UConn Huskies Downfall Starts and Ends With Kemba Walker

At times this season, Kemba Walker has looked brilliant.  Many people remember the epic battle in the Garden against All-American freshman John Wall.

There have also been times this season where he has consistently turned over the ball and dribbled in two defenders, such as last weekend at the end of the Marquette game.

Come on Kemba, you're better than that.

Some would call this a sophomore slump but, for a player that came off the bench last season and contributed greatly, Kemba Walker has regressed as the point guard of this UConn team.

This team is loaded with talent, yet they continue to struggle and lose games in conference.  UConn needs to get its act together quickly, or they are going to miss the NCAA tournament.

There are nine games left for the Huskies, including five on the road where they have yet to win.  UConn is going to need to beat one or two beasts of the Big East if they plan to be one of the at-large bids.

UConn still has to take trips to Syracuse, Villanova, Notre Dame, South Florida, and Rutgers.  None of those games are definite wins—especially the way UConn has played of late.

This is not the same Kemba Walker that led the Huskies in an Elite Eight win over the Missouri Tigers.

Kemba Walker's turnovers are up from 1.8 last season to 3.4 this season.  He is turning the ball over almost twice as much.

His field goal percentage is down and his assist-to-turnover ratio is up from 1.58 to 1.80.

The point guard is, arguably, the most important position on the court.  As the floor general, you must be able to direct and run the offense—something that UConn has a hard time settling in the half-court.

This team comes out flat and is continually down double-digits early on.  People want to say that Jim Calhoun being out has something to do with it, but I put the mistakes off late solely on the shoulders of Kemba Walker.

For a player that excelled so much under the wings of A.J. Price, at times this season Walker has looked down right atrocious. 

It's quite simple, UConn doesn't even deserve the consideration of being an NCAA selection unless they go 6-3 the rest of the way and win one game in the Big East tournament.

UConn hasn't won in the Big East tournament since 2005.

Jerome Dyson has yet to win a Big East tournament or an NCAA tournament game in his career.  As a senior—and this being his last chance at either—maybe he can light a fire under his team.

Kemba Walker isn't getting the job done.  His jump shot is inconsistent, he continues to try and take on defenders twice his size, and he passes the ball off the hands of UConn's big men and out of bounds.

Enough is enough. Kemba Walker and company need to get their act together immediately.  It starts tonight, at home, against a DePaul team that can shoot the ball.  If UConn comes out flat, it could once again be the same old story.

Mr. Walker, let's see what you're made of.