UConn women's basketball

The Huskies’ complete 2009-10 schedule is not expected to be released until possibly the first full week of September. But Duke released its schedule Friday and UConn will invade Cameron Indoor Stadium on Monday, Jan. 18 for a 7 p.m. tipoff. The game will air nationally on ESPN2.
The Martin Luther King Day matchup will mark the first time the Huskies will play in Cameron since Feb. 1, 2003. That game provided Duke with its first sellout. It’s a solid bet that this one will provide the Blue Devils with another packed house.

Rich

Fans can now purchase tickets to the Huskies’ national championship dinner, which will be held at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. It will be a night of highlights and reflections from their memorable 39-0 season.
Those interested can pay either $75 ($25 tax deductible) for a Social Hour with a cash bar at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and the program; or $175 ($100 tax deductible) for a Special Reception with the UConn coaching staff and players that starts at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the program. The dinner choices are prime rib or baked stuffed shrimp.
All reservations are on a first-come, first-serve basis. They must be made by Sept. 8 and will be held only by a check payable to UCADF-2009 Championship Dinner. Cancellations after Sept. 11 will be billed.
To view the invitation and obtain a reply card, log on to www.uconnhuskies.com.
All proceeds will benefit the Women’s Basketball National Championship Endowment Fund.
Cameras will be allowed, but autographs may not be solicited.

Rich

The UConn Division of Athletics and its multi-media partner IMG College will be installing new scoreboards and video boards in Gampel Pavilion for the 2009-10 season. This project is being coordinated and managed by TS Sports, an LED installation/integration company. The company recent produced the scoring and information systems at the American Airlines Arena, the home of the Dallas Mavericks.
The new scoreboards and video boards at Gampel will replace the current boards, which were installed in fall of 2000. The old scoreboard will be removed in September and final installation of the new boards will be in early October.
“We are pleased to introduce these new technologies in Gampel Pavilion to enhance the game day experience for our dedicated fans,” UConn Director of Athletics Jeff Hathaway said. “Our partnership with IMG College has provided us the opportunity to bring these exciting enhancements to our on-campus basketball venue. The new scoreboards represent another way that we can thank our loyal UConn ticket holders who regularly come to our facilities.’’
The state-of-the-art video board displays will be manufactured by Lighthouse Technologies and will be approximately 12½ feet by 23 feet each, more than two times the size of the current video boards. Each video board carries a pixel pitch of 10mm and contains more than more than 270,000 total pixels, enhancing overall resolution.
In addition to the main scoring and video board displays in each endzone, additional statistical information will be provided on separate displays, including individual and team statistics.
Message boards will also be installed in each of the four corners of Gampel Pavilion just above the concourse, providing new message center locations to display information to fans. These displays are approximately 7 feet by 20 feet each.
In addition to the new equipment in Gampel Pavilion, new baseball and softball scoreboards will be installed for the 2010 seasons.

Rich

2009 WBCA Classic at Gampel Pavilion Nov. 27-29
Friday, Nov. 27
5 p.m. Richmond vs. Clemson
7 p.m. Hofstra vs. Connecticut
Saturday, Nov. 28
5 p.m. Clemson vs. Hofstra
7:30 p.m. Richmond vs. Connecticut
Sunday, Nov. 29
2 p.m. Hofstra vs. Richmond
4:30 p.m. Clemson vs. Connecticut

Rich

Junior Maya Moore and senior Tina Charles are among the 31 preseason candidates for the Women’s Wooden Award, it was announced today. Hartford senior and Bridgeport resident Erica Beverly was also named.
Moore won the award last season.
The Huskies were one of four teams with two players on the list. Ohio State (Jantel Lavender, Samantha Prahalis), Stanford (Jayne Appel, Jeanette Pohlen) and Gonzaga (Heather Bowman, Courtney Vandersloot) were the others.
The Big 10 conference has a list-high five candidates, followed by the Big East, ACC, Big 12 and Pac-10 with four apiece; the SEC (3); West Coast (2); and with the America East, Atlantic 10, CAA, Mountain West and Sun Belt with one.
The Wooden Award Committee will release the Midseason Top 20 list in late December. The National Ballot, consisting of approximately 15 top players who have proven to their universities that they are also making progress toward graduation and maintaining a cumulative 2.0 GPA, will be released in March.
The Women’s Wooden Award All-American Team will be announced during the week of the NCAA Elite Eight. The 34th annual Wooden Award ceremony will held during the weekend of April 9-11.

