The UConn Huskies had done it. They led comfortably, lost the lead, and reclaimed it again. They outhustled Kentucky time and time again to win 56-55 Saturday at Reliant Stadium, earning a spot in Monday’s national championship game against Butler.
Kemba Walker joined head coach Jim Calhoun and freshman Jeremy Lamb on a golf cart en route to a post-game press conference.
An exhausted Walker put his arm around Lamb’s shoulder and asked him “are you ready for one more?”
The dazzling junior point guard has plenty of reason to be tired. Kentucky stayed adamant with pressure on Walker for the game‘s entirety, but he still managed to make plays. He finished with 18 points, seven assists and six rebounds.
“I usually won’t tell you guys that I was tired,” Walker said. “But I actually was.”
DeAndre Liggins missed a go-ahead 3-pointer with six seconds left, forcing the intentional foul on Shabazz Napier. After turning the ball over on the previous possession, Napier redeemed himself by making both free throws of a one-and-one.
“I was just telling myself if I knock these two downs, I’m going to feel better,” Napier said. “I looked at my mom and she was crying, it was tears of joy.”
The Huskies carried the momentum in the first half, racing out to a 31-21 point halftime lead. The Wildcats made their run, taking the lead on twice in the second half, but never led by more than three points.
With approximately 13 minutes to go in the second Walker appeared to tweak his ankle on defense. On Kentucky’s next offensive position he rejected Doron Lamb’s fastbreak layup attempt.
“It hurt for a little while,” Walker said. “With adrenaline I pushed through it. I didn’t want Doron to score, I chased him down and was able to get a block.”
Reality is yet to set in for Walker, a clear-cut candidate for National Player of the Year. When asked if he could fathom the significance of his accomplishments, his answer was no.
“Maybe it will all hit me once it’s all said and done and we cut down the nets,” Walker said.
-John Brannen
