UConn and Jim Calhoun nemesis John Cahill is one of tonight's officials, along with Verne Harris and Doug Shows.
Last season, Cahill called an iffy foul on Gavin Edwards in UConn's Big East-opener at Cincinnati, that sent Lance Stephenson to the foul line for the game-winning free throws with 0.7 seconds left.
Later in the season, while Calhoun was on a medical leave, Cahill awarded Jim Boeheim what seemed to be a belated timeout call late in a game at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse scored on the ensuing play and won a close game.
Still, when Calhoun returned from his leave a few days later, he noted that he didn't think any one official had any agenda against his team, and specifically said that Cahill was "one of the best officials in the country."
Elsewhere, same starting lineup: Lamb, Kemba, Olander, Roscoe Smith, Oriakhi. For Butler, it's Mack, Vanzant, Stigall, Howard and Smith.
Showing posts with label Shelvin Mack. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shelvin Mack. Show all posts
I've been hearing a lot all day about the matchups in tonight's national championship game. Can Ronald Nored shut down Kemba Walker? Who matches up with Matt Howard? Can the Huskies control the boards? Who matches up with Jeremy Lamb? Can UConn stop Shelvin Mack?
It all makes nice conversation, and certainly some of it bears watching. But in a game like this, with history on the line, I more or less throw the matchups out the window. I look at tonight's game more like this: Will Kemba be denied? And, with all due respect to Brad Stevens, is he really the coach who stands in the way of Jim Calhoun being added to college basketball's coaching Mount Rushmore?
I don't think so, on either count.
I like the Huskies tonight. I think Butler will put up a good fight, and is more than capable of winning. But I don't think it will. I think UConn wins its third national title.
There's a quiet confidence about this team right now. Not cockiness, just supreme confidence, beyond its years. I think the Huskies legitimately respect Butler as a very tough opponent. But I also think they realize that something very special is right there for the taking, and it's hard to bet against guys like Walker and Calhoun.
UConn, 67-63.
It all makes nice conversation, and certainly some of it bears watching. But in a game like this, with history on the line, I more or less throw the matchups out the window. I look at tonight's game more like this: Will Kemba be denied? And, with all due respect to Brad Stevens, is he really the coach who stands in the way of Jim Calhoun being added to college basketball's coaching Mount Rushmore?
I don't think so, on either count.
I like the Huskies tonight. I think Butler will put up a good fight, and is more than capable of winning. But I don't think it will. I think UConn wins its third national title.
There's a quiet confidence about this team right now. Not cockiness, just supreme confidence, beyond its years. I think the Huskies legitimately respect Butler as a very tough opponent. But I also think they realize that something very special is right there for the taking, and it's hard to bet against guys like Walker and Calhoun.
UConn, 67-63.
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