2009-10 John R. Wooden Award
Women’s Preseason Top 30 List

Jayne Appel (Stanford)
Erica Beverly (Hartford)
Angie Bjorklund (Tennessee)
Heather Bowman (Gonzaga)
*-Jessica Breland (North Carolina)
Tina Charles (UConn)
Alysha Clark (Middle Tennessee)
Allyssa DeHaan (Michigan State)
Tyra Grant (Penn State)
Alexis Gray-Lawson (California)
Allison Hightower (LSU)
Ashley Houts (Georgia)
Ify Ibekwe (Arizona)
Jantel Lavender (Ohio State)
Gabriela Marginean (Drexel)
Danielle McCray (Kansas)
Nicole Michael (Syracuse)
Jacinta Monroe (Florida State)
#$-Maya Moore (UConn)
Jené Morris (San Diego State)
Dierdre Naughton (DePaul)
Ta‘Shia Phillips (Xavier)
Jeanette Pohlen (Stanford)
Samantha Prahalis (Ohio State)
Andrea Riley (Oklahoma State)
Danielle Robinson (Oklahoma)
Jenna Smith (Illinois)
Ashley Sweat (Kansas State)
Carolyn Swords (Boston College)
Courtney Vandersloot (Gonzaga)
Monica Wright (Virginia)
*-Possible 2010 medical redshirt
#-2009 Wooden Award winner
$-2008 Wooden Award All-American

Rich

The first-ever ESPN College Basketball GameDay to be held in conjunction with a women’s basketball game will take place Jan. 16 when reigning national champion UConn hosts Notre Dame at Gampel Pavilion.
ESPN GameDay is scheduled to be live on location from 11 a.m. to noon and from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Gametime is set for 9 p.m.
Gampel Pavilion also hosted the first men’s basketball GameDay when the Huskies hosted Pittsburgh Jan. 22, 2005.
“We are honored that ESPN has chosen the University of Connecticut to host the first ever women’s basketball GameDay,’’ UConn athletic director Jeff Hathaway said. “The selection of UConn is a testimony to Hall of Fame Coach Geno Auriemma and the many outstanding student-athletes who have worn the Husky uniform over the years. To be the first GameDay host for men’s basketball and women’s basketball is a tremendous statement for UConn. This will be another exciting and historic event for our University and our loyal fans.’’
Overall, the Big East has had more GameDay appearances than any other conference with 23. This includes home and away sites as well the upcoming women’s game.

“It is exciting for the players, coaches and fans of Connecticut and women’s basketball to have the first College Gameday in Storrs,’’ Auriemma said. “The matchup of UConn and Notre Dame should provide quite the setting for this event and showcase the best of the Big East Conference.’’

