UConn women's basketball

The Huskies open the season tomorrow against Northeastern at Gampel Pavilion at 2 p.m. But that almost seems like it’s the undercard of the day with so much going on and Kalana Greene and Tina Charles each chasing milestones.
Here’s a rundown of Opening Day:
The first 350 fans will receive a 2009 UConn Women’s Basketball National
Championship Miniature Commemorative Basketball; All fans will receive a 2009-10 Women’s Basketball Schedule Poster; And one UConn Student Season Ticket Holder will win an iPhone (Must register
at the North or East Entrance; must be present to win; winner will be drawn at the end of the game.)

The 2009 national championship banner will be unveiled during a pregame ceremony.
“I think when the banner’s unveiled … You’ve got that short segment, that short window to think about it,’’ Greene said. “Like, `Oh, man. Last season was great. Everything we went through, the hardships we went through and how we persevered through it …’ And then after that cut it off. Last year’s done. It’s like the end of it. No more last year and bringing it up ever. For us a team, there’s no enjoying it any more. Just cut it off right after that and then get ready for Northeastern. We’ve been getting ready, but mentally just cut it off and think about Northeastern after that.’’
Said coach Geno Auriemma: “You would think that the banner goes up and everybody celebrates. I would hope that they would feel a sense of pride in what they accomplished, most of those players. They’ll be able to look up there not just the rest of this year but for the rest of their careers and when they come back and know that they were directly responsible for that happening. And then it’s time to play the game and I don’t think from that point on they’ll ever look up there and say, `Well, why do we have to run so hard? We’re national champions. Why is yelling at us about blocking out? Look, we’re national champions.’ That stuff will be over. It’s over now, but it’ll be the last reminder I’m sure.’’

At halftime, Auriemma and UConn will be presented with a pair of ladders in honor of winning the 2009 national championship. Auriemma will autograph both ladders, which were used to cut down the nets in St. Louis last April. One ladder will be auctioned off on-air by CPTV, while the other ladder will be auctioned off at The UConn Club fundraising event Jan. 30.

Greene is one point shy of becoming the 33rd third player in team history to reach 1,000.
“I don’t think about numbers in my head every day,’’ Greene said. “So when it comes to the game Saturday it’s not like I’m thinking, `Oh, my God, I’ve got to score to get my 1000th point.’ I thinking I’ve got to get a shot to put my team on the board or take an open opportunity. So all that stuff really doesn’t matter. It’s special, though, because I could be a part of the 1000-point club at the University of Connecticut. But for right now it doesn’t really mean that much.’’

And Charles needs five rebounds to become the third player in team history to reach 1,000, joining Rebecca Lobo (1,268) and Jamelle Elliott (1,054).
“I don’t think about it, though my mom has mentioned it to me,’’ Charles said. “Just to get 1,000 rebounds here at Connecticut, especially when I have the coach telling me that I’m the worst rebounder, would be cool.’’

Rich

Junior point guard Lorin Dixon said today that she will miss at least two weeks after sustaining a strained left hamstring during Monday’s exhibition game against Vanguard.
Sophomore Tiffany Hayes will start at the point in Saturday’s season opener against Northeastern. Sophomore Caroline Doty will start at shooting guard.
Dixon said she undergoes rehab “sometimes two or three times a day.’’ She first hurt her hamstring in September.
“Honestly, I’d rather it happen now than later in the season,’’ Dixon said. “Something that is bothering me a lot is that I worked hard all summer and now I’m not even able to play in the first couple of games. That’s something that’s going to bother me, but my team is doing fine. They looked great (Thursday) in practice. So it’s not all bad. Tiffany’s stepping up for us so that’s good.’’

Rich

For those attending Saturday’s opener against Northeastern at Gampel Pavilion, it will be a fan friendly event. Not only will the 2008-09 national championship banner be unveiled but here are three promotions that will be running:

The first 350 fans will receive a Nike 2009 UConn Women’s Basketball National
Championship Miniature Commemorative Basketball

All fans will receive a 2009-10 Women’s Basketball Schedule Poster

One UConn Student Season Ticket Holder will win an iPhone (Must register
at the North or East Entrance, must be present to win, winner will be drawn at the end of the game.

