The Associated Press

STORRS, Conn. - As Ben Gordon made his way to the horde of media waiting for him Tuesday at Gampel Pavilion, he stopped to chat and shoot hoops with sisters Morgan and Ashley Valley, members of Connecticut's women's team.

Connecticut's Ben Gordon picked up the slack when All-American center Emeka Okafor was injured. (AP photo)

The three have a lot to talk about these days. All are going to the Final Four.

UConn is the fifth school to have both its men's and women's teams in the Final Four at the same time. "It would be even crazier if we both ended up winning it," Gordon said.

The junior guard has been at his best in the postseason.

When All-American center Emeka Okafor sat out two Big East tournament games with a back injury, it was Gordon who picked up the slack. He set a tournament record with 81 points and hasn't slowed down since.

In the NCAA Tournament, he is averaging 22 points.

"I think I just started to understand my role more on what I had to do for this team," Gordon said. "I always knew the impact I could have. I just realized I had to be more effective in the postseason."

His teammates seem to be following his lead, especially Rashad Anderson, who is averaging 18 points in the tournament, shooting 16-for-31 from 3-point range.

"With Emeka hurt, it was kind of a no-brainer," Gordon said. "I just needed to score more points. That was really the only way I could carry the team. I can't block shots."

But he can drive the lane with speed and strength, make acrobatic layups or coolly hit a 3-pointer with a defender in his face.

UConn coach Jim Calhoun has called him "Gentle Ben" at times and has encouraged his star to be more aggressive on offensive. Okafor's injury was the impetus Gordon needed.

"There's no question he seemed liberated to know he had the burden on him and didn't feel the responsibility to share the ball," Calhoun said. "He's just taken over virtually every basketball game."

The added responsibility hasn't put any more pressure on Gordon's broad shoulders. If anything, he's more relaxed.

"You have to be loose," Gordon said. "If we continue that we'll be fine."

The Duke-UConn semifinal on Saturday is a rematch of the 1999 NCAA final, which UConn won for its first national title. The weight of expectations that Gordon and his teammates felt four months ago as the preseason No. 1 are now gone.

"I think we kind of let loose of those things a long time ago," Gordon said. "We're in the Final Four now. Truthfully, I just felt like this is our rightful spot the entire year."