Rich

Candace Parker helped Tennessee to two straight regular-season wins over UConn in 2006 and 2007. And she had a monster performance as a sophomore when she finished with 30 points, 12 rebounds, six blocks and four assists in a 70-64 win at the then-Hartford Civic Center Jan. 6, 2007. That was the last time the two teams played. That was the last time Parker was on the same court with Huskies’ coach Geno Auriemma in a competitive setting.
But that will change next month when the 2009-12 U.S. National Team, which will be led by Auriemma, convenes for training camp at a site and date still to be announced. Parker, along with former Lady Vols stars Tamika Catchings and Kara Lawson, was among the eight players named to the team Monday.
Parker spoke about playing for Geno and how the rivalry might come into play during what was a lengthy teleconference.
“When you come to practice we may have an orange jersey on underneath the USA Basketball uniform or he may have on a Connecticut jersey underneath his, but we’re playing for the same team,’’ Parker said. “We’re representing the United States. We’re going to put all that aside. I’m sure that we’ll have some jokes. The rivalry is always going to be there. We’re two of the best program in women’s basketball so it will always be there. But we’re representing something much greater and I’m excited to have the opportunity to have him as my coach and get better under him. I’ll think he’ll do great for USA Basketball.’’
With Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Seimone Augustus, Sylvia Fowles, and Cappie Pondexter also in the core group of this team, Auriemma has either coached or faced off against each player in some high intensity battles at the college level.
“This is amazing, actually,’’ Pondexter said. “I’m so excited because we battled in college for four years, and I played for him for two World Championship teams (2000, 2001). So that in itself is something I’m looking forward to, especially now that I’m older and honestly I learned so much from him. He gave me my first real experience in what playing great basketball is all about. I learned how to work hard under him. And I’m definitely thankful for it and I’m looking forward to doing it again. I know he’s a winner for sure. So I’m really excited.’’

UConn senior Tina Charles and junior Maya Moore are not likely to be invited to participate at the National Team training camp next month. However, when it comes to their future participation with the team, USA Basketball Women’s National Team Director Carol Callon said Monday that “they are on our radar.’’

Rich

Two-time Olympic gold medalists and former UConn All-American guards Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi are among the eight players named to the 2009-12 USA Basketball Women’s National Team, USA Basketball announced Monday.
They will be joined by fellow 2008 Beijing gold medalists Tamika Catchings, who has also won two gold medals, Seimone Augustus, Sylvia Fowles, Kara Lawson, Candace Parker and Cappie Pondexter. Augustus suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee June 17 and will not participate with the team this fall. She is, however, expected to attend training camp.
The players were selected by the five-member USA Basketball Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee. Additional athletes and coaches will be invited to participate in the USA’s first training camp, which will be held this fall. The dates and site will be announced at a later date.
“Naming these eight players was not that difficult of a decision to make, I’m sure, because those eight were truly instrumental in winning the Olympics in Beijing,” UConn and USA Basketball Women’s National Team head coach Geno Auriemma said. “As long as they want to play and maintain their level of play, I can’t see them not being on the team. I’m excited about the fact that their experience and their knowledge of what it takes to win a gold medal is going to help me tremendously as we move forward.’’
In addition to their Olympic experience, the eight named players have competed extensively internationally for USA Basketball. Bird and Catchings are two-time USA World Championship team members. Augustus, Taurasi and Parker were on the 2006 USA World Championship Team, and Pondexter was an alternate for the 2006 USA World Championship Team.
As has been the case in the past, the USA team will be fluid and athletes will be added progressively to the National Team roster. It is expected that the official 12-member 2010 USA World Championship and 2012 U.S. Olympic teams will consist of players from the 2009-12 National Team.
The USA Basketball Women’s National Team, which will be seeking its fourth straight gold medal in London, will compete in the 2010 FIBA World Championship in the Czech Republic. If necessary, it will also compete in the 2011 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament and, if the U.S. should qualify, the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London July 26-Aug. 12 as well as additional USA training camps and exhibition games.
The U.S. will initially look to win the title at the 2010 FIBA World Championship Sept. 23-Oct. 3 and earn an automatic berth to the 2012 Olympic Games. Should the U.S. not finish with the gold medal in 2010, it would have two additional chances to qualify for the Olympics – the 2011 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament and 2012 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament (dates and site TBD).
“I’m looking forward to the training camp this fall,’’ Auriemma said. “I know not all of them are going to be there, I would presume, because a few of them will be playing in the championship series in the WNBA. I understand that, but just to be around them to let them get a feel for me, it will give me an opportunity to evaluate what they can do, what they do well. It’ll help me put them in a position to be successful. I’m really looking forward to that. And not just with the eight players that we’re talking about, but also the players who will be added to finish off the training camp roster. It’ll be an exciting time for me and I hope it’s an exciting time for all of them.’’

Rich