UConn Huskies Are Expecting a Deep Run Come March

After watching UConn defeat Marquette last night, and seeing coach Jim Calhoun win his 800th game, how can you not like their chances come March? The Huskies gave a total team effort, and led by sharp-shooting senior A.J. Price, they look like Big East champions and ready to give it their all come March Madness.

The Huskies have leadership, and that's a necessary trait in order to have success in the postseason. Seniors A.J. Price, Craig Austrie, and Jeff Adrien have been through a lot over the last four years. A team that has been loaded with talent hasn't been able to win a postseason game the last two years. That's concerning, but when looking at this year's Huskies, I don't think there's anything to worry about.

UConn hasn't lost a game on the road or at a neutral site all year. That spells trouble for any other powerhouse program that hopes to defeat the Huskies come March. A team that is 26-2 and tied with only Louisville atop the deep Big East, Calhoun has his team ready to peak at the right point in time.

It's going to take a lot to overcome the loss of junior guard Jerome Dyson, but the way UConn played last night makes me think that won't be an issue. Junior Stanley Robinson played tremendous last night, scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. He's going to be a player that needs to elevate his game as March Madness approaches.

The UConn guards can do it all on both ends of the floor. The real dark horse to this team is freshman Kemba Walker. A point guard out of the Bronx, he's lightning fast and doesn't hesitate to penetrate to the hole. He's also not scared of defending your team's best perimeter player.

The real difference maker on this team is the big man in the middle, Hasheem Thabeet. A player that has grown tremendously, the presence he gives in the middle is unlike any other team in America. Standing 7'3", the way he blocks and alters opponents' shots is a real threat in the paint.

The intensity of this team's defense is why they're leading the Big East in such categories like blocked shots, opponents' field goal percentage, and points allowed per game. 

Big man Gavin Edwards has seen some minutes lately, and he is another force down low.  A complement off the bench in the absence of Dyson is three-point shooter Scottie Haralson. A freshman who has been sparingly used during the season, he should see more minutes if he can continue to make the three-point shot when it counts.

If Price can continue to shoot the ball like he did last night, there's great reason to believe UConn is going to be playing deep into March. Robinson needs to bring his game to the next level. Austrie and Walker need to keep doing what they're doing in controlling the tempo of the game.

Adrien wasn't a factor in last night's game, but he's been a force all year long. He, along with Thabeet, will have to continue controlling the glass, which will provide fast break points and second chance opportunities.

The UConn Huskies have won two national titles in the last 10 years—one in 1999 and a second in 2004. If that pattern was to continue, that would make 2009 the year to bring a third title back to Storrs.

One thing we know about March is expect the unexpected. The UConn Huskies have played tremendous all year long. With Pittsburgh's loss to Providence earlier in the week, UConn will most likely be the No. 1-ranked team in the land assuming they beat Notre Dame on Saturday.

The possibility of being the No. 1 team and overall No. 1 seed holds a lot of expectations. The Huskies have been expecting this success all year long. There's a strong chance UConn could play itself to the Final Four in Detroit and be playing for its third national title on the first Monday in April.

Now I guess we'll just have to wait and see the excitement that March Madness brings!