For the UConn Huskies, It's Now or Never

The UConn Huskies never showed up to play at the Dunkin' Donuts Center on Wednesday night.

It resulted in a terrible 81-66 loss to Providence.  A game that UConn should have won and coming off a huge win over Texas proved to be a big letdown game.

"That win was a great win, and praise to us," Robinson said of beating Texas. "But it's over with. Just like this game is over with now."

Another scary realization is UConn hasn't won a true game on the road this season.  The Huskies have lost at Cincy, Georgetown, Pittsburgh, and now Providence.  Not to forget the Huskies are 1-2 at Madison Square Garden.

UConn lost to Duke in a game that the Huskies struggled to get back in after the start.  Then UConn lost a nailbiter against Kentucky in which UConn led down the stretch.

The truth is that it doesn't get any easier for the Huskies.  After a home game vs. Marquette tomorrow UConn has to play at Freedom Hall in Louisville on Monday night.

Don't forget this UConn team still has to go to the Carrier Dome and take on Syracuse on February 10 and then to the Wachovia Center to play Villanova on the Feb. 15.

A daunting task stands between the Huskies and the chance that they will be playing in the NCAA Tournament in 2010.  For a team that was ranked 10. preseason UConn has steadly fallen out of the rankings.

When is this UConn team going to wake up and realize that in the Big East you have to give it your all for a full 40 minutes?

This team plays to its potential for five to ten minute spurts at a time.  The Huskies will not win many more games if they continue to fall flat on their face at various junctions in the game.

It's crazy to think a team with this much talent could be headed to the NIT and be watching the tournament it won in 1999 and 2004 on TV.

With or without Jim Calhoun the players on this team have to pick up the intensity and desire to win. 

The offensive production of the frontcourt has been minimal.  Alex Oriahki and Atar Majok need to start establishing low post presence.  They continually are getting outrebounded and missing shots down in the paint.

Kemba Walker has been a turnover machine this season.  He has struggled to make the adjustment of playing point guard without A.J. Price. 

That excuse is getting old, it's almost the halfway point of the Big East season and it's time for Kemba Walker to step his game up and become a leader.  He showed in last year's tournament run that he has the skill to be a difference-maker.

More then anything it's time for the Seniors to come together and get this team focused.  Is this how Jerome Dyson wants to end his UConn career after going down with a knee injury last season?

He's far too good of a basketball player to go out on such a sour note.

Then there is Gavin Edwards and Stanley Robinson.  Edwards has been a vital asset off the bench and he has been UConn's only consistent scorer off the bench.

Lastly, Stanley Robinson is going to help an NBA next year, but he's got unfinished business here at UConn.  Many thought he was going to leave after his great tournament run last season.

He opted to come back to UConn for one last season.  Robinson has improved his game in all areas, but this team needs to get going in the right direction now or it's going to be on the outside looking in come selection Sunday.

It can't have any more slip-up games like it did at Providence.  Eleven big east games are left on the schedule before the big east tournament.  None of those are gimmes and the Huskies need to learn that quick.

It is time to see what this Connecticut team is truly made of.  The sense of urgency is the highest it's been all season.  How UConn responds to lost on the road at Providence will determine if the Huskies still have aspirations of being part of the field of 65.