Connecticut sent a postcard from Maui addressed to the rest of the college basketball world.

It read: "We're still UConn."

The Huskies put together an effort worthy of veteran coach Jim Calhoun's finest teams, eviscerating No. 8 Kentucky 84-67 in the championship game of the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

Tournament MVP Kemba Walker went for 29 points on 10-for-17 shooting and infused the Lahaina Civic Center with his third virtuoso performance in three days.

UConn entered the tournament as a decided underdog in a stacked field. The Huskies (5-0) needed a 29-point second half from Walker to get by Wichita State in the first round, then outlasted No. 2 Michigan State in the semifinals.

Last night was a revelation. The Huskies completely demoralized the Wildcats with a 21-2 run to seize control at the end of the first half, and effortlessly staved off every comeback attempt in the second.

The Huskies, a traditional hoops power, weren't expected to contend for their league title this season with a 10th-place preseason pick. But the beast from the Big East continued to make the experts look foolish with 57.7 percent shooting from the field and nearly 90 percent at the free-throw line.

"That's who we are. We wanted to show the world, we're still UConn," said Walker, a junior guard, who continued the best start to a season in modern school history. His 90 points in three games was three off the tournament-record 93.

Sophomore forward Alex Oriakhi dominated the interior with 18 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, as UConn earned Maui titles in consecutive trips to Hawaii (the last came in 2005). Oriakhi was also named to the all-tournament team.

After the semifinals, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo called Calhoun "a sandbagger" for consistently underplaying his young team's talent and potential. Last night, freshmen Niels Giffey and Shabazz Napier combined for 26 points and complemented Walker and Oriakhi perfectly with shooting and defense.

"I couldn't be prouder of the effort they put forward," Calhoun said. "This is a great step for us. It's letting people know that we are Connecticut, have been Connecticut for the past 20-something years. We think we're a pretty good basketball team."

What Calhoun was most proud of was Walker's leadership on one particular play during the huge run. He'd just hit back-to-back 3-pointers and at that point, if it were "NBA Jam," he'd be spouting flames. But on an ensuing fast break, he faked a 3 and passed to Jamal Coombs-McDaniel for an easy hoop underneath.

Conversely, Kentucky coach John Calipari lambasted his team in the postgame press conference for its "selfish" play. It was true; the Wildcats (4-1) rarely moved the ball around in the halfcourt and settled for difficult drives.

"We played against each other. They played for each other," Calipari said.

The lone bright spot for Kentucky was freshman phenom forward Terrence Jones, who continued his outstanding play with 24 points in 27 minutes.

UConn negated everyone else. Frustration was etched on the faces of point guard Brandon Knight (3-for-15 shooting) and Deandre Liggins (3-for-10). UK shot 36.7 percent.

The rest of the all-tourney team was Chaminade guard Steven Bennett, Michigan State guard Kalin Lucas and Jones.

The Huskies seized control with the game-breaking run over the final 7 minutes of the first half, made possible by early foul trouble for the multifaceted Jones, who is considered a top draft prospect.

When he checked out with his second foul, his team faced a 7-point deficit with 9 minutes left in the half. When he finally got back in for the second period, Kentucky was down 50-29.

Connecticut sent a postcard from Maui addressed to the rest of the college basketball world.

It read: "We're still UConn."

The Huskies put together an effort worthy of veteran coach Jim Calhoun's finest teams, eviscerating No. 8 Kentucky 84-67 in the championship game of the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

Tournament MVP Kemba Walker went for 29 points on 10-for-17 shooting and infused the Lahaina Civic Center with his third virtuoso performance in three days.

UConn entered the tournament as a decided underdog in a stacked field. The Huskies (5-0) needed a 29-point second half from Walker to get by Wichita State in the first round, then outlasted No. 2 Michigan State in the semifinals.

Last night was a revelation. The Huskies completely demoralized the Wildcats with a 21-2 run to seize control at the end of the first half, and effortlessly staved off every comeback attempt in the second.

The Huskies, a traditional hoops power, weren't expected to contend for their league title this season with a 10th-place preseason pick. But the beast from the Big East continued to make the experts look foolish with 57.7 percent shooting from the field and nearly 90 percent at the free-throw line.

"That's who we are. We wanted to show the world, we're still UConn," said Walker, a junior guard, who continued the best start to a season in modern school history. His 90 points in three games was three off the tournament-record 93.

Sophomore forward Alex Oriakhi dominated the interior with 18 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, as UConn earned Maui titles in consecutive trips to Hawaii (the last came in 2005). Oriakhi was also named to the all-tournament team.

