#4 KENTUCKY vs. #3 CONNECTICUT
NCAA Final Four – National Semifinal
When: Approx. 8:50 p.m.; Saturday, April 2, 2011
Where: Reliant Stadium; Houston, Texas
TV: CBS; Radio: Big Blue Sports Network
Last Meeting: Nov. 24, 2010 – UConn 84, Kentucky 67 (Maui)
Records: Kentucky (29-8); Connecticut (30-9)
Kemba Walker
Notes: The all-time series is tied 1-1, including Connecticut’s 87-83 victory in the 2nd Round of the 2006 NCAA Tournament in Philadelphia, Pa. … The Huskies stunned the Cats with a first half surge in a 17-point victory in the Maui Invitational championship game earlier this season…Kentucky went 3-1 against the Big East Conference this season, losing to UConn but defeating Louisville, Notre Dame and West Virginia…Both teams have three freshmen who are integral parts of their rotations…UConn coach Jim Calhoun guided the Huskies to their fourth Final Four during his tenure and has won two national championships.
HUSKIES YOU SHOULD KNOW
KEMBA WALKER
Junior, Guard
2010-11 Statistics: 23.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists
2011 NCAA Tournament Statistics: 26.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists
Jimmer Fredette and Nolan Smith have the inside track on the National Player of the Year awards but no one has been better than Kemba Walker this season in big games. Walker has done everything you could ask of a collegiate player, hitting a variety of game-winning shots and willing the Huskies to a 12-0 record in tournament settings this season (Maui Invitational, Big East Tournament, NCAA Tournament). If it was possible for Walker to get better in the NCAA Tournament he’s done exactly that, raising his averages across the board from the regular season. Walker also dominated UK in the first meeting in Maui this season, finishing with 29 points and six assists.
JEREMY LAMB
Freshman, Guard/Forward
2010-11 Statistics: 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds
2011 NCAA Tournament Statistics: 18.3 points, 3.3 rebounds
Connecticut hit a lull in the middle of Big East play and was left for dead by a lot of experts when it finished just 9-9 in league play. Part of the reason the Huskies rebounded from that dead period was the emergence of Lamb, a long, lanky scorer who became Robin to Kemba Walker’s Batman. Lamb is tremendously smooth on the offensive end and has been sensational in postseason play, taking pressure off Walker and forcing opponents to respect another scorer. Lamb played just 12 minutes in the first meeting with Kentucky, finishing with two points, four rebounds and two assists.
ALEX ORIAKHI
Sophomore, Forward/Center
2010-11 Statistics: 9.6 points, 8.6 rebounds
2011 NCAA Tournament Statistics: 6.3 points, 9.5 rebounds
Oriakhi arrived at UConn a year ago as a highly touted recruit who was supposed to give the Huskies the athletic big man it needed moving forward. Although it took Oriakhi a year he has blossomed this season, averaging nearly a double double on the season and leading the Huskies with 62 blocked shots. The sophomore hasn’t been scoring as much in the NCAA Tournament, but he hasn’t needed to because of Walker and Lamb. The 6-foot-9 forward dominated the Cats’ big men in the first meeting with 18 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots.
SHABAZZ NAPIER
Freshman, Guard
2010-11 Statistics: 8.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists
2011 NCAA Tournament Statistics: 5.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists
History tells you that Kemba Walker’s unparalleled season is going to basically force him to forego his senior season and enter the NBA Draft, but at least the Huskies have a reasonable facsimile of Walker in freshman Shabazz Napier. The Massachusetts native has 64 steals on the season and has made 34 percent of his three-pointers. He also tallied 12 points and four assists in the first meeting with Kentucky.
ROSCOE SMITH
Freshman, Forward
2010-11 Statistics: 6.5 points, 5.2 rebounds
2011 NCAA Tournament Statistics: 7.0 points, 5.3 rebounds
Lamb and Napier have been so good they have almost obscured the Huskies’ third big-time freshman this season. Smith took a little longer to develop tis year but the Baltimore native has been terrific over the second half of the season and his length at 6-foot-8 has given the Huskies a second shot blocker. Smith was a non-factor in the first meeting with Kentucky.
