Every few years or so, I get really excited about UConn basketball. That’s because every few years, coach Jim Calhoun puts together a group of players that can beat any mediocre team in the NBA (eg. Raptors). UConn is ranked #2 in the country behind North Carolina. North Carolina was ranked #1 in the preseason – they haven’t lost a game… so naturally they still hold on to their #1 ranking. UConn hasn’t lost either. They face a tough opponent in Gonzaga this Saturday (CBS, 4pm). Some critics call this their first real test – but I disagree (only slightly). They faced a good team in Wisconsin in the Paradise Jam and held them to 37% shooting. Wisconsin takes pride in their offense so it’s a significant feat to beat them soundly. Moreover, they have shown composure and confidence in tight games. This is more important than any statistic in college ball because of the simple fact that most players are in their teens. One of many good characteristics of coach Jim Calhoun is that he makes you believe you’re the best player on the floor even when it isn’t exactly true. Confidence is key in college ball since there is very little room for mental errors. As you know, when it counts, every game is do or die. If you lack confidence, any team can beat you.

Here is why I believe when it is all said and done, UConn will cut the nets down in early April.

Hasheem Thabeet is a monster down low. His stat line is is ridiculous:15pts, 12 boards and 4 blocks per game. He’ll definitely be top 5 pick in next year’s NBA draft. Jeff Adrien is a nice compliment, averaging more than 14pts and 9 boards per game. They have one of the best rookies in Kemba Walker. Shooting guard, Jerome Dyson, will eat Anthony Parker (…I know… anyone can eat Anthony Parker…). But this kid is really amazing with ball in his hands. He can get to the heart of the defense with ease. Last year, he didn’t have the body control to avoid charges or blocks when he drove, but this year, he’s much more under control and finishes well with both hands. They have their leader, A.J. Price, healthy again from the ACL injury he sustained during last March Madness. Remember that he was the go-to guy for UConn last season. Stanley Robinson, the most athletic wing man on the team, is back from team issued suspension.

The pieces are there for UConn to compete for a national championship. The journey begins this Saturday. After all, in 1999, when UConn won it all, the run began with the defeat of Gonzaga. I am hoping 2009 is the new 1999 (you like that…).

So please, you Canadian basketball fans, support UConn (Denham Brown went here) this Saturday.

Enjoy the keys to the game.

Something tells me people still care about what I have to say. That’s kind of cool. So I will take out one hour of my life every week and write about whatever. You can expect two posts per week.

I watched the latest installment of Chris Bosh’s “this is what I’ve been up to y’all” video on Youtube last night. Please watch:

I know what you are thinking. I am thinking it too. He is higher than [insert your favorite "high" analogy here]. Nothing wrong with being high but putting yourself on Youtube high is next level. I mean, dang, …! Like the Marines, Chris Bosh is among “the few, the proud” after that video. Thats all I got. Neverthless, the point I am making is that I am liking the confidence Bosh has in himself to put out a video under the influence. Mad props for almost pulling it off.

Imagine if Garnett put out a video. Period. And you thought the post NBA finals interview was PG-13 rated… Scoop Jackson did a piece on Garnett after the Finals. Jackson was basically saying Garnett ’s the man and he finally got his after 14 years. What’s funny is that Scoop modified every quote to make Garnett sound human-like. I mean, the man was literally swearing every other word. Why? You just won the NBA Finals! Yell! Go nuts or something. But cut that swearing sh*t out. Word. Now that’s what going on a tangent means.

In other news. There is no other news, stupid. This is significant.

I have been a fan of Toronto Raptors basketball ever since I moved to Toronto in 2001. I was never a die hard fan though and I never cared enough to be a fan during the hard times – although that would imply we are out of the hard times now – we are not. Nevertheless, the Raps have grown on me over the years. In the season that just passed, I can safely say that I watched 60% of the games. That’s about 50 of the 82 games (Yeah, my math skills are impeccable.). Without a doubt, Chuck Swirsky, the play-by-play broadcaster of the Raps, made many of those game memorable. His personality is intriguing. He has an uncanny ability to put a positive spin on any negative situation. He “lights up the room” if you will. I admire his optimistic views on Raptors and most importantly, life.

The news broke yesterday. After 1o years with the Raptors organization, Chuck Swirsky has decided to leave the Raptors and head to Chicago for personal reasons related to his family. It is shock to me because it was so unexpected. Frankly, I still have a hard time coming to terms with it. Chuck was the face of the Raptors. He lived and breathed Raptors basketball. His blog, which I read daily, is a perfect example of his passion and love for Raptors basketball and Toronto. He will surely be missed even by his haters who disliked the very thing I liked about him: his optimism.

