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03-03-2003, 01:39 AM
Cook: UConn overrun by Pitt's talent
Monday, March 03, 2003
At least Connecticut Coach Jim Calhoun offered an apology of sorts at the start. "I'm going to be me now." In other words, cranky, irascible, opinionated and self-serving.
So much for a kinder, gentler Calhoun after that celebrated prostate cancer surgery.
After Pitt beat Connecticut, 71-67, yesterday at a throbbing Petersen Events Center, Calhoun did a borderline whine about how the game turned when his star big man, Emeka Okafor, drew his second foul with 8:41 left in the first half and the Huskies leading by 12. Although he stopped well short of a Joe Paterno, he did allow how it seemed strange that Big East Conference officials had picked on Okafor in four consecutive games.
"If they're going to allow [Ontario] Lett to be physical, they have to allow Emeka to be as physical."
Calhoun was curtly dismissive when reminded that Lett also was in early foul trouble for Pitt and played just 10 minutes in the first half, one more than Okafor.
"Lett is a fine player, but Okafor is a very special player. He changes the game."
You can argue Calhoun was even more demeaning to Pitt moments later when he delivered this somewhat damning praise: "I don't think they're the most talented team in the league. But I do think they're the best team in the league. They know what they are. That's how they play."
Calhoun said he meant that as his "ultimate compliment," but Pitt Coach Ben Howland didn't take it that way.
"I respect his opinion, but I don't think you can win and go 21-4 and 50-10 over a two-year period without being talented. To me, talent is toughness. Talent is unselfishness. I think we're very talented."
It was hard to argue with Howland after Pitt spotted Connecticut a 28-15 lead before roaring back for a win that kept it on track for at least a share of its second consecutive Big East West Division title.
Somehow, after listening to Calhoun moan, it seemed appropriate that Lett led the way. He went after Okafor -- the NCAA's leading shot-blocker -- from the beginning, scoring Pitt's second basket over him moments after Okafor had swatted away a Jaron Brown shot. He also went right at Okafor early in the second half, scoring Pitt's second basket over him and sending a subtle message that Okafor wasn't going to change this game. He more than held his own in the second half against Okafor, who played all 20 minutes, with 6 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.
"You know he changes a lot of shots and blocks a lot of shots," Lett said of Okafor. "But you can't be scared. That's not our game plan. We go at everybody in the post."
Pitt's Brandin Knight was impressed.
"Ontario carried us in the second half. Every time we needed a basket or a rebound or a great pass, he got it for us."
Calhoun was right about the game turning when Okafor went out, but that's only because Connecticut didn't have the depth to stop Lett, then Chevon Troutman. With Okafor and Lett on the bench, Troutman overpowered Mike Hayes on three consecutive possessions, turning them into two layups and a free throw and cutting the Huskies' lead from 33-26 to 35-31. He, too, fared well in the second half against Okafor with four points and six rebounds.
"Chevy is a wonderful player," Knight said. "He brings such great energy off the bench."
Lett and Troutman also did it on defense. They swarmed around Okafor each time he touched the ball and limited him to 12 points and seven rebounds.
Even Calhoun was impressed, comparing Pitt's rugged defense to "the old, bad-boy Detroit Pistons" and to "the Georgetown teams under John Thompson." But then, he couldn't help himself. "You ask, 'Did they foul you?' Well, there are three guys out there with whistles. If they don't blow 'em, it's not a foul."
All of this sets up the possibility of a wonderful rematch in the Big East tournament March 12-15. Connecticut beat Pitt in double overtime in the championship game last season.
Calhoun said he would welcome another shot at Pitt because "I think we have some things that they don't have, like some quickness." But that edge hardly seems like it would be enough to beat Pitt on a neutral court.
That doesn't mean the Panthers can't lose, of course.
If Pitt does go down in the Big East or NCAA tournament, it probably will be because Knight has a bad shooting game. Just when you thought his slump was over, he made just 3 of 12 shots yesterday, although he did hit three or four free throws down the stretch.
Or, if Pitt loses, it will be because its other outside threats -- Donatas Zavackas and Julius Page -- have bad games. Zavackas took only five shots against Connecticut, but more than made up for it with four assists. Page led Pitt with 17 points, including 11 in a row during one second-half run.
But a lack of talent won't beat Pitt.
It has more than enough.
