By: Tyler Ward
Walker, a Bronx native, led his UConn Huskies to the NCAA Championship this season, winning the MVP award in the process.
Walker was undoubtedly the leader of the team and without him, the Huskies were nothing.
Now, he will take his talents to the professional level.
So, here's a look at Walker's home in the Bronx.
Showing posts with label Connecticut Huskies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Connecticut Huskies. Show all posts
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
UConn's Kemba Walker: Is He The Best Player In College Basketball?
By: Tyler Ward
Usually, there is always one player in each basketball season that is the best. However, this season, it has been a toss-up between two players: Jimmer Fredette of Brigham Young and Kemba Walker of Connecticut.
Both players helped their teams all season long to high seeded berths in the NCAA Tournament.
Now entering the Final Four, only one of those two players is currently standing.
Enter junior Kemba Walker.
Walker, perhaps the most electrifying player in all college hoops, has willed the Huskies to their fourth Final Four appearance, all since 1999.
But it's the manner that the Huskies, mostly Walker, did it in.
At the end of the regular season, the Huskies sat at 9-9 in the Big East, placing ninth in the entire conference. They had to practically win the conference tournament to advance to the actual championship tournament.
On March 8th, the Huskies matched up against DePaul, the worst team in the conference (1-17). They dominated DePaul throughout the game, eventually winning 97-71. Walker led the Huskies with 26 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
The following day, Walker and Co. took on the Georgetown Hoyas in their second round match-up. Walker once again led the Huskies to victory, 79-62. Walker scored 28 points, six rebounds, and three assists.
On March 10th, UConn would take on Pittsburgh, the best team in the conference and eventual #1 seed in the championship tournament.
Walker carried the Huskies throughout the game, but the best part of the game came at the very end. With the game tied at 74, UConn called a timeout with roughly 18 seconds remaining.
The junior had the ball for the majority of the time remaining and just before the buzzer, Walker heaved up a shot after stepping back on a defender. The shot went in and the Huskies won the game, 76-74.
The guard led the Huskies with 24 points and five assists. This was their third win in three days.
In the fourth round, the Huskies took on the Syracuse Orange, one of the top teams in the NCAA throughout the year. And Walker had his best game of the Big East Tournament.
In their overtime thriller win, 76-71, Walker scored 33 points and brought down twelve rebounds. He also assisted on five baskets and had six steals.
With four wins in four days, the Huskies were finally matched up against Louisville for the conference crown.
Walker would leave no doubt that he was the MVP of the tournament, as he rallied the Huskies to a 69-66 win. Although he had his worst game of the tournament, no other player matched his abilities throughout the games.
Walker scored 19 points and added three assists and two rebounds.
For the tournament, the junior averaged 26 points and was given the Big East Tournament MVP Award.
The win gave UConn an astounding five wins in five days, as they advanced to the tournament.
Now, with wins over Bucknell, Cincinnati, San Diego State, and Arizona, the Huskies are in the Final Four for the first time since 2007. And it can be said that it is mostly in part to Walker.
He has truly been the best player this season, in my opinion. Although Fredette scored more points than Walker, the Huskies star meant more to his team than Fredette to BYU.
All it takes is looking at BYU's loss to Billy Donovan's Florida Gators. Fredette spent all game throwing up shots, hoping that they would fall in. That's not how you win games. One player cannot do it all by themselves, but Fredette sure thought he could.
Yes, the guard did score 32 points, but it took him 29 shots to achieve that number. He only went 11-for-29 from the field, including 3-for-15 from three-point range. Not so good, especially since it was his last collegiate game.
So when it comes down to it, the last man standing is the NCAA's best player. Walker kept his team in games, despite boasting just a 22-9 regular season record.
He worked a lot of magic to get to where they are right now. With the performances he has given, there is no doubt in my mind that Walker should receive the Naismith Award.
He's been the best player and if anything, he's showed that since the Big East Tournament began.
Walker's shot against Pittsburgh:
Usually, there is always one player in each basketball season that is the best. However, this season, it has been a toss-up between two players: Jimmer Fredette of Brigham Young and Kemba Walker of Connecticut.
Both players helped their teams all season long to high seeded berths in the NCAA Tournament.
Now entering the Final Four, only one of those two players is currently standing.
Enter junior Kemba Walker.
Walker, perhaps the most electrifying player in all college hoops, has willed the Huskies to their fourth Final Four appearance, all since 1999.
But it's the manner that the Huskies, mostly Walker, did it in.
On March 8th, the Huskies matched up against DePaul, the worst team in the conference (1-17). They dominated DePaul throughout the game, eventually winning 97-71. Walker led the Huskies with 26 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
The following day, Walker and Co. took on the Georgetown Hoyas in their second round match-up. Walker once again led the Huskies to victory, 79-62. Walker scored 28 points, six rebounds, and three assists.
On March 10th, UConn would take on Pittsburgh, the best team in the conference and eventual #1 seed in the championship tournament.
Walker carried the Huskies throughout the game, but the best part of the game came at the very end. With the game tied at 74, UConn called a timeout with roughly 18 seconds remaining.
The junior had the ball for the majority of the time remaining and just before the buzzer, Walker heaved up a shot after stepping back on a defender. The shot went in and the Huskies won the game, 76-74.
The guard led the Huskies with 24 points and five assists. This was their third win in three days.
In the fourth round, the Huskies took on the Syracuse Orange, one of the top teams in the NCAA throughout the year. And Walker had his best game of the Big East Tournament.
In their overtime thriller win, 76-71, Walker scored 33 points and brought down twelve rebounds. He also assisted on five baskets and had six steals.
