Spring Break
Passing on the PG torch
Kevin Duffy
Issue date: 3/31/09 Section: Sports
Jim Calhoun had been there thousands of times.
It seems as though A.J. Price had, too.
This one, however, was a bit different.
When Calhoun and Price took the podium for their usual post-game press conference last Saturday, the Huskies had just beaten third-seeded Missouri, 82-75, and advanced to the Final Four for the third time in school history.
Calhoun was business as usual.
"We really give [Missouri] credit for their great full-court defense," Calhoun said.
So was Price.
"We're just elated that we're able to move on and advance," Price added. "It's something you'll hold on to for the rest of your life, I won't ever forget these guys. I'm just happy I get to continue this journey."
But neither Calhoun nor Price - no matter how professional they tried to be - could contain their laughter when questions were fired at the other Husky sitting at the podium, freshman sensation Kemba Walker.
"Kemba, why did you guys decide to not cut down the nets?" asked one reporter.
Walker, who was fresh off a 23-point performance that saw him dribble through Missouri's entire press with regularity, leaned into the microphone and cleared his throat.
"Um, I have no idea," he said.
Price went on to explain that the team had bigger goals in mind and a different net to aim for. When they were excused from the podium, Price calmly walked down the stairs with little emotion and proceeded to the UConn locker room. Walker followed his lead, but for whatever reason, turned to the audience of reporters with a big smile and awkwardly waved at them.
"I was kind of nervous before I got there," he said. "But A.J. was telling me what to do, he told me it was cool."
Price is used to doing that. His well-documented journey took him from mega-recruit, to brain hemorrhage patient, to laptop thief, to underachieving guard, to All-Big East performer, and finally, to leader and go-to threat on one of the best four teams in the country.
It seems as though A.J. Price had, too.
This one, however, was a bit different.
When Calhoun and Price took the podium for their usual post-game press conference last Saturday, the Huskies had just beaten third-seeded Missouri, 82-75, and advanced to the Final Four for the third time in school history.
Calhoun was business as usual.
"We really give [Missouri] credit for their great full-court defense," Calhoun said.
So was Price.
"We're just elated that we're able to move on and advance," Price added. "It's something you'll hold on to for the rest of your life, I won't ever forget these guys. I'm just happy I get to continue this journey."
But neither Calhoun nor Price - no matter how professional they tried to be - could contain their laughter when questions were fired at the other Husky sitting at the podium, freshman sensation Kemba Walker.
"Kemba, why did you guys decide to not cut down the nets?" asked one reporter.
Walker, who was fresh off a 23-point performance that saw him dribble through Missouri's entire press with regularity, leaned into the microphone and cleared his throat.
"Um, I have no idea," he said.
Price went on to explain that the team had bigger goals in mind and a different net to aim for. When they were excused from the podium, Price calmly walked down the stairs with little emotion and proceeded to the UConn locker room. Walker followed his lead, but for whatever reason, turned to the audience of reporters with a big smile and awkwardly waved at them.
"I was kind of nervous before I got there," he said. "But A.J. was telling me what to do, he told me it was cool."
Price is used to doing that. His well-documented journey took him from mega-recruit, to brain hemorrhage patient, to laptop thief, to underachieving guard, to All-Big East performer, and finally, to leader and go-to threat on one of the best four teams in the country.
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