Jimmer Fredette and Jared Sullinger headline the list of finalists for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, awarded to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association's National Player of the Year.

Other finalists include Jordan Hamilton (Texas), JaJuan Johnson (Purdue), Terrence Jones (Kentucky), Marcus Morris (Kansas), Kyle Singler (Duke), Nolan Smith (Duke), Kemba Walker (Connecticut) and Derrick Williams (Arizona).

Kemba Walker is on pace to average more minutes this season than anyone in UConn history.

"It's been tough trying to bring it every night," Walker said. "I try my best to play hard every night. It's tough because I do play a lot of minutes. But I have no choice. This is what everybody dreams about. I'm just getting my opportunity. I'm just trying to make the most of it."

Walker entered Sunday’s game averaging 37.2 minutes, on pace to break the UConn record set by Tate George in 1986-87.

Calhoun said he is worried about Walker wearing out mentally as much as physically. Walker has hit several winning shots this year, but he's also had trouble finishing games, particularly Thursday against Marquette.

Chris Wright, starting point guard for the 11th ranked Hoyas, broke his left hand on Wednesday in a 58-46 loss to Cincinnati.

Wright’s absence was apparent in Georgetown’s 58-51 loss to Syracuse as the Hoyas missed 32 of its 50 shots, including 11 of its 12 attempts after taking a two-point lead with 10 minutes 2 seconds in the game.

The Hoyas' 36 percent field goal percentage was their second worst this season; the 25 percent effort in Wednesday's loss to Cincinnati was the worst of coach John Thompson III’s tenure. Without Wright running the point, the Hoyas have looked out of sorts offensively.

“At points, we were holding the ball a little bit too long, looking for something," said guard Austin Freeman.

Notre Dame shot 39.6 percent in its second-worst showing at home all season.

Confounded by Seton Hall's matchup zone, the Irish shot 32 percent in the first half — a low at home and the worst first-half effort since late November, but bounced back behind a 13-0 burst early in the second half to erase Seton Hall's 11-point lead for good.

Similar inconsistency won't suffice against Villanova on Monday, nor in the postseason. The message just happened to arrive in some nice wrapping.

"Human nature is human nature," Irish coach Mike Brey mused. "Maybe we learned a lesson inexpensively."

St. Johns has now defeated six top 25 opponents, with all six of those victories coming at Madison Square Garden. The 23rd-ranked Red Storm and No. 5 Texas are the only teams to have beaten six ranked opponents this season.

“St. John’s is playing as well as anybody in the country right now,” Villanova Coach Jay Wright said. “They have a great feel for how to win games.”

St. John’s, ranked for the first time since 2000, has won six straight and eight of nine heading into the Big East tournament.

Syracuse won their fourth straight game as the nation's No. 17 team topped No. 11 Georgetown on Saturday afternoon.

"We came out on the losing end," Hoyas coach John Thompson III said simply.

The Orange got 12 points and seven rebounds from Rick Jackson. They pulled away after trailing 45-43 with 10 minutes left.

Syracuse had lost two straight to Georgetown.

Rick Jackson leads the Big East in blocked shots, with 2.88 blocks per game.

“It’s all timing,” Jackson said. “Lot of guys jump really high, but they can’t block shots. It’s about timing. You gotta stay patient. I can’t really tell you what it is. You just gotta have that feel for it.”

Jackson also assigns part of his ability to block shots to the fact that he’s left-handed.

“If a guy shoots with his right, your left hand is right there,” Jackson said. “So I think it does help a whole lot.”

Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun took responsibility Friday for recruiting violations committed under his watch, apologizing to the school and his players in a lengthy statement.

Calhoun acknowledged his staff made mistakes but declined to address the specific findings or sanctions released by the NCAA earlier this week.

"As the leader of the Connecticut basketball program and an ambassador of the university, the buck stops with me. No qualifications, no exceptions," Calhoun said. "I fully acknowledge that we, as a staff, made mistakes and would like to apologize."

Along with three years' probation, the school also received scholarship reductions for three academic years, recruiting restrictions and is forced to dissociate with a booster not named in the NCAA's report. The school will not be able to accept financial contributions, recruiting assistance or provide that individual with any benefits or privileges.

Calhoun, who has turned UConn into one of the nation's most successful programs, was also given a three-game suspension he will serve at the start of the 2011-12 Big East season.

The coach will not appeal the decision.

"Throughout my 39-year career, my intentions have been, and will continue to be, on doing things the right way," Calhoun said, "in full compliance with the rules of my profession, and more importantly, with a moral and ethical standard that has been at the center of who I strive to be as a person. I remain committed to doing my job with integrity."

Pittsburgh freshman forward Talib Zanna will miss between three and six weeks after breaking his right thumb.

The school announced the injury Thursday night and Zanna was set to have surgery on Friday.

The Huskies lost 74-67, in overtime, to Marquette.

Jim Calhoun’s team has won just three of their last eight games.

Kemba Walker has been on the court for more than 95 percent of his team’s minutes during the 3-5 stretch, attempting 30 percent of his team’s shots from the field while he’s in the game.

The heavy workload may be taking its toll, as Walker’s scoring efficiency has plummeted. He’s shooting 39 percent on two point attempts and 63 percent from the free throw line.

UConn’s offense has produced just 0.94 points per possession during the 3-5 run.