With four wins in four days, the Huskies were finally matched up against Louisville for the conference crown.
Walker scored 19 points and added three assists and two rebounds.
For the tournament, the junior averaged 26 points and was given the Big East Tournament MVP Award.
The win gave UConn an astounding five wins in five days, as they advanced to the tournament.
Now, with wins over Bucknell, Cincinnati, San Diego State, and Arizona, the Huskies are in the Final Four for the first time since 2007. And it can be said that it is mostly in part to Walker.
He has truly been the best player this season, in my opinion. Although Fredette scored more points than Walker, the Huskies star meant more to his team than Fredette to BYU.
All it takes is looking at BYU's loss to Billy Donovan's Florida Gators. Fredette spent all game throwing up shots, hoping that they would fall in. That's not how you win games. One player cannot do it all by themselves, but Fredette sure thought he could.
Yes, the guard did score 32 points, but it took him 29 shots to achieve that number. He only went 11-for-29 from the field, including 3-for-15 from three-point range. Not so good, especially since it was his last collegiate game.
So when it comes down to it, the last man standing is the NCAA's best player. Walker kept his team in games, despite boasting just a 22-9 regular season record.
He worked a lot of magic to get to where they are right now. With the performances he has given, there is no doubt in my mind that Walker should receive the Naismith Award.
He's been the best player and if anything, he's showed that since the Big East Tournament began.
Walker's shot against Pittsburgh:
NCAA Basketball: All-American Teams Announced; Fredette, Walker Lead First Team
By: Tyler Ward
Just one day after Kentucky and VCU advanced to the Final Four, the Associated Press announced the players elected to the AP All-America Team.
Three seniors were elected to the team - Jimmer Fredette of BYU, Nolan Smith of Duke, and JaJuan Johnson of Purdue. UConn junior Kemba Walker and Ohio State freshman Jared Sullinger were the other two players chosen.
It's the most seniors elected to the team since four were chosen in 2006.
Duke point guard Nolan Smith received 61 of the possible 65 votes. For the season, Smith averaged 21.3 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game. He helped lead the Blue Devils to the top of the polls throughout the season.
He became the seventh freshman All-American in the last five years.
Sullinger received 58 of the 65 possible votes.
UConn's Walker, one of the most electrifying players in the NCAA, has led the Huskies to yet another Final Four appearance.
Walker had a stellar start to the season, but as the season went on, he and the rest of the team faded into mediocrity.
Coach Jim Calhoun called Walker "the most important person on the team this year".
The last selection, Purdue's JaJuan Johnson, averaged 20.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game for the Boilermakers. He also became the first Boilermaker to be selected to the All-American Team since Glenn Robinson in 1994.
Johnson returned to school this season after considering leaving for the NBA last year.
Fredette and Johnson were on the preseason All-American Team. Duke's Kyle Singler, Kansas State's Jacob Pullen, and North Carolina's Harrison Barnes were the others nominated before the season.
The second All-American Team was also announced Monday.
Arizona's Derrick Williams led the team, along with Kansas' Marcus Morris. Notre Dame's Ben Hansbrough, Wisconsin's Jordan Taylor, and San Diego State's Kawhi Leonard were the other players elected to the team.
Just one day after Kentucky and VCU advanced to the Final Four, the Associated Press announced the players elected to the AP All-America Team.
Three seniors were elected to the team - Jimmer Fredette of BYU, Nolan Smith of Duke, and JaJuan Johnson of Purdue. UConn junior Kemba Walker and Ohio State freshman Jared Sullinger were the other two players chosen.
It's the most seniors elected to the team since four were chosen in 2006.
Fredette led the nation with 28.5 points per game and became one of the most popular players in the NCAA. He also became the first Cougar to be chosen since Danny Ainge in 1981.
Fredette, happy with the selection, said, "If you go out and play your game and have confidence in yourself, you can accomplish great things. That's what I've always said in my head, and it's worked out."
Duke point guard Nolan Smith received 61 of the possible 65 votes. For the season, Smith averaged 21.3 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game. He helped lead the Blue Devils to the top of the polls throughout the season. Sullinger, a freshman, averaged 17.2 points and 10.1 rebounds for the Buckeyes this season. After their defeat in the tournament, Sullinger announced that he would return to the school for his sophomore season.
He became the seventh freshman All-American in the last five years.
Sullinger received 58 of the 65 possible votes.
UConn's Walker, one of the most electrifying players in the NCAA, has led the Huskies to yet another Final Four appearance.
Throughout the season, Walker has been one of the best players in college and he proved that with his level of play in his junior season.
Walker had a stellar start to the season, but as the season went on, he and the rest of the team faded into mediocrity.
However, they got hot at the right time as Walker led the Huskies to five wins in as many days to win the Big East Tournament. The guard averaged 23.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists for the Huskies this season.
Coach Jim Calhoun called Walker "the most important person on the team this year".
The last selection, Purdue's JaJuan Johnson, averaged 20.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game for the Boilermakers. He also became the first Boilermaker to be selected to the All-American Team since Glenn Robinson in 1994.
Johnson returned to school this season after considering leaving for the NBA last year.
Fredette and Johnson were on the preseason All-American Team. Duke's Kyle Singler, Kansas State's Jacob Pullen, and North Carolina's Harrison Barnes were the others nominated before the season.
The second All-American Team was also announced Monday.
Arizona's Derrick Williams led the team, along with Kansas' Marcus Morris. Notre Dame's Ben Hansbrough, Wisconsin's Jordan Taylor, and San Diego State's Kawhi Leonard were the other players elected to the team.
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