After the semifinals, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo called Calhoun "a sandbagger" for consistently underplaying his young team's talent and potential. Last night, freshmen Niels Giffey and Shabazz Napier combined for 26 points and complemented Walker and Oriakhi perfectly with shooting and defense.

"I couldn't be prouder of the effort they put forward," Calhoun said. "This is a great step for us. It's letting people know that we are Connecticut, have been Connecticut for the past 20-something years. We think we're a pretty good basketball team."

What Calhoun was most proud of was Walker's leadership on one particular play during the huge run. He'd just hit back-to-back 3-pointers and at that point, if it were "NBA Jam," he'd be spouting flames. But on an ensuing fast break, he faked a 3 and passed to Jamal Coombs-McDaniel for an easy hoop underneath.

Conversely, Kentucky coach John Calipari lambasted his team in the postgame press conference for its "selfish" play. It was true; the Wildcats (4-1) rarely moved the ball around in the halfcourt and settled for difficult drives.

"We played against each other. They played for each other," Calipari said.

The lone bright spot for Kentucky was freshman phenom forward Terrence Jones, who continued his outstanding play with 24 points in 27 minutes.

UConn negated everyone else. Frustration was etched on the faces of point guard Brandon Knight (3-for-15 shooting) and Deandre Liggins (3-for-10). UK shot 36.7 percent.

The rest of the all-tourney team was Chaminade guard Steven Bennett, Michigan State guard Kalin Lucas and Jones.

The Huskies seized control with the game-breaking run over the final 7 minutes of the first half, made possible by early foul trouble for the multifaceted Jones, who is considered a top draft prospect.

When he checked out with his second foul, his team faced a 7-point deficit with 9 minutes left in the half. When he finally got back in for the second period, Kentucky was down 50-29.

LAHAINA, HAWAII The third time held no charm for Kentucky.
As he did Monday and Tuesday, Kemba Walker led Connecticut to a victory in the EA Sports Maui Invitational, this time scoring 29 points to help the Huskies beat Kentucky, 84-67, in the finals.
The margin tied UK's worst defeat in this event (80-63 to John Calipari-coached Memphis in 2006).
The performance, which enabled Walker to come within three points of equalling the event's individual scoring record, validated Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo's friendly contention that Jim Calhoun was a "sand-bagger."
On Sunday, Calhoun lamented that the Huskies had a "bevy of nothing."
Then Walker unleashed a bevy of talents that buried Wichita State, then Michigan State and finally Kentucky. He was named Most Valuable Player of the Maui Invitational. UK's Terrence Jones joined him on the all-tournament team along with Alex Oriakhi of UConn, Steven Bennett of Chaminade and Kalin Lucas of Michigan State.
UK (4-1) had given up no more than 67 points all season. UConn (5-0) reached that number with 9:41 left.
Freshman Terrence Jones led Kentucky with 24 points. But it was a long night for him and his fellow freshmen. Brandon Knight made only three of 14 shots.
Before Kentucky headed west, Calipari predicted the Cats would be "broke" at some point. Then the program would learn a lot about its freshman-oriented team.
That breakage came in the final seven minutes of the first half. Although leading for only 10 seconds in the half, UK hung tough. The deficit was 29-27 when Doron Lamb hit a jumper with 7:05 left.
Then a basketball tsumani swept Kentucky into the locker room with a 50-29 halftime deficit to ponder.
As in earlier games here, Walker figured prominently for UConn. He scored 10 of the points in the 21-2 run. He lost DeAndre Liggins on a backdoor cut for a layup. He hit two free throws after fouled on a drive.
But he provided a psychological earthquake to match the real-life one that hit off-shore the night before.
With UK already trailing 42-29 and trying to limit the damage in the final few minutes, Walker rose up and hit a three-pointer over Brandon Knight to put the Cats 16 points behind.
After Calipari called time with 2:08 left, Kentucky missed two shots and Walker rose up for another three-pointer to complete his 17-point half. That left him 15 points from matching the Maui Invitational scoring record with 20 minutes to go.
In all, UConn scored the half's final 13 points.
Things weren't going swimmingly until then, but Kentucky was hanging in there. Six UConn turnovers helped nullify foul trouble. Jones picked up his second and went to the bench with 9:01 left.
Knight struggled again with turnovers, committing three in the half. That gave him 11 in the last three halves. UConn outscored Kentucky 14-0 in fast-break points.
The second half began with promise of "Miracle on Maui" headlines. Three straight three-pointers (two by Jones sandwiching one by Miller) brought the Cats within 15, 54-39, at the first television timeout.
UConn, which played at a fast clip in the first half, seemed intent on milking the clock rather than playing basketball.
Walker slowed the rally with a driving shot, giving him 21 points with 15:20 to go.
But after Shabazz Napier launched a NBA-length three-pointer in practically a no-pass possession and a Liggins basket returned the UK deficit to 15, UConn called time.
Calipari countered with that "funky" hybrid zone (which looked like a 3-2).
Knight's jumper brought the Cats within 13, 56-43. The Cats got no closer.
Napier hit a three-pointer off inside-out action to cool UK's jets. Walker's next basket signaled this was UConn's night. He lost the ball on a crossover, but teammate Niels Giffey's diving save returned the ball to Walker. He drove to a layup to make it 63-45 as UK assistant Orlando Antigua threw back his head in disbelief.
Travel plans
The UK traveling party plans to travel home Thanksgiving Day. The Cats have a late-morning flight off Maui.
If the schedule holds, UK will touch down at Lexington's Bluegrass Field at 1 a.m. Friday.

