2010 Connecticut Huskies Basketball: UConn vs Villanova

The Connecticut Huskies knew how poorly they played in a sad-sack setback against Cincinnati on Saturday. They knew that the return of their Hall of Fame coach didn't automatically produce the improvements they expected. A team sliding out of NCAA Tournament contention realized that it had to elevate its work ethic and summon forth the competitive character that had been missing for most of a very disappointing season. Moreover, the kids from UConn had to deliver the goods on the road against the leader of the Big East Conference.

As you can see, Connecticut's challenge was plain - plainly difficult, that is - on Monday night in Philadelphia. The notion that UConn could shrug off the Cincinnati debacle and vanquish mighty Villanova seemed patently absurd.

After 40 minutes, it has become reality.

In the Big East's third major upset in the past 36 hours, coach Jim Calhoun - able to tap into his team's best and most combative instincts - guided his troubled team to a titanic nine-point triumph at the Wachovia Center against the befuddled and beaten Wildcats. As was the case with Rutgers's win over Georgetown on Sunday, this result in the City of Brotherly Love was entirely unexpected. Like Louisville's stunner against Syracuse over the weekend, a Big East team headed straight for the NIT suddenly revived its hopes of punching a tourney ticket.

Yes, Connecticut has a lot more work to do than Louisville does - the Huskies still sit at 5-8 in the Big East, and truly have no margin for error the rest of the way (not until, perhaps, the final of the Big East Conference Tournament) - but Calhoun's crew has at least managed to inject itself back into the conversation for an NCAA at-large berth.

How badly did UConn want this win after its humiliating Saturday showing against Cincy? Clearly motivated by Calhoun, the Huskies didn't just beat a Villanova team that had a chance to cement its place atop the Big East; UConn bludgeoned coach Jay Wright's roster from start to finish.

One thing stood out above everything else in this game: Connecticut willed itself to the rim and, as a result, to the foul line. While Villanova's Player of the Year candidate Scottie Reynolds didn't attempt a single foul shot - a rather remarkable turn of events, given his quickness and his ballhandling savvy - UConn's guards took control of this confrontation. Kemba Walker and Jerome Dyson combined to shoot 30 foul shots on Monday, more than Villanova's team total of 20 free throw attempts. Walker - who finished with a game-high 29 points - was particularly devastating, earning 16 free throws and hitting 14 of them.

The Huskies' parade to the charity stripe was so consistent that it produced points whenever the Wildcats tried to make a run. A 75-point outing is nothing to sneeze at for Villanova, especially since the Big East is a rugged league, and since UConn tallied only 48 points in its brutal effort two days earlier against Cincinnati. However, because Walker and the rest of the Huskies were able to get to the line at will, the Wildcats were never able to orchestrate a sustained string of defensive stops. That's why Connecticut maintained a lead of at least five points over the final 15 minutes and 48 seconds of regulation.

Not bad for a team that entered Monday night's matchup with only four conference wins and a 14-11 overall record.

Connecticut still faces a pronounced uphill climb on the road to Bracketville. However, Jim Calhoun still has a chance to author what would truly be a Hall of Fame comeback. A heartbeat still exists for a proud pack of Huskies.

Connecticut Huskies vs Villanova Wildcats Basketball Recap