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Ron Cook can be reached at rcook@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1525.
Monday, March 03, 2003
At least Connecticut Coach Jim Calhoun offered an apology of sorts at the start. "I'm going to be me now." In other words, cranky, irascible, opinionated and self-serving.
So much for a kinder, gentler Calhoun after that celebrated prostate cancer surgery.
After Pitt beat Connecticut, 71-67, yesterday at a throbbing Petersen Events Center, Calhoun did a borderline whine about how the game turned when his star big man, Emeka Okafor, drew his second foul with 8:41 left in the first half and the Huskies leading by 12. Although he stopped well short of a Joe Paterno, he did allow how it seemed strange that Big East Conference officials had picked on Okafor in four consecutive games.
"If they're going to allow [Ontario] Lett to be physical, they have to allow Emeka to be as physical."
Calhoun was curtly dismissive when reminded that Lett also was in early foul trouble for Pitt and played just 10 minutes in the first half, one more than Okafor.
"Lett is a fine player, but Okafor is a very special player. He changes the game."
You can argue Calhoun was even more demeaning to Pitt moments later when he delivered this somewhat damning praise: "I don't think they're the most talented team in the league. But I do think they're the best team in the league. They know what they are. That's how they play."
Calhoun said he meant that as his "ultimate compliment," but Pitt Coach Ben Howland didn't take it that way.
"I respect his opinion, but I don't think you can win and go 21-4 and 50-10 over a two-year period without being talented. To me, talent is toughness. Talent is unselfishness. I think we're very talented."
It was hard to argue with Howland after Pitt spotted Connecticut a 28-15 lead before roaring back for a win that kept it on track for at least a share of its second consecutive Big East West Division title.
Somehow, after listening to Calhoun moan, it seemed appropriate that Lett led the way. He went after Okafor -- the NCAA's leading shot-blocker -- from the beginning, scoring Pitt's second basket over him moments after Okafor had swatted away a Jaron Brown shot. He also went right at Okafor early in the second half, scoring Pitt's second basket over him and sending a subtle message that Okafor wasn't going to change this game. He more than held his own in the second half against Okafor, who played all 20 minutes, with 6 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.
"You know he changes a lot of shots and blocks a lot of shots," Lett said of Okafor. "But you can't be scared. That's not our game plan. We go at everybody in the post."
Pitt's Brandin Knight was impressed.
"Ontario carried us in the second half. Every time we needed a basket or a rebound or a great pass, he got it for us."
Calhoun was right about the game turning when Okafor went out, but that's only because Connecticut didn't have the depth to stop Lett, then Chevon Troutman. With Okafor and Lett on the bench, Troutman overpowered Mike Hayes on three consecutive possessions, turning them into two layups and a free throw and cutting the Huskies' lead from 33-26 to 35-31. He, too, fared well in the second half against Okafor with four points and six rebounds.
"Chevy is a wonderful player," Knight said. "He brings such great energy off the bench."
Lett and Troutman also did it on defense. They swarmed around Okafor each time he touched the ball and limited him to 12 points and seven rebounds.
Even Calhoun was impressed, comparing Pitt's rugged defense to "the old, bad-boy Detroit Pistons" and to "the Georgetown teams under John Thompson." But then, he couldn't help himself. "You ask, 'Did they foul you?' Well, there are three guys out there with whistles. If they don't blow 'em, it's not a foul."
All of this sets up the possibility of a wonderful rematch in the Big East tournament March 12-15. Connecticut beat Pitt in double overtime in the championship game last season.
Calhoun said he would welcome another shot at Pitt because "I think we have some things that they don't have, like some quickness." But that edge hardly seems like it would be enough to beat Pitt on a neutral court.
That doesn't mean the Panthers can't lose, of course.
If Pitt does go down in the Big East or NCAA tournament, it probably will be because Knight has a bad shooting game. Just when you thought his slump was over, he made just 3 of 12 shots yesterday, although he did hit three or four free throws down the stretch.
Or, if Pitt loses, it will be because its other outside threats -- Donatas Zavackas and Julius Page -- have bad games. Zavackas took only five shots against Connecticut, but more than made up for it with four assists. Page led Pitt with 17 points, including 11 in a row during one second-half run.
But a lack of talent won't beat Pitt.
It has more than enough.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ron Cook can be reached at rcook@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1525.