Tag: UConn

Notre Dame Win Further Highlights Tough Times for Duke

Notre Dame is doing everything it can to keep its feeble NCAA Tournament hopes alive.

Notre Dame is doing everything it can to keep its feeble NCAA Tournament hopes alive. It took a step in the right direction Tuesday after beating Duke, 93-89. This was only the second time the Irish had won a game at Cameron Indoor Stadium, and it came after they trailed, 23-8, in the first half. The soon-to-be-retired Jack Nolan lamented on the air about not being able to travel to Durham for the game, which was for obvious reasons.

Normally, a win like this would be a resume booster for a team that’s now 8-10 overall and 5-7 in the ACC, even if its chances of playing in March Madness are slim. Just the fact that the Irish beat a historically prominent program on its own floor, even without fans, gives them a great sense of pride. But Duke has fallen on hard times. The Blue Devils now are 5-7 in conference play and have a 7-8 overall record, which puts them at a couple of marks they haven’t seen for a long time:

Now, those facts don’t tell the whole story. The 1999-2000 Blue Devils started their season with a pair of losses to a star-packed Stanford team and a UConn bunch still riding the high of beating them in the national championship game the previous spring. They quickly recovered and ended up with 29 wins. During the 1994-95 season, Mike Krzyzewski took a leave of absence to deal with a back injury, and Duke fell apart under interim coach Pete Gaudet, resulting in the worst season in program history.

This season can partly be blamed on the impact of COVID-19 as it has limited the amount of time the Blue Devils otherwise would have spent together. It’s also a very young team that Krzyzewski had to build almost from scratch with many players from last year either graduating or going to the NBA. But there’s no one reason for why this program is struggling just to finish with a winning record. Everything working against it just seemed to happen at once.

With more NBA hopefuls heading to the G-League or overseas and the likelihood of high school players being able to head straight to the draft once again, Duke may not be able to get back to respectability so easily. The aforementioned factors stretch the amateur basketball talent pool further by the day. It’s almost sure to level the playing field, so maybe this is the time for new programs to reign supreme from year to year. Plus, Krzyzewski is closer to the end of his career than the beginning, and it will be nearly impossible for the Blue Devils to find a coach of his stature and influence down the road.

It’s often said that when Duke loses, America wins. But where’s the fun in saying that if the losses are happening more often than not? Perhaps we’ve finally reached that point where the villain has to accept the ultimate defeat, never to pose a threat to the greater good again. While it may not be coming in a way people expected or possibly even wanted, all good and bad things must eventually come to an end, and we don’t always get to choose how we arrive there.

Jets’ Foley Fatukasi, Bennett Jackson star in ‘The Late Show’ segment

Foley Fatukasi and Bennett Jackson starred in a segment on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”

Foley Fatukasi and Bennett Jackson got their first taste of late-night television after making an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Fatukasi and Jackson appeared in a segment of Sunday’s episode that offered a unique take on player introductions. Typically, fans will watch an NFL game on TV and see or hear player names accompanied by their alma maters. But what if those standard player introductions were directed by Hollywood legends like Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino and Steven Spielberg?

The Late Show has the answer, with an assist from Fatukasi, Jackson and other NFL players.

As you can see, the first player introduction was based on a scene from Scorsese’s “Goodfellas.” Fatukasi got to acknowledge his days at the University of Connecticut.

Jackson, meanwhile, was given the character name of “Benny Two Times,” a spoof on the “Goodfellas” character Jimmy Two Times. Naturally, Jackson called out his alma mater, Notre Dame, twice.

The next player introduction that featured Jackson was based on Werner Herzog’s “Grizzly Man.” He played the character of Timothy Treadwell. Jackson got approached by a grizzly bear while the narrator said there is nothing safe about playing safety. The narrator then gave a quick shout out to Notre Dame.

Fatukasi’s last appearance was in a spoof of Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction.” He played the character of Brett from the movie. Fatukasi explained to Samuel L. Jackson’s character, Jules Winfield, that he was Foley Fatukasi from Uconn. Jackson played a small role in that scene as well.

After the Jets recognized Fatukasi and Jackson for their performances in a tweet, The Late Show responded and said that “Oscars are being sent in the mail.”

UConn defeats Lady Vols

Recapping Tennessee’s loss to UConn Thursday night.

Longtime women’s college basketball rivals Tennessee and Connecticut renewed acquaintances in Knoxville Thursday night.

The No. 3 Huskies left Thompson-Boling Arena with a 67-61 victory.

