Connecticut wants back in!

UConn 83 - Villanova 75

Coach Calhoun was disgusted with his team after last week's lack-luster effort against Cincinnati in his return to the bench, saying, "I’m really incredibly disappointed with the performance. I’m embarrassed by it, quite frankly.” He would go on to say that it was probably his worst moment in 24 years at UConn, and you could see that he felt like his team quit on him, though he wouldn't admit it.

Surely, he laid into his boys over the weekend and it paid dividends tonight as they scored a huge win over the #3 Villanova Wildcats in Philadelphia.

Villanova, it would seem, took Connecticut a little too lightly and got caught with their pants down, so to speak. Kemba Walker scored 29 to lead the Huskies, while Scottie Reynolds tallied 18 for the Wildcats. This is not a bad Connecticut team, just an underachieving one, and they proved how talented they are tonight in a big upset win. Coming into the season, this game might not have been such a huge upset, but Connecticut and Villanova have been going in opposite directions since December.

Some analysts were writing off UConn (and rightly so) over the weekend, even going as far as to predict an NIT tourney with UNC, UConn and UCLA! Holy shit. In my opinion, UConn can still play their way back in, but it will take a lot. Remaining games are at Rutgers, West Virginia at home, followed by at Notre Dame and at USF. I think they'd have to win out, and wins over WVU and Louisville would be huge when added to quality wins over Texas and Villanova. Of course they could still lose maybe one of those games and make it in with a strong Big East tourney showing. They sit at 5-8 in conference play right now. Yes, the Big East is tough, but that looks real bad. It will be interesting to see how long this fire Calhoun lit under their ass burns. Husky fans sure hope it lasts at least a few more games.

Either way, I'm glad to see Coach Calhoun back on the bench in Storrs. I was beginning to get a bit worried. He does have an extension from UConn on his desk, but has yet to sign it. It should be an interesting story to follow.