NBA News 2011: Oriakhi’s lifts UConn

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The Huskies held Butler to 12 field goals—the second-fewest in title game history—and just two points in the paint while blocking 10 shots and altering numerous others. The Bulldogs set a record for futility, making just 19 percent of their shots.

“I definitely think we got in their head,” said Oriakhi, who shook off first-half foul trouble to finish with 11 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks. “They were second-guessing shots they were taking and if we didn’t block it we were able to alter it. I definitely think it frustrated them and we got them out of their comfort zone.”

It certainly looked that way.

The hulking 6-foot-9 Oriakhi and the rest of UConn’s muscular and long front line disrupted Butler’s timing and shook the Bulldogs’ confidence.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recap?gid=201104040129

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NBA News 2011: UConn win over Kentucky

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hen the options boil down to winning or heading home, nobody’s better than Kemba and Connecticut.

Kemba Walker scored 18 points Saturday night to lift UConn to its 10th straight victory since finishing off a .500 Big East regular season, a 56-55 win over cold-shooting Kentucky that moved the Huskies a victory away from their third, and most improbable, NCAA title.

The third-seeded Huskies—lowest seed left in a tournament that has been as unpredictable as any in history—will face No. 8 Butler, a 70-62 winner over 11th-seeded VCU in the first semifinal, on Monday.

“The guys decided they didn’t want to go home; this is too much fun,” UConn coach Jim Calhoun said.

But this win, which improved Calhoun to 5-1 in his four Final Four appearances, was not a work of art on either end.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recap?gid=201104020129

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NBA News 2011: UConn edges Arizona 65-63

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With nine pressure-packed victories in 19 days, Connecticut has been on an exhausting sprint through the postseason for nearly three weeks now.

Turns out Kemba Walker and his Huskies aren’t slowing down until they get to Houston.

Walker scored 20 points, freshman Jeremy Lamb added 19 and Connecticut earned its second Final Four berth in three years, beating Arizona 65-63 Saturday to win the West regional.

Derrick Williams and Jamelle Horne missed 3-pointers in the final seconds for Arizona, allowing the third-seeded Huskies (30-9) to hang on after Lamb, the Huskies’ fearless freshman, scored six key points down the stretch.

After missing the NCAA tournament entirely last year, coach Jim Calhoun’s tireless team is headed to UConn’s fourth Final Four.

Williams had 20 points while battling foul trouble for the fifth-seeded Wildcats (30-8), who led with 6 minutes to play. After Lamb pushed the Huskies ahead and Walker hit a jumper with 1:13 left, Lamont Jones and Horne then hit late 3-pointers for Arizona, but the Wildcats couldn’t convert two good looks in the final seconds.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recap;_ylt=AqBu6eN0NQsErN79VQ9UpsHevbYF?gid=201103260129

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