The No. 25 Lady Vols led throughout much of the game and held a slim 49-45 advantage heading into the fourth quarter only to see UConn notch a comeback victory.

Rae Burrell, Rennia Davis, Tamari Key and Marta Suarez all posted solid performances for Tennessee (9-3), which has now lost two of its last three games.

Burrell scored 18 points, pulled down eight rebounds, dished out a pair of assists and had a blocked shot.

Davis finished with 11 points, nine rebounds, three assists and a block. Key finished with 10 points and nine boards. She also had three blocked shots.

Suarez had 10 points and six rebounds for the Lady Vols, who led 35-34 at halftime.

Chrystin Williams, a guard for the Huskies led all scorers with 20 points.

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WATCH: Comparing Kemba Walker’s G3 stepback to a classic at UConn

Boston Celtics star point guard Kemba Walker unleashed an eerily familiar step-back jumper against the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.

We got a bit of a throwback moment to reminisce over in Boston Celtics point guard Kemba Walker’s Game 3 performance against the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference 2020 NBA Playoffs first round.

The UConn product hearkened back to his legendary postseason run, where he won 11 straight games to win the Big East and NCAA titles without losing one of them, unleashing a filthy stepback against Pitt in the Big East Tournament that bears a striking resemblance to the one he stick on former Celtic Al Horford’s face Friday.

“Cardiac” Kemba — so called for the heart attacks Walker gives fans with those late-clock daggers — called up a little of that Connecticut magic for the Celtics in a moment of need.

True fans of the game over at NBC Sports Boston, their announcing crew couldn’t help but contrast the two step-backs, near mirror images separated by nearly a decade.

So much so it elicited a comment from teammate Brad Wanamaker, who happened to be on the other side of he court for the first one in 2011, noting he was happy to be on this side of that jumper this time around.

Watch the clip embedded above to see the two shots compared yourself.

Something tells us it isn’t the last time we’ll have a Cardiac Kemba moment this postseason, too.

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‘It was tough’: Kemba Walker on death of ex-teammate Stanley Robinson

Boston Celtics starting point guard Kemba Walker shared his thoughts on the unexpected death of former UConn teammate Stanley Robinson.

Boston Celtics starting point guard Kemba Walker shared his thoughts about some especially somber news at Thursday’s team media availability session. Asked about his feelings on hearing of his former college teammate Stanley “Sticks” Robinson’s untimely death, the Bronx native was clearly in grief.

“It was tough. It was really, really shocking to hear that news,” related Walker on Robinson’s death.

A fellow Connecticut player, Robinson had found less success at the next level, playing several stints overseas and in the G League after being drafted by the Orlando Magic but not making their final roster in 2010.

“He was just a happy guy, man,” explained the UConn product. “Always smiling. He was an upperclassmen, so he was a guy who I watched before I got this. Fun to play with, throwing lobs and stuff like that. It’s a real sad moment. I really feel bad for his family, his kids.”

“He’s a Husky forever. May he Rest In Peace,” added Walker, who shared a Connecticut roster for two seasons between 2008 and 2010.

As of Thursday evening, the reason for Robinson’s death is unknown — he was found lifeless by his mother on Tuesday.

“The UConn Basketball family grieves the loss of the great player and an even greater person, Stanley ‘Sticks’ Robinson,” the UConn men’s basketball team posted on Twitter.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Stanley’s family at this difficult time.”

Rest In Peace, Stanley Robinson.

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WATCH: Kemba Walker takes us back to the step-back that started it all

Boston Celtics All-Star point guard Kemba Walker breaks down the step back that put him on the map at UConn with Celtics team reporter Marc D’Amico.

On Thursday, the Celtics Wire highlighted all the best of Boston Celtics All-Star point guard Kemba Walker’s best step-back jumpers of his pro career, spanning everything he’s done with the Celtics and much of his best daggers from his time with the Charlotte Hornets.

But the one we didn’t share — arguably, the most important of any of them — was a step-back that launched the most epic NCAA title run in the Tournament’s history — fresh off of a fairly absurd run to the Big East title.

In many ways, the future contours of Walker’s pro career were already present in that run, which caught the eye of Hornets owner Michael Jordan and set the UConn product’s career down the path it took today.

Present on that floor in the video Walker and Celtics team reporter Marc D’Amico break down is Pitt product and current teammate Brad Wanamaker.

The final boss of the ex-Husky’s NCAA run was none other than his current coach Brad Stevens’ Butler squad — back again for another shot at a title the season after another teammate (Gordon Hayward) swung at Duke and missed.

