, New Mexico 38, Baylor 37, Wake Forest 23, UAB 18, Oklahoma State 16, Missouri 16, Saint Mary’s 11, Mississippi State 9, Maryland 6, UNLV 6, Siena 4, Texas A&M 4, Old Dominion 3, Louisiana Tech 3, Xavier 3, Notre Dame 2, California 2, North Carolina 1.
Dropped From Rankings Dropped From Rankings
Clemson 17, Northern Iowa 20, Mississippi State 23. North Carolina 23.