Charde Houston rediscovers her game at right time as UConn primes for deep run in NCAAs

3/16/2008 11:56 AM

By PAT EATON-ROBB
Associated Press Writer

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -Charde Houston was mobbed and knocked to the floor by her Connecticut teammates after being named the most outstanding performer in last week's Big East tournament.

An afterthought in the Huskies' offense for most of the season, the 6-foot-1 forward scored 34 points during UConn's three-game championship run. She had 13 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, blocked two shots and had two steals in the final win over Louisville.

``That's Charde,'' senior guard Ketia Swanier said after the game. ``That's what we expect from her.''

Until last week, however, Houston had been failing to meet those expectations.

After averaging 10.8, 9.5 and 12.5 points per game in her first three seasons with the Huskies (32-1), she was touted in the preseason as a candidate for national player of the year.

But she came into the conference tournament averaging a career-low 5.5 points and 3.6 rebounds as a senior. After playing over 26 minutes a game as a junior, she saw her playing time cut to just about 14 minutes.

She has frustrated coach Geno Auriemma by playing poor defense, taking bad shots and failing to rebound.

So where did her game go?

``It's been within me,'' Houston said. ``But it's not even about the past and what's happened before all this. I can't get that back, so I'm focused on what's next.''

What's next for No. 1 UConn is a top seed in the NCAA tournament when the bracket is released Monday.

In three previous trips to the tournament, Houston has never been to a Final Four.

The Huskies are favored to get there this season and win a sixth national championship thanks in large part to the play of freshman Maya Moore (17.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game), sophomore Tina Charles (14.8 points and 9.4 rebounds) and junior Renee Montgomery (14.2 points).

Auriemma says he's been looking for a fourth player to step up ever since losing two starters, forward Kalana Greene and guard Mel Thomas, to season-ending knee injuries in December and January. At some point, he said, foul trouble or an off day by one of his stars is going to catch up with the Huskies, and they will need a bench player to step up.

``Certainly, when you look at all the guys on our bench, Charde has the most experience, has the most ability,'' he said. ``It's all contingent on her being able to keep it together for X number of games, and obviously if she can do that for six more games, if we are lucky enough to play those six, I think that changes the complexion of our team. But that's been our hope all along.''

Houston said she's learned some valuable lessons this season. She's learned not to dwell on her mistakes or the past. And after the Big East tournament, she's learned she can still play basketball at a very high level.

``It's about sustaining that, and that's my goal right now,'' Houston said. ``There is no such thing as the next game, so it's about me going in and doing what I'm capable of.''