UConn Basketball in Shambles

From the losses on the court, to the loss of head coach Jim Calhoun, the University of Connecticut Huskies are playing quite a lackluster season.

UConn is currently sporting a record of 14-9.  They are 0-5 away, and 1-2 at neutral sites.  Connecticut also has a losing in conference record of 4-6.  The season has been extremely disappointing compared to the numbers the Huskies normally put up.

The University of Connecticut has led the NCAA in blocks six seasons in a row.  They also have the most players matriculating to the NBA.  UConn is a good basketball school, a powerhouse even.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.  Going into the NCAA tournament last March, UConn was a number one seed.  This year, they are going to drop to a miserable double-digit seed (there are even talks of them not making the tournament at all). 

However, they are not the only ones in the boat. University of North Carolina, who won the tournament last year, is struggling as well.  Experts say that it is likely they will not make the tournament this year.

UConn has had some amazing wins this season (mainly Texas), and many, many heartbreaking losses.  On one hand, how can a team beat the number one team in the nation, and then also lose to unranked teams like Providence (all in one week).

Although this may not be a real excuse, the Huskies did arguably have one of the toughest schedules in the NCAA.  The Big East is arguably one of the toughest conferences in the NCAA.  But even the out-of-conference schedule was no walk in the park.  The Huskies have had to play teams like Duke and Kentucky.

The Huskies have a solid team if you break them down.  Players like Dyson and Walker can "bring the rain" with some impressive three point shooting, and Robinson can make ESPN's Top 10 consistently with his ability to dunk the ball.

So what is UConn's deal?

Well, they are not that good.  Having good, even great players does not make you a great, or even a good team.  Dan Marino will be known as one of the best quarterbacks, one who has NEVER WON A SUPERBOWL.  Having a case full of chemicals does not make you a chemist.  There needs to be that chemistry between the great players for that team to actually work.

Yes, Connecticut did beat Texas who was the number one ranked team in the NCAA.  However, if you take into account their loss to Kansas State earlier in the week, Texas was not the number one team.  The problem was, a new week had not started yet, and the new polls had not come out. 

Even without splitting hairs, beating Texas does not say much for the Huskies.  The University of South Carolina was able to top the number one team in the nation, Kentucky.

Consistency is key.  There is a boxing term called one-hit wonders.  Amazing punches that miraculously render an opponent unconscious.  But that is exactly what they are, wonders.  There is no consistency or normalcy to it.  Everyone knows that Connecticut has knock-out power, but it has not been put to use this season (with the exception of the Texas game).

And to top off the shit storm that is UConn basketball, Head Coach Jim Calhoun had to be hospitalized, leaving Assistant Coach George Blaney to run the team.  Although the news says that Calhoun left for unidentified health conditions, it seems pretty clear that he is having his broken heart mended from having to sit through the sad excuse of a season to date.

UConn's upcoming schedule is one of the toughest in the country.  They still have to play Villanova and Syracuse away, both of which are top 10 teams as well as other in conference games that are going to be tough, both home and away.

The only thing left for the University of Connecticut to do this season is to keep their heads down and play hard, hopefully winning most of their last stretch of games.  Then they need to take the horrible seed they will receive in the NCAA tournament and play it out.