LAHAINA, HAWAII The third time held no charm for Kentucky.
As he did Monday and Tuesday, Kemba Walker led Connecticut to a victory in the EA Sports Maui Invitational, this time scoring 29 points to help the Huskies beat Kentucky, 84-67, in the finals.
The margin tied UK's worst defeat in this event (80-63 to John Calipari-coached Memphis in 2006).
The performance, which enabled Walker to come within three points of equalling the event's individual scoring record, validated Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo's friendly contention that Jim Calhoun was a "sand-bagger."
On Sunday, Calhoun lamented that the Huskies had a "bevy of nothing."
Then Walker unleashed a bevy of talents that buried Wichita State, then Michigan State and finally Kentucky. He was named Most Valuable Player of the Maui Invitational. UK's Terrence Jones joined him on the all-tournament team along with Alex Oriakhi of UConn, Steven Bennett of Chaminade and Kalin Lucas of Michigan State.
UK (4-1) had given up no more than 67 points all season. UConn (5-0) reached that number with 9:41 left.
Freshman Terrence Jones led Kentucky with 24 points. But it was a long night for him and his fellow freshmen. Brandon Knight made only three of 14 shots.
Before Kentucky headed west, Calipari predicted the Cats would be "broke" at some point. Then the program would learn a lot about its freshman-oriented team.
That breakage came in the final seven minutes of the first half. Although leading for only 10 seconds in the half, UK hung tough. The deficit was 29-27 when Doron Lamb hit a jumper with 7:05 left.
Then a basketball tsumani swept Kentucky into the locker room with a 50-29 halftime deficit to ponder.
As in earlier games here, Walker figured prominently for UConn. He scored 10 of the points in the 21-2 run. He lost DeAndre Liggins on a backdoor cut for a layup. He hit two free throws after fouled on a drive.
But he provided a psychological earthquake to match the real-life one that hit off-shore the night before.
With UK already trailing 42-29 and trying to limit the damage in the final few minutes, Walker rose up and hit a three-pointer over Brandon Knight to put the Cats 16 points behind.
After Calipari called time with 2:08 left, Kentucky missed two shots and Walker rose up for another three-pointer to complete his 17-point half. That left him 15 points from matching the Maui Invitational scoring record with 20 minutes to go.
In all, UConn scored the half's final 13 points.
Things weren't going swimmingly until then, but Kentucky was hanging in there. Six UConn turnovers helped nullify foul trouble. Jones picked up his second and went to the bench with 9:01 left.
Knight struggled again with turnovers, committing three in the half. That gave him 11 in the last three halves. UConn outscored Kentucky 14-0 in fast-break points.
The second half began with promise of "Miracle on Maui" headlines. Three straight three-pointers (two by Jones sandwiching one by Miller) brought the Cats within 15, 54-39, at the first television timeout.
UConn, which played at a fast clip in the first half, seemed intent on milking the clock rather than playing basketball.
Walker slowed the rally with a driving shot, giving him 21 points with 15:20 to go.
But after Shabazz Napier launched a NBA-length three-pointer in practically a no-pass possession and a Liggins basket returned the UK deficit to 15, UConn called time.
Calipari countered with that "funky" hybrid zone (which looked like a 3-2).
Knight's jumper brought the Cats within 13, 56-43. The Cats got no closer.
Napier hit a three-pointer off inside-out action to cool UK's jets. Walker's next basket signaled this was UConn's night. He lost the ball on a crossover, but teammate Niels Giffey's diving save returned the ball to Walker. He drove to a layup to make it 63-45 as UK assistant Orlando Antigua threw back his head in disbelief.
Travel plans
The UK traveling party plans to travel home Thanksgiving Day. The Cats have a late-morning flight off Maui.
If the schedule holds, UK will touch down at Lexington's Bluegrass Field at 1 a.m. Friday.