There's a big game in the Big East on Wednesday night. It is a revenge contest for red-hot Connecticut as Notre Dame comes calling. The Irish knocked off Jim Calhoun's squad in the first meeting, 73-67 back on January 5th.
The Irish have been unbeatable in South Bend, recently extending their home win streak there to 34 games. This is a super showdown between two of the marquee teams in the Big East.
A lot has changed in the month and change since these teams met. What a turnaround for Connecticut. The Huskies have been on fire, winning seven straight games. Calhoun suspended two key players -- Jerome Dyson and Doug Wiggins -- for behavior that was not fitting of a player in that Connecticut jersey.
What has this UConn. squad done? It has been solid defense, teamwork and effort despite being shorthanded that has keyed the seven-game streak. Wiggins has been reinstated, but Dyson remains sidelined. Others have stepped up big time!
This club is playing superb basketball, beating quality opponents like Indiana, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Syracuse and Marquette. Craig Austrie has been providing some stability in the backcourt. Jeff Adrien gives Connecticut a power, physical presence up front.
The most improved big man in America, Hasheem Thabeet, has been getting better and better. As Rick Pitino told me recently Thabeet is going to be absolutely special.
Just ask Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt about Thabeet. The Ramblin' Wreck played an outstanding game but the Huskies' big man scored 24 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. His presence inside was not only as a shot blocker, but with an ability to alter shots as well. If he stays at Connecticut for another year, I feel he will be the most dominant center in all of basketball. He should be a All-Solid Gold player for Hall of Famer Calhoun.
This Connecticut program is on a roll. There is a solid coaching staff, including veteran assistant George Blaney, providing leadership. Give a lot of credit to the architect, the Frank Lloyd Wright of coaching, Mr. Calhoun. He has done so much to build this program into special status. He does it by teaching, instilling discipline, getting his team to improve. That is why he is enshrined in Springfield, Massachusetts.
It will be a battle on Wednesday. Notre Dame has an amazing story in Luke Harangody. He was not a McDonald's All-America, simply not a heavily recruited athlete. He landed in South Bend and coach Mike Brey is thrilled he is there.
Harangody has developed into a true impact performer. I would vote for him as Big East Player of the Year. He is a double-double guy. Teaming him with guard Kyle McAlarney and there is a dynamic duo in South Bend.
Notre Dame has come through despite losing the likes of Russell Carter and Colin Falls from last year's squad.
The Huskies and Fighting Irish should put on a great Big East show.
Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in December 1979. Send him a question for possible use on ESPNEWS.