Rich

It was the best kept secret in recent memory. And in the end the Huskies’ already spectacular recruiting class will remain at five.
Chiney Ogwumike, a 6-foot-3 post player from Cypress, Texas and the nation’s top recruit, will attend Stanford. She signed a national Letter of Intent today, choosing the Cardinal over UConn and Notre Dame.
Ogwumike averaged 21.4 points, 12.6 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 2.4 blocks last season for Cy-Fair High. Her sister, Nneka, is a sophomore at Stanford.

Rich

The first weekly live chat of the season will be held from noon to 1 p.m. I’m looking forward to speaking with all of you.

Rich

Stamford resident Da’Shena Stevens has found immediate success at St. John’s. Now fellow Fairfield County high school standouts Keylantra Langley and Briana Brown will look to make the same type of splash with the Red Storm.
Both players signed a National Letter of Intent today and will play for St. John’s next season.
Here is what Red Storm coach Kim Barnes Arico had to say about two of her newest players, along with a short bio that as provided by St. John’s Associate Director of Athletic Communications Rachel Constantine.
“Keylantra Langley and Briana Brown are tremendous recruits for our program,” Barnes Arico said. “Coming off our nationally-rated signing class from a year ago, the addition of Briana and Keylantra gives us three-straight highly-talented signing classes. Keylantra and Briana are both sensational athletes. They played together when they were younger, so they are familiar with each other and they will be able to transition well into our program. Both Briana and Keylantra come from outstanding families, and I am really looking forward to coaching them. They are the kind of players that every coach wants in their program because they work really hard on the court and they are great in the classroom.’’

Keylantra Langley • 5-10 • G • Lauralton Hall
Rated the 37th-best prospect in the country and the 13th best at her position by ESPN HoopGurlz, Langley is a dynamic guard that can do it all. An extremely well-rounded player, the Bridgeport native is a slasher who takes advantage of her size at the point position to create mismatches. Fast and quick, she can hit from anywhere on the court, and creates scoring chances by driving to the basket and drawing fouls. Her up-tempo style of play will allow her to contribute immediately in the Red Storm rotation. Out of Lauralton Hall, Langley averaged 15.2 points during the 2008-09 campaign, including turning in a 32-point performance in a Class LL second-round playoff victory over Hamden. A two-time Connecticut Post All-Star, she has helped her high school team win over 20 games two-straight seasons.
“Keylantra is a win-first kind of player,’’ Barnes Arico said. “She wants to win a championship and will do whatever it takes to achieve that, whether it is to get a great assist or score the winning basket. She is very unselfish. Keylantra’s athleticism and quickness will allow her to be a successful player in the best conference in the country, the Big East.’’

Briana Brown • 5-9 • G • King Low Heywood Thomas
Brown is highly-talented player that utilizes her athleticism to play strong on both ends of the court. A prolific scorer, she has already amassed 1,658 points through three seasons at King Low Heywood Thomas, and is only one of three players in school history to surpass the 1,000-point plateau on the girls side. She possesses a multitude of skills in scoring, as she can score off the catch, can take the ball to the rim and can score off the bounce. Brown is incredibly quick and a creative playmaker that is strong on the glass. In her junior campaign, the Norwalk native averaged a double-double with 22.1 points and 15.3 rebounds, and posted 4.1 steals and 2.9 assists per game. Brown had her best performance of the season against Kingswood-Oxford on Feb. 6, 2009, scoring 32 points and grabbing 27 rebounds.
“Briana is a great athlete,” Barnes Arico said. “Her fire and tenacity will allow her to be a lockdown defender. In addition, she brings us another strong scoring presence on the floor with her ability to score from any spot on the court. Briana is going to shine playing alongside some of the players we already have in the program.’’

Rich

Apparently Chiney Ogwumike will now sign her National Letter of Intent Thursday at 12:30 EST, according to the Cypress (TX) Sun. The Sun originally reported yesterday that the signing would take place today at 12:30.
Ogwumike, the top-rated player in the Class of 2010, has visited UConn, Stanford and Notre Dame.

Rich

In keeping up with the evolution of my profession, I will hold my first live weekly chat tomorrow from noon to 1 p.m. The link to participate is located below. I look forward to chatting with all of you about the top-ranked, defending national champion Huskies.

Rich