The last time UConn played in Houston, they were cutting down the nets after winning the National Championship in 2011. They defeated Butler in Kemba Walker's final game.
Well fast forward to 2013, lots have changed. Butler is in the Big East and conference realignment has officially changed basketball rivalries for the worst. We end the year 2013 and begin the new chapter of UConn basketball in the American Athletic Conference. 2013 was not a good year for the University of Connecticut men's basketball team or even the football team - at least the women's basketball team and feild hockey team won NCAA National Championships. However, the men's basketball team was banned from the 2013 postseason and saw the Big East Conference break apart, we got to witness what lays ahead in Houston tonight - and it sucks! (When was the last time you saw a major conference basketball game with under 1500 fans?)
Tonight's performance was awful! You cannot start off games playing one-on-one and taking bad shots and not rebounding the basketball. You need to get back on defense and rebound. Everyone in the game needs to contribute in someway. The second half was a different story as the Huskies came from 21 down to take a three point lead in the final minutes, but only see it quickly go back to Houston as they finished the game on a 7-0 run. I am not totally surprised by this result as the Huskies have traditionally struggled in their road openers and they have had their weaknesses exposed in the non-conference schedule by lesser opponents. I am proud of the team from coming back, but you cannot play in spurts. If you are better than your opponent, they you need to prove it immediately. Basically, they need to stop playing at the level of their competition.
Saturday's game at SMU is a must win! The Huskies cannot afford to start the conference season 0-2 with games at Memphis and home against Louisville on the horizon. Kevin Ollie needs get his team ready to play. He cannot be outcoached a second game, this time by his mentor - Larry Brown. Ollie needs to learn from his coaching mistakes and will this team to win games - he needs to rely on those two former head coaches on his staff. It started tonight with him taking the blame for the loss, but it showed with his benching of several key players.
Finally, the AAC needs to get better officials. This is technically the old Big East. Swallow those whistles in the final minute. Olander's foul was not a foul with gave Houston the lead in the final ten seconds of play. Let the players decide the outcome of the game.
Happy New Year!
Talk to you after the SMU game on Saturday - follow me on Twitter @backinstorrs.
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