Syracuse, N.Y. ? Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun won’t talk about upsets, about mid-major conferences springing surprises on the big guys in the NCAA tournament.
“There are mild surprises, yes, but I don’t think there are upsets,” he said. “We don’t use the word ‘upset.’ We talk about being the best we can be and taking advantage of our opportunities.”
So when the second-seeded Huskies had an opportunity against No. 11-seeded Southern Illinois in the East Regional on Friday night, Calhoun made sure they didn’t miss out on it.
UConn simply would not yield to the Salukis, who had knocked off No. 6 Texas Tech and No. 3 Georgia in the first two rounds. Instead, the Huskies ended Southern Illinois’ magical march, winning the regional semifinal, 70-59.
“We don’t have better players,” he explained. “We just have more of them.”
Caron Butler scored 19 points, and Emeka Okafor provided big plays at both ends. Then there was Ben Gordon with 12 points and five assists, Tony Robertson with 10 points and some all-around court savvy. It was just too much for the Salukis to overcome.
Led by Rolan Roberts, who scored 24 points, Southern Illinois thought they might sneak up on UConn much the way Kent State did on Big East team Pittsburgh in the South regional the night before.
“They were a little better than we were,” SIU coach Bruce Weber said. “Before the game, I said we had to play well and shoot well. We didn’t shoot well.”
Calhoun figured that if UConn could take away 3-pointers, Southern Illinois might struggle. And he was right. The Huskies concentrated on perimeter defense and held the Salukis to 1-for-14 from beyond the 3-point arc.
“We decided they would not beat us with great passing and 3-point baskets,” he said.
And they did not.
UConn (27-6) displayed the grit that won the Big East tournament, keeping its poise and holding on.
Syracuse, N.Y. ? Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun won’t talk about upsets, about mid-major conferences springing surprises on the big guys in the NCAA tournament.
“There are mild surprises, yes, but I don’t think there are upsets,” he said. “We don’t use the word ‘upset.’ We talk about being the best we can be and taking advantage of our opportunities.”
So when the second-seeded Huskies had an opportunity against No. 11-seeded Southern Illinois in the East Regional on Friday night, Calhoun made sure they didn’t miss out on it.
UConn simply would not yield to the Salukis, who had knocked off No. 6 Texas Tech and No. 3 Georgia in the first two rounds. Instead, the Huskies ended Southern Illinois’ magical march, winning the regional semifinal, 70-59.
“We don’t have better players,” he explained. “We just have more of them.”
Caron Butler scored 19 points, and Emeka Okafor provided big plays at both ends. Then there was Ben Gordon with 12 points and five assists, Tony Robertson with 10 points and some all-around court savvy. It was just too much for the Salukis to overcome.
Led by Rolan Roberts, who scored 24 points, Southern Illinois thought they might sneak up on UConn much the way Kent State did on Big East team Pittsburgh in the South regional the night before.
“They were a little better than we were,” SIU coach Bruce Weber said. “Before the game, I said we had to play well and shoot well. We didn’t shoot well.”
Calhoun figured that if UConn could take away 3-pointers, Southern Illinois might struggle. And he was right. The Huskies concentrated on perimeter defense and held the Salukis to 1-for-14 from beyond the 3-point arc.
“We decided they would not beat us with great passing and 3-point baskets,” he said.
And they did not.
UConn (27-6) displayed the grit that won the Big East tournament, keeping its poise and holding on.
Syracuse, N.Y. ? Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun won’t talk about upsets, about mid-major conferences springing surprises on the big guys in the NCAA tournament.
“There are mild surprises, yes, but I don’t think there are upsets,” he said. “We don’t use the word ‘upset.’ We talk about being the best we can be and taking advantage of our opportunities.”
So when the second-seeded Huskies had an opportunity against No. 11-seeded Southern Illinois in the East Regional on Friday night, Calhoun made sure they didn’t miss out on it.
UConn simply would not yield to the Salukis, who had knocked off No. 6 Texas Tech and No. 3 Georgia in the first two rounds. Instead, the Huskies ended Southern Illinois’ magical march, winning the regional semifinal, 70-59.
“We don’t have better players,” he explained. “We just have more of them.”
Caron Butler scored 19 points, and Emeka Okafor provided big plays at both ends. Then there was Ben Gordon with 12 points and five assists, Tony Robertson with 10 points and some all-around court savvy. It was just too much for the Salukis to overcome.
Led by Rolan Roberts, who scored 24 points, Southern Illinois thought they might sneak up on UConn much the way Kent State did on Big East team Pittsburgh in the South regional the night before.
“They were a little better than we were,” SIU coach Bruce Weber said. “Before the game, I said we had to play well and shoot well. We didn’t shoot well.”
Calhoun figured that if UConn could take away 3-pointers, Southern Illinois might struggle. And he was right. The Huskies concentrated on perimeter defense and held the Salukis to 1-for-14 from beyond the 3-point arc.
“We decided they would not beat us with great passing and 3-point baskets,” he said.
And they did not.
UConn (27-6) displayed the grit that won the Big East tournament, keeping its poise and holding on.
Syracuse, N.Y. ? Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun won’t talk about upsets, about mid-major conferences springing surprises on the big guys in the NCAA tournament.
“There are mild surprises, yes, but I don’t think there are upsets,” he said. “We don’t use the word ‘upset.’ We talk about being the best we can be and taking advantage of our opportunities.”
So when the second-seeded Huskies had an opportunity against No. 11-seeded Southern Illinois in the East Regional on Friday night, Calhoun made sure they didn’t miss out on it.
UConn simply would not yield to the Salukis, who had knocked off No. 6 Texas Tech and No. 3 Georgia in the first two rounds. Instead, the Huskies ended Southern Illinois’ magical march, winning the regional semifinal, 70-59.
“We don’t have better players,” he explained. “We just have more of them.”
Caron Butler scored 19 points, and Emeka Okafor provided big plays at both ends. Then there was Ben Gordon with 12 points and five assists, Tony Robertson with 10 points and some all-around court savvy. It was just too much for the Salukis to overcome.
Led by Rolan Roberts, who scored 24 points, Southern Illinois thought they might sneak up on UConn much the way Kent State did on Big East team Pittsburgh in the South regional the night before.
“They were a little better than we were,” SIU coach Bruce Weber said. “Before the game, I said we had to play well and shoot well. We didn’t shoot well.”
Calhoun figured that if UConn could take away 3-pointers, Southern Illinois might struggle. And he was right. The Huskies concentrated on perimeter defense and held the Salukis to 1-for-14 from beyond the 3-point arc.
“We decided they would not beat us with great passing and 3-point baskets,” he said.
And they did not.
UConn (27-6) displayed the grit that won the Big East tournament, keeping its poise and holding on.
