Spring Break
The Storrs Side: Walker will have to pick up slack after Price leaves
Russell Blair
Issue date: 3/26/09 Section: Sports
While A.J. Price seemingly carried the Huskies on his back in UConn's 92-66 win over Texas A&M in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the Huskies' young guns will have to step up if UConn wants to deep in the tournament and win a national title.
For a freshman class that saw one player declared ineligible due to NCAA clearinghouse regulations, another declared academically ineligible and a third expelled from the university before ever taking a dribble, Kemba Walker has been the lone bright spot.
Walker averages 8.7 points per game and has been the first player off the bench for most of the season. With Jerome Dyson tearing his meniscus in UConn's 63-49 win over Syracuse on Feb. 11, Walker's responsibilities have monumentally increased. The loss of Jerome Dyson takes one of the most athletically talented Huskies off the court, and UConn loses much of its offense off the dribble.
Walker has shown brilliance at times not only with his passes and unselfishness but also with his ability to create something out of nothing, take the ball hard to the hoop and finish. Through the first two games of the 2009 NCAA Tournament, Walker has contributed 18 points and 10 assists, all coming off the bench.
With Price graduating in May, Walker will run the point for at least the next year and seems more than ready to step up to the task. In the midst of the recent allegations of recruiting violations against the Huskies regarding Nate Miles, UConn fans can rejoice that at least one member of the 2008-09 freshman class can produce on the court and stay in trouble off of it.
For a freshman class that saw one player declared ineligible due to NCAA clearinghouse regulations, another declared academically ineligible and a third expelled from the university before ever taking a dribble, Kemba Walker has been the lone bright spot.
Walker averages 8.7 points per game and has been the first player off the bench for most of the season. With Jerome Dyson tearing his meniscus in UConn's 63-49 win over Syracuse on Feb. 11, Walker's responsibilities have monumentally increased. The loss of Jerome Dyson takes one of the most athletically talented Huskies off the court, and UConn loses much of its offense off the dribble.
Walker has shown brilliance at times not only with his passes and unselfishness but also with his ability to create something out of nothing, take the ball hard to the hoop and finish. Through the first two games of the 2009 NCAA Tournament, Walker has contributed 18 points and 10 assists, all coming off the bench.
With Price graduating in May, Walker will run the point for at least the next year and seems more than ready to step up to the task. In the midst of the recent allegations of recruiting violations against the Huskies regarding Nate Miles, UConn fans can rejoice that at least one member of the 2008-09 freshman class can produce on the court and stay in trouble off of it.
Be the first to comment on this story