Overtime

In the aftermath of UConn’s 75-68 loss to South Florida in yesterday’s final regular season game, the pundits still have the Huskies sitting on what is one of the weakest bubbles in recent NCAA Tournament history.

Based on the body of work, it is almost impossible to see how UConn can receive a bid without winning the Big East Tournament.

And that is not going to happen.

The Huskies are in free-fall, with three straight losses, as well as disarray. Coach Jim Calhoun removed starters Jerome Dyson, Stanley Robinson and Gavin Edwards with 16 minutes remaining yesterday and said the three will not start the team’s Big East Tournament opener Tuesday against St. John’s.

UConn is 17-14 overall and 7-11 in conference play. For the second straight time they lost to a team also sitting on the bubble that played with a greater sense of urgency and did a better job of executing down the stretch.

Calhoun is trying to send a message to his team, which is understandable given the way his veterans have played, but this is the kind of move one usually expects at midseason, not with an NCAA Tournament berth on the line.

This has been a weird season for the program. It was burdened by excessive expectations by a preseason Top 25 ranking, even though the team didn’t have Top 25 talent. At the same time, it should not be playing as poorly as it has.

During the recent stretch, the Huskies have been totally reliant on the play of point guard Kemba Walker, whose improvement coincided with the team’s surge prior to the current losing streak.

The Huskies will likely remain in the bubble talk during the next few days, due largely to a few big wins and, more so, its tradition.

Right now it is easier to see UConn losing to St. John’s than winning the Big East. With 15 losses, the Huskies’ best hope will be trying to make a return to Madison Square Garden: to win the NIT.