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John Peters faithfully watches every UConn game, men's or women's. The Norwalk resident and UConn graduate is as shocked as anyone that the Huskies are making their fourth trip to the Final Four. The Huskies advanced with a 65-63 win over Arizona on Saturday.
"I am totally shocked,'' said Peters, who played on the freshman team at UConn in 1966-67 and stayed involved in the game as a basketball referee until retiring a few years ago. "I'd be lying if I said they'd get to the Final Four. I think the world of Jim Calhoun. His team is listening to him, and they're listening because they all look up to Kemba Walker. He's been a great leader. I don't think any player at UConn has played better than Walker has this season."
Peters even compared Walker to Norwalk legend Calvin Murphy, to a degree. Peters grew up on the same street as Murphy, who went on to become a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "At times, he has Calvin Murphy-like moves,'' Peter said. "Murphy was a better shooter. The speed, the balance, the agility, he reminds me of Calvin at times. You couldn't be better than Calvin."
UConn's surprising run has taken even the most ardent fans by surprise. Starting with their victory over DePaul in the first round of the Big East Tournament, the Huskies have gone on to win nine games in 19 days.
"I said if they beat Pitt (which UConn did in the second round of the Big East tournament) they can beat anybody,'' Peters said. "They are playing with a lot of confidence right now. The semifinal game is going to be tough. They are playing so consistent right now."
UConn's victory was not secure until the buzzer sounded. Arizona took two 3-pointers in the final five seconds. If either had gone in, the Huskies would have packed the balls away until next season. Instead, they're heading to Houston in search of their third national title.
"I was in Bridgeport at a restaurant and there were 100 people watching the last five minutes,'' Peters said. "Arizona had missed so many 3-poiinters, that I thought they were due to make one. I thought that last one was in. I think God was rooting for UConn. That's my guess."
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