Watch the video embedded above to see Cardiac Kemba discuss the iconic moment that would one day reunite the fanbases of the University of Connecticut and the Boston Celtics again as he unleashed one of the daggers behind the late-clock killings from whence that nickname derives.

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WATCH: the best of Kemba Walker’s step-back jumpers

The step-back jumper has been a crucial part of All-Star point guard Kemba Walker’s arsenal from UConn to the Boston Celtics.

There may still be fans of the Boston Celtics who are still, somehow, unfamiliar with the trademark shot of Celtics starting point guard Kemba Walker.

But, given the UConn product’s deep roots in the northeast, there’s probably not too many of you.

Step-back jumpers are the bread and butter of “Cardiac” Kemba, who earned that sobriquet giving opponents and fans alike heart palpitations with his late-clock shots that leave opposing teams in disarray.

From the start of his epic run to an NCAA title with the Huskies in 2011 right up to the present, there’s a wealth of such shots peppering the Bronx native’s career.

Most came with the Charlotte Hornets at the pro level, his sole NBA franchise until changing teams this summer.

So watch the video embedded above to see all of the best of Kemba Walker’s step-back wizardry; the most recent Celtic is just starting to get in some with his new club, but there’s plenty to see here just the same.

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Kemba Walker shares the advice from Michael Jordan that changed him

Boston Celtics All-Star point guard Kemba Walker shared some of Michael Jordan’s advice to him from his time with the Charlotte Hornets.

Boston Celtics All-Star point guard Kemba Walker has a special connection with his former boss Michael Jordan, and the ubiquity of the ESPN documentary series on Jordan’s Chicago Bulls sparked some reflection by the UConn product in a short interview conducted for the team.

Drafted out of Connecticut immediately after dragging his Huskies to their third NCAA National Championship, Walker joined the Charlotte Hornets organization as their highest draft pick in the still-new Jordan era of ownership.

Don’t think that reputation he’d earned in his days at UConn made him  immune to the sort of pressure His Airness put on his teammates in “The Last Dance,” though.

Jordan’s early advice to the Bronx native was cut from the same cloth, if anything.

“MJ, the advice he always gave me was [that you] just had to bring it every night, man,” related Walker. “He always told me, ‘Don’t get comfortable.’ That’s his thing — ‘don’t get comfortable, don’t get comfortable,’ and I always heard it, too. ‘I ain’t getting comfortable; I’m keeping this job forever.'”

“Every time he’d tell me that, that was just my mentality. I’m not getting comfortable. I know who my boss is! You know? I’m not about to let you down,” he added. “He’s been very influential in my basketball career.”

Walker and Jordan may be on separate paths now, but the former Charlotte guard still looks back on his time with MJ fondly.

And while their leadership styles couldn’t be more night and day with the former Husky choosing to lead quietly by example, the same killer instinct and insatiable desire to compete is exuded by the Celtic point guard.

And Walker’s fans wouldn’t have it any other way.

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On this day: Pitino hired; DJ retired; 1968 expansion draft takes 3 Cs

On this day, Rick Pitino was hired as head coach and team president of the Boston Celtics, Dennis Johnson retired, and 3 Cs were taken in the ’68 expansion draft.

On this day in 1997, former Boston Celtics head coach and team president Rick Pitino was hired as head coach and general manager of the team.

He had previously coached at the NBA level as a moderately successful head coach of the New York Knicks between 1987 and 1989, and most recently at Kentucky in the NCAA ranks.

His tenure with the Celtics went considerably worse, with the pressure to return to greatness after the longest losing streak in team history undoubtedly a factor in the several questionable ‘win-now’ decisions made by Pitino.

The New Yorker would throw in the towel after four seasons with the franchise, amassing a 102-146 record in the regular season, good for a .411 winning percentage.

He never made the postseason in his role as team president and head coach.

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On this day: 3 players lost to 1967 expansion draft; Amir Johnson born

On this day, ex-Boston Celtics big man Amir Johnson was born, and three players were taken from the team in the 1967 NBA expansion draft.

On this day in 1967, the Boston Celtics lost three players to the expansion draft held to populate two new teams being added to the league.

Those teams would be the San Diego Rockets and Seattle Supersonics, the former now relocated in Houston, Texas as the Houston Rockets, and the latter now the Oklahoma City Thunder since 2008.

Expansion drafts function similar to the regular draft, except the team or teams joining the league can raid the rosters of existing teams save for a certain number of “protected” players each team can prevent from being drafted away to the expansion team or teams.

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