Finally, the day is here. After 18+ months of speculation, frustration and anticipation, Ater Majok is actually going to make his debut in a UConn uniform. According to some reports, he could even start.
The Huskies haven't played in 11 days, so Sunday's game against Central Florida is sort of like a reset button on the 2009-10 season. Now that UConn is at full strength, we can get a sense of exactly how good the Huskies are going to be for the remaining three months (give or take a week or two) of the season.
How good is Majok? I have no idea. But I've heard Jim Calhoun hype him up so much and for so long, and thus I've been waiting for this day all offseason. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has been checking our blog every hour since Monday to look at that hypnotic countdown clock.
Reading the two definitive "who is Ater Majok?" features linked below gets me even more excited, as we learn that Majok is 1) a strong, determined, intelligent man and 2) a focused machine of basketball lethality. He will apparently make other teams cry and soil their undergarments out of fear. If Ater Majok the player is even close to as awesome as Ater Majok the man/myth/philosophy, UConn will have a big-time asset on its hands.
Now, there is an actual game to talk about, so head below the jump for our patented in-depth preview. It's got all the lowdown on a Central Florida team that probably won't be as much a pushover as you might think.
The game: Central Florida (7-2) at Ater Majok (6-10, 225 pounds)
The place: Ater Center (in the capital city of Majok, CT)
The time: 1 p(ost).m(ajok).
The media: MajokTV9 (TV); WATR-1050 AM, WMJK 91.7 FM (radio)
The Vegas favorite: Ater Majok, by 20
Series history: This is Ater Majok's first game, thus history begins today.
Last meeting: Ater Majok did not play in UConn's 85-82 win at UCF on Dec. 28, 2007, nor did he play in these two teams' other meeting, the 2005 NCAA Tournament first round game, won by UConn 77-71.
State of the Huskies: Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok.
Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok.
Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok.
Ater Majok.
Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Also, Gavin Edwards has turned out to be pretty good. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok.
Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok.
Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok.
Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Kemba Walker is awesome. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok. Ater Majok.
Ater Majok.
So, tell me a little bit about the Golden Knights: Central Florida is probably an middle-of-the-pack finisher in Conference USA, having beaten UMass and Auburn but having also lost to South Florida, Niagara and Notre Dame.
However, it should be noted that the Golden Knights do not have a 6-10 point forward who can supposedly both play in the post and shoot the J. Nor do they have any players from Australia who escaped a Sudanese refugee camp looking to make a better life for himself.
So screw them.
Check out the game notes: Ater Majok's are here, while UCF’s are here.
Media matters: It's been a long journey for Majok (Courant.com)
At UConn, the wait is over for a warrior from Africa (NY Times)
The preview: I think I've said pretty much all I can say about this game, touched all the bases, and covered every angle.
But I think I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that Ater Majok is making his debut in this game. UConn fans should watch out for that.
Go Huskies.
The prediction:
Ater Majok: 9 points, 6 rebounds (oh, and UConn 75, UCF 64)