Villanova, UConn have seen better days

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LATE FEBRUARY. Wells Fargo Center. Monday night. ESPN. Villanova-Connecticut. What could be better?

Well, that was the idea when the schedule was made: an annual Big East contender and NCAA Tournament regular against the defending national champs. Reality intervened.

In 2012, the Hartford Hawks have won twice as many games (eight) as the Connecticut Huskies. And Villanova has the second-worst overall record in the Big East.

The UConn point guard is calling out his team. The Villanova point guard has been out with a sprained knee.

Marquette just blew out UConn at home. 'Nova just blew a 20-point first-half lead and lost in overtime to Notre Dame.

The Huskies were 12-1 in the 2011 portion of their schedule and are 4-9 this year. Overall, they are 16-10, 6-8, good for 10th in the Big East. Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun missed the first three league games because of an NCAA suspension and has missed the last five because of spinal stenosis, a painful back condition. He is expected to miss tonight's game, too. And, after the Marquette loss, Huskies point guard Shabazz Napier said, among other things, "I've got to question a lot of these guys' hearts. It just looked like we gave up at the end."

Villanova is 11-15 and 4-10 in the league, languishing in a four-way tie for 11th. Point guard Maalik Wayns has been out with a sprained knee. James Bell is out with a sprained ankle. At least nobody is publicly throwing anybody under the bus and coach Jay Wright has not missed any games (although he might like to). Still, this was not what anybody, not even the most pessimistic, had in mind for the 'Cats this season.

UConn has enough good wins that it is still in NCAA conversation. 'Nova has not been in that conversation for some time.

So, here these two proud programs are. The rules say one of them is going to win tonight

(tipoff at 7). The same rules say one of them loses - again.

 

[IE]

Huskies could be running out of time



UConn must heat up in its final four games

UConn is nearing desperation time.

With four regular-season games remaining, including tonight's Big East game against Villanova at 7 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, the Huskies are losing ground in the fight to secure an NCAA tournament berth.

The last thing that UConn wants to do is to go into the Big East tournament with its post-season status still in doubt.

"I definitely think we're running out of time," junior Alex Oriakhi said. "I don't want to say we're getting desperate, but it is what it is, man. We've definitely got to fight now. We're in a hole and have to dig ourselves out."

Something has to change for the Huskies (16-10, 6-8) to reach their desired destination. Costly lapses continue to contribute to their downfall as does a lack of leadership and cohesion. They haven't won two straight in over a month.

"It's frustrating," sophomore Jeremy Lamb said. "It's really frustrating."

Associate head coach George Blaney keeps driving home the same message: maintain intensity and focus throughout entire possessions.

"We preached that all last year, too, and we finally got it," Blaney said. "At some point, we'll get it. We've done it for periods of times. ? But, right now, we're still not doing it for entire games and that's what we need to do."

It's not a good sign that the Huskies still haven't embraced that message at this late stage of the season.

Sure, last year's national championship team stumbled in February before staging a remarkable turnaround.

But this is a different team.

Just ask sophomore Shabazz Napier who had some strong words for his teammates after a 79-64 loss to No. 12 Marquette Saturday. He questioned their heart and toughness.

"We had ups and downs last year," Napier said. "These ups and downs are totally different this year."

On the plus side, the remaining schedule is fairly favorable. Three of UConn's last four opponents own losing records in conference play including Villanova (11-15, 4-10). The Huskies also host No. 2 Syracuse Saturday, visit last place Providence Feb. 28 and host struggling Pittsburgh March 3.

Villanova is in much tougher shape than UConn.

The Wildcats are limping to the finish line, dropping five of their last six games. They've played the last two games without two starters. Leading scorer Maalik Wayns (sprained left MCL) is doubtful for tonight's game and James Bell (sprained ankle) will not play.

On Saturday, Villanova blew a 20-point lead in the first half, losing to No. 23 Notre Dame in overtime, 74-70. Only seven players saw action, including four that played 40 minutes or more.

Despite their troubles, the Wildcats are still a threat.