I know the Raptors paid his salary and so in a sense, he may have been required to say nice things about them, but I felt a lot of things he did say were things he truly believed in. He loved Toronto and Canada. At every opportunity, he promoted our city. He was a leading member of the Raptors Foundation that is assisting at-risk children by providing them with support programs and support initiatives. His blog (mentioned earlier) paints him as a carefree, outgoing and ever-happy human being with the bigger perspective in mind. Family is important and I totally respect and even admire his decision to leave Raptors because I know he felt at home in Toronto. My dad and I will certainly miss all his catch phrases. We have enjoyed watching him this past year, and simply get very excited whenever he brings out the “salami and cheese” catch phrase. It’s been fun. He’s certainly a great personality.

So long, Chuck. Like you’d say, “it’s been a pleasure.”

I have taken the liberty of pasting most of the catch phrases Chuck has coined through out his years here (coutesy of galeon110 of realgm) just so we all can reminiscence.

• “Are you kidding me?”
• “Onions Baby, Onions!!!”
• “Sick, wicked, and nasty!”
• “Get out the umbrellas; it’s raining treys!” (when the Raptors make several three-pointers).
• “Nothin’ but nylon!” (when a Raptors player hits a shot ).
• “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, ya gotta love it!”
• “Ka-Bosh!” (exclaimed when All-Star Chris Bosh dunks the ball)
• “Oh my Bosh!” (exclaimed when All-Star Chris Bosh makes a play)
• “Kaboom!”
• “You can ring it up from downtown <insert>, this one goes out to <insert>” (When the first Raptors’ three-pointer is scored.)
• “Oh baby, what a play!”
• “Oh no!” (exclaimed when an opposing player makes a scoring play in the clutch)
• “My goodness, Leo.”
• “Always a pleasure talking Raptors’ ball”
• “Rimming..rimming..no.”
• “(Raptors player) has got the mojo goin’!”
• “ He just gave (Name of player) an NBA facial!”
• “A shameless plug!” (Every time Swirsky mentions MLSE in his daily blog)
• “(Name of player) is showing us a little somethin’ somethin’!”
• “(Name of player) shakes and bakes” (When a player crosses over on another)
• “T-Mac to the rack!!!”
• “Vincent Lamar Carter!”
• “(Name of player) has the feel and the flow here at the ACC” (When someone is playing well) * “That’s an MP3 download!” (When Morris Peterson makes a 3-pointer)
• ” A Three ball from Parkerville!” and “A 3 from 18 parker street” (when Anthony Parker scores a 3-pointer)
• “(Name of a player that got blocked) just ate some Spalding!!!”
• “Bam!” (referring to a big-time shot)
• “(Raptors player) filling it up.”
• “To the rack and a dunk!” (exclaimed when a player drives in and dunks it hard)
• “GET OUT THE SALAMI AND CHEESE MAMA! THIS BALL GAME IS ‘OVER’!”
• “RAPTORS WIN! RAPTORS WIN! RAPTORS WIN!”

I have been playing for the i-slam basketball league for a couple of years now. I can say that every year I have gotten a little better. Unlike many of my basketball buddies, I never played organized ball in high school and as a result, I have had a hard time adjusting to the full court game. It’s different than half court and it’s taken me unusually long to adjust to it. The trick (I suppose) is to slow the game down and only resort to a few moves on the offensive side. It’s hard to learn these things when you don’t have a coach at your disposal.

This past i-slam season has undoubtedly been the best experience of my life in terms of basketball. It all started when one our top player left the team at the end of last season. This left a huge void on the offensive side as he averaged over 20 points per game. But this gave me the opportunity to finally showcase my skills. Since I was getting more opportunities to score and handle the rock, I increased my season point average to about 20 points per game which was an increase of 10 points per game as compared to last season. My rebounds and assists also went up. But not only was I doing better statistically, but more importantly I felt much more confident and I could sense that my teammates believed in me. It was a great feeling to have the trust of my teammates and I used the confidence they gave me to have the best season of my life.

Two weeks ago our season ended as we lost in the quarterfinals of the playoffs. I had the ball in my hands with about 10 seconds to go in a game where we trailed by just one point. Out of the timeout, our play was initiate a “mismatch” where I would be isolated against the big man on the other team. The play unfolded just the way we had designed it; I had the ball in my hands with the big man guarding me. Instead of pulling up or driving, I noticed that my teammate was wide open and I passed him the ball. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get a shot up and we lost the game. It was a heartbreaking loss. I still vividly remember every detail of the play… and the aftermath of it. The taste of defeat left me at a loss. In the past week, I have replayed the finally 10 seconds over and over in my head and I am still not convinced that I am over it. It’s going to take time but I have learned a lot as a result of playing this season. Even though I apparently played a great game and had a great season (Most Improved Player, Three Point Champion, First Team All-Star) it means nothing to me because we lost. I know it’s a cliche and all but that’s how I feel.

If there was one thing I learned this season, it was the importance of confidence. If you believe in yourself then anything is possible. Confidence is key not only in basketball but in life as well. Having said that, slowing the game down and practicing elementary basketball moves is probably the only reason I am now considered a good full court player.

I can’t wait ’till next season! Go Kawthar!