Well, its not like they have much of a stake in this Superbowl, so more stuff on tonight’s game.
Josh Boone was the guy everyone seemed to have interviewed or made available to the media. That or he was doing the most talking about payback, redemption, whatever.
“This is just a battle throughout the game, from start to finish,” UConn center Josh Boone said in anticipation of tonight’s game (7:30, Ch. 20) at Gampel Pavilion against ninth-ranked Pitt. “There’s going to be a whole lot of pushin’ and a whole lot of shovin’, but that’s the type of games they like. And we do play well in those type of games. We’re a running team, but I think we’ve proved this year we can be a physical team as well.”
Being labeled as the toughest kids on the Big East block used to bother some at Pittsburgh, who thought their team’s talent was getting overlooked. But coach Jamie Dixon and his players have begun to embrace such talk. “Teams often talk about us playing like the Steelers or a football team,” Dixon said. “We look at it as a good thing. We’re proud of it.”
UConn coach Jim Calhoun, who was calling the Panthers tough guys long before it was fashionable, said he thought the program’s toughness might run out.
“We thought when some of those kids left … maybe it was just (Chevon) Troutman, maybe it was just (Jaron) Brown, maybe it was just (Julius) Page,” Calhoun said. “But the system continues.”
Said Dixon: “It is something we look for in recruiting. I also think that once you get to a program, you can become tougher by being around tough kids.”
Of course, one of those kids with toughness opted for UConn instead and will be back after a one-game suspension by the NCAA.
[Marcus] Williams, one of several UConn guards expected to defend Krauser tonight, said he actually admires how Krauser plays.
“He never gives up on plays. He stays there. He defends. He’s intense,” Williams said. “He’ll even talk to you. Not to say it’s a bad thing, but he’s so competitive.
“Everything about him is competitive,” Williams added. “It seems like he wants the spotlight on him when they’re down 15 with 10 minutes left. It seems like he likes that.”
On the flip side, Williams said, the return of 6-6 freshman Jeff Adrien will enhance UConn’s physical toughness against Pitt. Adrien sat out last Saturday’s 76-62 victory at Providence, after he was ejected for fighting against St. John’s on Jan. 25.
“I would hate for him to miss this game,” Williams grinned, nodding toward the locker room. “He’s in there drooling, right now. He can’t wait, the way the coaches are telling him that (Pitt’s) physical.”
The refs are going to have a lot to say about how this game is played. I give the over/under on when Calhoun gets a technical at 5:00 left in the first half.
The coaches and players, though, seem to have a lot of focus directed towards Aaron Gray. That means Pitt may have some chances at open 3s early in the game if they collapse quickly. Pitt will need Ramon and Krauser to take an early advantage of that.
