Walker steps up against Vandy

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Evina Westbrook will have to wait until next season to make her UConn debut.

UConn issued a statement less than an hour before the Huskies played at Vanderbilt Wednesday, saying their appeal of Westbrook’s eligibility waiver had been denied by the NCAA. The Huskies proceeded to beat Vanderbilt 6451.

Let’s recap an eventful night.

NO LOVE LOST FOR ROCKY TOP: Geno Auriemma was angry. He was angry at the NCAA for a waiver process that lacks consistency and transparency, and he was angry at Tennessee for its neutral stance on Westbrook’s decision to transfer.

“Think about this,” he said, his voice rising, “a kid’s in an environment that’s not necessarily healthy, an environment that, if you knew what the environment was, which I can’t say, you would not want your kid in that environment. And the athletic director (Phil Fulmer) there knows it, but he’s not going to support her leaving, which would have helped us a little bit.”

Auriemma hasn’t said what made it unhealthy. What he has done is paint a picture of sheer dysfunction

and chaos. He’s made it clear that this is about more — much, much more — than a falling out between a player and her former coaches.

WAIT ’TIL NEXT YEAR: Auriemma said Westbrook’s situation is unique, in that he didn’t push for her waiver strictly because he knew she'd make the Huskies better.

“This team needs a lot more than Evina Westbrook to get better, trust me,” Auriemma said.

It does, but Westbrook sure would’ve helped. She’s a proven playmaker. Her mere presence would’ve eased some of the stress on the freshmen. Right now, Crystal Dangerfield and Christyn Williams are the only guards the Huskies can trust to consistently win 1on1 battles on the perimeter.

WALKER STEPS UP: The Huskies need Megan Walker to play to her potential. That means shedding the inconsistency that plagued her earlier in her UConn career.

So far, so good. Walker looks poised to take over as the No. 1 scorer. She’s registered backtoback 20point games for the first time in her career. She’s shooting 50 percent and is asserting herself as a steady rebounder.And yet, Walker — who finished with 25 points and eight boards against Vanderbilt — said she’s not satisfied.

BABY STEPS: Anna Makurat missed all four of her field goal attempts and is 0for7 through two games. While that aspect of her game’s been off, there’s reason to be optimistic about the freshman.

Makurat returned to the starting lineup and showed good court vision. She dished out a teamhigh five assists, including a few nifty bounce passes to Walker and Olivia NelsonOdoda in the paint.

CRASHING THE BOARDS: Vanderbilt had a slight edge on the on the boards, outrebounding UConn 4035. Thirteen of those were on the offensive end, matching UConn. Rebounding was a problem last year, and it could be a problem again, especially if graduate transfer Evelyn Adebayo proves to be a nonfactor.

dbonjour@ctpost.com; @DougBonjour