The UConn players are calling teammate Craig Austie "Mr. Clutch." No argument here. He has been that good lately in close games. And I will give the players a pass on not knowing that Jerry West is THE "Mr. Clutch." But these kids are too young to know Jerry West from Adam West and the Lakers Superman from Robin's Batman.

Austrie's shot to beat South Florida was the most obvious example of his clutch play, but beyond that he's been great in the closing minutes in a number of games this season.

UConn's record with Austrie starting is now 9-0. And when I asked Coach Calhoun last night if Austrie had earned a permanent starting job, he basically said, there is no reason right now he shouldn't start. If you read into that, Coach Calhoun is suggesting that even with the eventual return of Jerome Dyson from his suspension, Austrie has been too valuable to sit down.

What makes Austrie's success story all the more special is that he is an in-state kid. He grew up in Stamford and is living a dream right now. But it is not by accident. Austrie is a tireless worker. A quality he gets from his dad.

His father Victor works construction and gets up at 5:30 in the morning. But he still finds the time to come up to Storrs a few nights a week in the evening to shoot with Craig for a few hours. It's made for a wonderful father/son relationship. And it's helped "Mr. Clutch" be so clutch. I would leave him the starting lineup for the rest of the season. Craig Austrie has earned it.