Keep your expectations in check with UConn

Just six short months ago, I said that I thought that the violations that UConn faced from the NCAA could be a de facto death penalty to the program.

I meant it. I wasn't the only one that thought it. And if I could go back in time knowing what I know now, I would probably have written the exact same thing.

Which is why the UConn's win in the Maui Invitational must feel so good for Jim Calhoun.

The Huskies completed one of the most memorable in-season tournament runs in memory, winning the Maui Invitational on the slender shoulders of Kemba Walker. On Monday, they intrigued us with a comeback win against Wichita State. On Tuesday, they impressed us, knocking off No. 2 Michigan State.

And on Wednesday, the Huskies awed us. They not only beat Kentucky, they embarrassed them. If the unexpected resurgence of the UConn program felt good, beating former nemesis John Calipari iced the cake.

"That was a shellacking," Kentucky coach John Calipari said. "We were outplayed, out-coached, out-everythinged."


The Wildcats were in it for all of twelve minutes. Terrence Jones picked up his second foul with the score 28-22 and 9:13 left on the clock. He sat the rest of the half. From that point on, UConn would outscore UK 22-7, including a 21-2 run in the last seven minutes that was spurred by 10 points from Walker. Kentucky never made it interesting.

So what has happened with UConn?

Why is this team so much better than people predicted?

The biggest issue is addition by subtraction. Last season's version of the Huskies belonged to Jerome Dyson and Stanley Robinson. It was there team, but neither of them were leaders. In fact, their performance down the stretch of the season was downright embarrassing. They quit, and the team followed suit.

This year, it is Kemba Walker's team. He has not only developed as a basketball player since the end of last season, he has developed as a leader. He has turned into the kind of player that not only wants to put the team on his back, he is capable of doing it.

Its not just the points that he provides, either. Walker's ability to penetrate forces defenses to pay attention to him. It makes perimeter defenders slough off of wing players and it forces big men to try to be shot blockers. Walker may be scoring 30.0 ppg, but that is more out of necessity than an unwillingness to be a passer. The perfect example came with about a minute left in the first half. Walker had buried threes on back-to-back possessions. The next time UConn has the ball, Walker finds himself with another open three, but he dumped the ball off to Jamal Coombs-McDaniel for a layup.

That's the kind of player he is.

That's why he is the early favorite for national player of the year.

But what does it do for UConn?

Odds are good that they will be in the top ten Monday morning. That's what happens when you knock off two top ten teams this early in the season.

That doesn't necessarily mean that this is a top ten team, however.

I said it last week, and I stand by it today -- UConn cannot rely on Walker scoring 30 every night for them to win. They simply can't do it. Coaches in the Big East will have too much time to prepare for Walker. They will have too much time to game plan for him. All it takes is one coach shutting him down and that game tape circulating for the secret to get out.

This is still the same team that struggles to find a secondary scorer. This is still the same team that is loaded with young -- talented, but young nonetheless -- players. And if there is anything we should know about freshmen by now, its that they are inconsistent.

Shabazz Napier's turnover are going to come. Roscoe Smith is going to start missing threes. Coombs-McDaniel, Jeremy Lamb, and Niels Giffey will have their ups and downs as well.

I'm not saying UConn isn't any good.

Quite the opposite. This is a team that has a good of a shot as Syracuse, Georgetown, West Virginia, or Marquette to finish in the top four of the Big East.

But if UConn does get that top ten ranking, don't expect a Final Four team just yet.

They may get there. They may also have ups and downs as a team. Putting a top ten label and top ten expectations on a team that was tenth in their own league in the preseason is a lot to ask because of one unbelievable week.