"When Wayns plays, then they have a legit guy that can really put points on the board," Blaney said. "They're fairly young, that's why they haven't won as much as they normally do. It's a dangerous game and you're going to Philadelphia. You'd like to be playing them coming off a win."

Blaney is more concerned about solving UConn's problems, some of which he blames on the team's youth.

The Huskies suffered breakdowns at both ends of the court against Marquette.

On defense, they left 3-point shooters open on the perimeter and allowed too many fast break points. On offense, they gave in at times in the face of defensive pressure and settled for jump shots instead of attacking the rim.

As the losses and mistakes pile up, the Huskies are trying to remain optimistic about their NCAA tournament chances.

"This is where great teams come out and show how much they're willing to give it their all?," Napier said. "We've really got to dig down deep."




Noteworthy: Two struggling teams meet - UConn lost seven of nine and Villanova five of six. ? Huskies are 2-6 on the road, losing their last four. ? Series: UConn trails, 32-29, winning three straight including 61-59 last season in Storrs. ? Injury update: UConn coach Jim Calhoun (out) bad back, Villanova leading scorer Maalik Wayns (sprained MCL left knee) doubtful, starter James Bell (sprained ankle) out. ? Villanova 15th in scoring defense (71.9) and last in field goal percentage (41.1) in Big East overall. ... Hot: Napier has 26 assists and four turnovers last three games. Cold: Huskies shooting 38 percent on the road ... Magic number: UConn 11-0 when scoring at least 70 points. ? Through 14 Big East games last year, Huskies were 8-6. ? Up next: UConn hosts No. 2 Syracuse Saturday in Storrs.

 

[IE]

Villanova can't catch a break this season




Injuries, inexperience, inconsistency . . . it's all eating away at Villanova en route to what likely will be its worst season in the Jay Wright era.

For the second time in five games, the Wildcats coughed up a big lead against a nationally ranked opponent and lost Saturday night, dropping a 74-70 overtime decision to 23d-ranked Notre Dame at the Wells Fargo Center after holding a 20-point lead in the final two minutes of the first half.

Villanova doesn't have time to moan about the loss, however, because it's right back in South Philadelphia on Monday night to take on Connecticut.

The Wildcats (11-15, 4-10 Big East) probably will play again without two injured starters - junior point guard Maalik Wayns (sprained left knee), their top scorer with a 17.8-point average, and sophomore swingman James Bell (sprained left ankle), one of their better three-point shooters.

It will be interesting to see how the Wildcats rebound from Saturday night's disappointment. Their collective disappointment after the Notre Dame loss was etched in the face of their head coach.

"Obviously, it was a tough loss and a game you wish you never had to experience," Wright said. "We've had a couple of those this year. I guess we're paying our dues."

Three weeks earlier, on Jan. 28, the Wildcats blew an 18-point first-half lead against then-No. 17 Marquette and lost, 82-78, at the Wells Fargo Center.

With a minimum of five games remaining (four regular-season, one tournament), the Wildcats have much work to do to avoid only their second losing season in Wright's 11 years on the Main Line. Villanova was 15-16 in 2002-03, his second year at the helm.

The Cats have lost as many as 10 games in the Big East Conference just once since Wright took over when they finished 6-10 in the 2003-04 season, which also is the last time the team failed to make the NCAA tournament.

In fact, the only time 'Nova lost more than 10 games in its 32-year history in the Big East was in 1992-93, Steve Lappas' first season, when the Cats were 3-15 and 8-19 overall.

Wright decided to go with a seven-man rotation against Notre Dame, and it may have cost the Wildcats in overtime when point guard Ty Johnson and Dominic Cheek had to leave the game briefly because of leg cramps. With Wayns and Bell out, the Wildcats have just eight scholarship players available, five of them freshmen.

But the Huskies (16-10, 6-8), the defending national champions, won't feel sorry for them. They have lost six of their last eight games, the most recent a 79-64 loss Saturday to Marquette, and what had been a sure hold on an NCAA berth has loosened a bit.