John R. Wooden Award

It took six overtimes to determine a winner between the #4 UConn Huskies and and #20 Syracuse Orange and in the end it was the Orange who came out on top 127-117 in six overtime periods to advance to the semifinals of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden.

The Orange hadn’t lead at all in the first five overtimes but that all changed early in the 6th OT when Andy Rautins hit a three-pointer to start an 8-0 run the Orange. A.J. Price got the Huskies on the board with a jumper with 2:11 remaining but a 5-0 run increased the Syracuse lead to 11 at 123-112. The Huskies got it to six on a Kemba Walker layup and a Scottie Haralson three but the Orange hit their final four free throws to seal the win.

The game almost didn’t go to the first overtime.

With four seconds left to go in the game, Walker grabbed the rebound and layed the ball back in to tie the game at 71. After a timeout by Syracuse, the Orange threw the ball down the court that was tipped by a UConn player and ended up in the hands of Eric Devendorf who nailed what was thought to be the game-winning three pointer.

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As is the case when shots are made at the buzzer, the referees went to the replay and after a few minutes of looking at, they determined that the shot hadn’t left Devendorf’s hand in time and nullified the basket. This set up the epic battle between the two teams.

This game came down to free throw shooting and it was Syracuse who was better at the foul line. They hit 23-of-26 in overtime and 40-of-51 (78.4%) in the game while UConn was 24-of-42 (57.1%). When you can’t hit your free throws, you’re not going to win as I’ve said for as long as I can remember.

Price led the Huskies (27-4) with 33 points and 10 assists before fouling out in the 6th OT. Stanley Robinson had a great game with 28 points and 14 rebounds before fouling out while Hasheem Thabeet had 19 points, 14 rebounds and 7 blocks before he fouled out. Jeff Adrien also had a double-double with 12 points and 16 rebounds and also added 7 assists.

Jonny Flynn, who played 67 minutes, led Syracuse (25-8) with 34 points and 11 assists. Paul Harris had a monster game on the glass with 22 rebounds and had 29 points while Devendorf added 22 points. Rautins added 20 points and Rick Jackson finished with 10 before fouling out.

The question remains whether or not this loss affects UConn getting a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. I say no because I don’t think you can penalize them for losing this game, especially with the fact it went 6 overtimes.

Of course, UConn’s seeding in the NCAA Tournament won’t matter if they don’t learn how to make a damn free throw.

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With regards to Queen

The latest mock draft from ESPN.com’s Mel Kiper and Scouts, Inc. Todd McShay are out (ESPN Insider) and there are two UConn Huskies football players projected to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft in April.

Kiper has running back Donald Brown going to the Philadelphia Eagles 21st overall in the first round and also has Darius Butler going to the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 32nd pick.

Both Kiper and McShay also have the New England Patriots taking Southern Cal linebacker Clay Matthews with the 23rd overall pick.

1. Detroit Lions (Record: 0-16)

Kiper pick: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
McShay pick: Stafford

2. St. Louis Rams (2-14)

Kiper pick: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
McShay pick: Smith

3. Kansas City Chiefs (2-14)

Kiper pick: Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest
McShay pick: Curry

4. Seattle Seahawks (4-12)

Kiper pick: Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
McShay pick: B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College

5. Cleveland Browns (4-12)

Kiper pick: B.J. Raji
McShay pick: Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas

6. Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1)

Kiper pick: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
McShay pick: Eugene Monroe

7. Oakland Raiders (5-11)

Kiper pick: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri
McShay pick: Maclin

8. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11)

Kiper pick: Mark Sanchez, QB, USC
McShay pick: Michael Crabtree

9. Green Bay Packers (6-10)

Kiper pick: Brian Orakpo
McShay pick: Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State

10. San Francisco 49ers (7-9)

Kiper pick: Aaron Maybin
McShay pick: Andre Smith, OT, Alabama

11. Buffalo Bills (7-9)

Kiper pick: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
McShay pick: Everette Brown, DE, Florida State

12. Denver Broncos (8-8)

Kiper pick: Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU
McShay pick: Jackson

13. Washington Redskins (8-8)

Kiper pick: Andre Smith
McShay pick: Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi

14. New Orleans Saints (8-8)

Kiper pick: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
McShay pick: Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State

15. Houston Texans (8-8)

Kiper pick: Brian Cushing, OLB, USC
McShay pick: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee

16. San Diego Chargers (8-8)

Kiper pick: Malcolm Jenkins
McShay pick: Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC

17. New York Jets (9-7)

Kiper pick: Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
McShay pick: Mark Sanchez

18. Chicago Bears (9-7)

Kiper pick: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
McShay pick: Heyward-Bey

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)

Kiper pick: Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State
McShay pick: Freeman

20. Detroit Lions (from 9-7 DAL) (0-16)

Kiper pick: Robert Ayers
McShay pick: Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi

21. Philadelphia Eagles (9-6-1)

Kiper pick: Donald Brown, RB, Connecticut
McShay pick: Knowshon Moreno

22. Minnesota Vikings (10-6)

Kiper pick: Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina
McShay pick: Percy Harvin

23. New England Patriots (11-5)

Kiper pick: Clay Matthews, OLB, USC
McShay pick: Matthews

24. Atlanta Falcons (11-5)

Kiper pick: Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech
McShay pick: Brandon Pettigrew

25. Miami Dolphins (11-5)

Kiper pick: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
McShay pick: Brian Cushing

26. Baltimore Ravens (11-5)

Kiper pick: Rey Maualuga
McShay pick: Vontae Davis

27. Indianapolis Colts (12-4)

Kiper pick: Peria Jerry
McShay pick: Evander Hood, DT, Missouri

28. Philadelphia Eagles (from 12-4 CAR) (9-6-1)

Kiper pick: Michael Oher
McShay pick: Eben Britton, OT, Arizona

29. New York Giants (12-4)

Kiper pick: Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers
McShay pick: James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio State

30. Tennessee Titans (13-3)

Kiper pick: Everette Brown
McShay pick: Hakeem Nicks

31. Arizona Cardinals (9-7)

Kiper pick: Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State
McShay pick: Wells

32. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)

Kiper pick: Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut
McShay pick: Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest

Lots of change in updated mock draft [ESPN Insider]