PHILADELPHIA" Like a few before him who have etched their names into UConn postseason lore, he plays with flair, a feel for the big moment, a certain panache that fits so well on this stage.
Assertive and artful, A.J. Price is pushing all the buttons for the Huskies. He's personifying the poise and polish Connecticut showed in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. He's the push and personality for a team that appears to be hitting its stride at the right time.
Price had 27 points, eight assists and five rebounds Saturday as the top-seeded Huskies dismantled No. 9 Texas A&M at the Wachovia Center, 92-66. UConn (29-4) advanced to the Sweet 16 for the 12th time with a dominant performance in which Price emerged as the most dynamic player in a demanding spot. When the lights are brightest, there certainly is some Caron Butler in Price, some Khalid El-Amin, some Ray Allen ...
"A.J. was in that special category of players we've had who, in a big-time game, make big-time plays," Coach Jim Calhoun said. "He was absolutely special for us."
Jeff Adrien had 23 points and Stanley Robinson scored 12 for the Huskies, who will face No. 5 Purdue in the West Regional semifinals Thursday in Glendale, Ariz. UConn scored the first 10 points and was never threatened. And Price was the face of it all.
"I'm playing with confidence right now," said Price, who shot 8-for-16 and has scored at least 20 points in three consecutive games for the first time in his career. "And that's just coming with our swagger, a certain swagger that we talk about as a team. It starts with the point guard. It trickles down."
Calhoun, who spent Thursday night in a hospital and missed UConn's opening victory over Chattanooga, returned to the bench Saturday and didn't have to push for his players' best. The Huskies out-rebounded the Aggies 39-28, made 21 of 27 free throws, had 20 assists and just nine turnovers.
Bryan Davis had 12 points and nine rebounds for the Aggies (24-10).
UConn, which had lost two in a row and entered the tournament with some questioning the No. 1 seeding, has quieted doubters -- for now.
"Too big, too fast, too good," A&M Coach Mark Turgeon said of UConn. "We were a little intimidated early. We didn't do what we were supposed to do and got behind. I thought they were great, and we weren't as good as we're capable of being, so ... "
So Price, despite double-teams and five different A&M players trying to guard him, made 4 of 7 three-pointers and scored 13 points in the first half, 14 in the second. Adrien caught fire with his jump shot, tying a career high with 11 field goals on 16 attempts. Robinson, who had a few of his signature emphatic dunks, smothered leading-scorer Josh Carter, holding him to 3-for-13 shooting and eight points.
UConn led 51-33 at halftime and applied the finishing touches with an 11-4 run in the second to lead 64-43 with 14:59 to play. Price had seven points in that run, finishing with a coast-to-coast drive. Fouled by Derrick Roland as he cut to the basket, Price finished with his left hand, hit the floor and got up flexing his muscles and yelling.
"I had an awful lot of pressure after what (associate coach) George (Blaney) did the other day," Calhoun said, referring to UConn's 56-point victory over Chattanooga. "So I was hoping we'd score and play defense. This is a talented group. (This is) a great chance for A.J. People questioned, 'Does he still have his quickness?' Ask Texas A&M."
"That Price," Turgeon said, "is in total control of the game."
This was a laugher even with Hasheem Thabeet (six points, four rebounds) limited to 20 minutes with foul trouble. Gavin Edwards picked up the slack with 10 points and six rebounds. Kemba Walker had eight points and four assists.
"I don't think I've played a team like them since I've been at Texas A&M," said Turgeon, in his second year.
The Huskies are two victories from the Final Four in Detroit.
"We're coming together," Robinson said.
Distributed by the Los Angeles Times-Washington Post News Service