UConn running out of time ... and answers

South Bend, Ind. - One team displayed the heart, effort and determination Wednesday of a program fighting for an NCAA tournament berth.

The other team was UConn.

Forget about waiting for Selection Sunday. The Huskies are playing their way out of any consideration.

The latest evidence came in a 58-50 loss to Notre Dame at the Joyce Center. The Fighting Irish student section serenaded the Huskies with chants of "N-I-T" as they walked off the floor.

At this rate, they'll be fortunate to earn any postseason bid. No one could explain why the Huskies (17-13, 7-10 Big East) turned in a stinker in such an important game.

"We know we have to win these games to make the tournament," senior Gavin Edwards said. "To come out here with no energy, it's just embarrassing."

The Huskies guaranteed their first losing Big East season since going 6-10 in 2006 when they failed to qualify for postseason play for the first time in 20 years. The Irish (20-10, 9-8) won their third straight without injured star Luke Harangody.

Nothing surprises coach Jim Calhoun anymore about his wildly inconsistent Huskies.

"With this team, I have not been surprised by anything," Calhoun said. "Brilliance, I haven't been surprised by because we've got some guys with some talent. Mediocrity doesn't surprise me."

Notre Dame patiently ran a deliberate attack, seizing control of the game in the second half by opening with a 20-6 spurt.

Frustration set in for the Huskies well before that. They found no room to drive to the basket with Notre Dame's defenders clogging the lane and their big men outworked under the basket. Just the opposite of the first meeting Jan. 2 when UConn posted an 82-70 win.

After freshman Ater Majok's rebound basket put them ahead, 18-8, the Huskies bogged down. They scored just six points over the next 18 minutes while converting just 2 of 19 shots. Notre Dame bolted on a 26-6 run during that drought.

The Huskies never recovered, trailing by as many as 11.

"We just fell apart," said sophomore Kemba Walker who had a team-high 15 points. "They just outworked us."

Poor shot selection contributed to an icy 35.4 percent from the field. The Huskies made a season-low 17 field goals.

Mistakes piled up as the Huskies committed 15 turnovers, which Notre Dame cashed in for 15 points.

"I really can't explain how we didn't play, particularly in the second half," Calhoun said. "They played their game and were successful at it. We turned the ball over, once again, too many times, didn't rebound offensively and went to sleep a few times on defense.

"… You can't make that many fundamental mistakes. … We needed a total team effort and we got a total team effort. Unfortunately, it wasn't very good."

The Irish endured their share of struggles, too, shooting 36.5 percent. But they kept fighting.

Notre Dame's veterans delivered while UConn's didn't. Senior Tory Jackson scored 20 of his 22 points in the second half. Junior Carleton Scott added 12 points and 14 rebounds.

UConn senior Jerome Dyson had more turnovers (five) than field goals, going 2-for-14 from the field and finishing with 10 points. Senior Stanley Robinson had a season-low six points. Senior Gavin Edwards (10 points, 11 rebounds) was the most productive Husky.

The Huskies mounted one late charge, cutting the gap to 52-46 on Dyson's two free throws with 54.7 seconds remaining. It was too late.

UConn takes its fading NCAA tournament hopes to South Florida Saturday for its regular-season finale. The Huskies played Wednesday like they're done already.

"For a team with its back to the wall, I'm not used to them coming out that way," Calhoun said. … It's very disappointing."

g.keefe@theday.com