Big East Championship Game 2011: UConn Ends Magical Run With 69-66 Win Over Louisville

It wasn’t a buzzer beater, but Kemba Walker still created the ultimate winner for UConn in the 2011 Big East Tournament championship. By a score of 69-66, the Huskies have defeated the Louisville Cardinals to win the Big East Tournament title. However, it was not without drama, and Louisville had a chance to win it late. Unbelievably, Walker was the man who almost threw it away.

With 33 seconds remaining, down a point, Walker drove and made a fantastic assist to Jeremy Horn, who made an easy dunk to put his team ahead. After Louisville missed a shot, they fouled Walker, who made two free throws to put his team up by three points. He almost threw it away, though, when he fouled Mike Marra as he was attempting a three point shot while Louisville was down three points. Marra only made two of three free throws, keeping Walker from being the goat, and after two more free throws, UConn went up 69-66, which would be the final score.

The star guards for UConn and Louisville, Kemba Walker and Preston Knowles, are letting everyone in Madison Square Garden know that they are the stars late in the game, taking over for their respective teams. The 2011 Big East Championship looks like it’s set to go down to the wire, with the two teams exchanging blows back and forth and neither team giving in. At the under four minute break, with 2:12 to go, UConn are holding onto a 63-62 lead.

Walker had his most impressive play of the game when he powered his way to the rim, drawing a foul and making his lay-up. He would go on to complete the three point play at the free throw line. That lay-up was the first field goal in 23 minutes for Walker when he scored it with 4:56 remaining in regulation time. Knowles has made Louisville’s last two baskets, both on long range jump shots.

It’s possible that the fifth game in five days has caught up with Kemba Walker. The combination of his minutes over the last week and the pace that Louisville has pushed has essentially erased Walker’s jump shooting ability, though he has not been completely without influence. Walker is working hard on defense, fighting for boards, and setting up his teammates, but he’s still managed to go a full 20 minutes without scoring a field goal. The last time he drained a bucket was just before the under eight minute timeout in the first half. The under eight stoppage is here in the second, and still no buckets from Walker. With 7:52 left to play, UConn are clinging to a 54-52 lead.

Preston Knowles and Peyton Siva have both come back into the game after picking up their slight nagging injuries, and both of them have managed to get themselves into double digits scoring. Their health and offensive play will be huge for Louisville down the stretch.

Kemba Walker has been the best player on the floor for either team in the 2011 Big East Championship game, but Jim Calhoun opted to manage his risk, benching Walker when he picked up his second personal foul with just over seven minutes remaining in the first half. UConn had a 12 point lead on Louisville at that point, but that lead was trimmed to six just before halftime. Preston Knowles, who had a terrible start to the first half, hit two three-point shots near the end of the half to bring his team back to within single digits of the Huskies.

UConn have been the much better shooting team so far, but they looked a bit lost without Walker on the floor. Louisville’s tough work on the boards, along with their passing has allowed them to stay in the game, despite the fact that they were absolutely dominated while Kemba Walker was on the floor. It will be key at the start of the third half for Walker to avoid picking up his third personal foul.

The foul trouble of Terrence Jennings is the early story from Madison Square Garden, as the Louisville Cardinals forward has been forced out of the game with two fouls in under three minutes. In just 26 minutes, Jennings put up 16 points and five rebounds against Notre Dame last night, and his absence could allow UConn to get some inside position on offense and win rebounding battles.

Kemba Walker has been slightly quiet early, but he did hit one shot, shaking his defender to open himself up for an 18 foot jump shot. UConn’s most aggressive player in the opening minutes, shooting two for three and scoring four points thanks to his aggressive drives to the basket.

If you didn’t know, Kemba Walker is a really amazing basketball player. Sure, a 6’1” two-guard probably doesn’t have a massive future in the NBA, but let’s forget about that. What matters is now, and what’s now is the 2011 Big East Tournament. Tonight, Walker’s UConn Huskies contest the championship game against the Louisville Cardinals, and their road here - especially Walker’s - has been remarkable.

Kemba Walker’s full-season statistics are pretty impressive in and of themselves, but his stats across the last four games have been absolutely jaw-dropping, especially considering that he’s played four times in four nights. Oh, yeah, that other thing. If you didn’t know, this will be UConn’s fifth game in five nights.