UConn women's basketball

Junior Tiffany Hayes is expected to play an even bigger role for the Huskies offensively this season than she did a year ago. Aside from senior All-American Maya Moore, she is the lone returning player who averaged double figures in scoring last season.

Hayes averaged 10.2 points on 43.9 percent shooting from the field (32.1 percent from 3-point range) in 26.4 minutes. During the off-season she said she worked on her mid-range game in an effort to give her greater balance offensively.

Coach Geno Auriemma admitted that he has not seen much in the way of a midrange game in practice to date. But he has seen Hayes do plenty of other things.

“I haven’t seen that as much as I’ve seen her finishing around the basket like I remember her,’’ Auriemma said. “She’s been quicker to the basket than I’ve seen her, stronger to the basket than I’ve seen her. I haven’t seen her just get banged around like she used to. So I’ve been surprised by how quick and how strong she’s looked. She’s still launching those 30-footers whenever she gets an opportunity, but I’ve also seen her rebound more than I have in the last two years.’’

The Associated Press will announce its five-member preseason All-America Team tomorrow afternoon.

Rich

The numbers indicate that the UConn women’s basketball team is due to slip a bit this season. Between the graduation losses of All-American Tina Charles and Kalana Greene and the season-ending knee injury sustained by point guard Caroline Doty, the Huskies lost a combined 1,418 points, 650 rebounds, 261 assists and 3,073 minutes from last season.

At this juncture, however, with senior three-time All-American Maya Moore and junior Tiffany Hayes leading the way the national media does not believe that these losses will prove to be too damaging. The two-time defending national champion Huskies were a near unanimous choice today as the No. 1 team in The Associated Press Preseason poll.

UConn received 39 of a possible 40 first-place votes. Second-ranked Baylor, who returns all five starters led by 6-foot-8 All-American center Brittney Griner, received the final first-place vote from Paul Zeise of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

“It makes no sense,’’ UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “But I guess that’s what the perception is around the country. `Well, they’ve been No. 1 for so long that they’ve got to be No. 1 again this year.’ That’s better than saying `Hey, you lost an awful from last year … Tina and Kalana and Caroline. So, you know what? We’re going to pick you 15th.’ Well, that would really (tick) me off. So now it’s like, `Well, we lost all those guys and we’re going to pick you No. 1.’ That kind of bothers me too, but not as much. But I guess it’s a testament to where we are, what we’ve done.’’

The Huskies will begin the season against Holy Cross Nov. 14 at Gampel Pavilion riding a Division I women’s basketball record 78-game winning streak, 10 shy of tying the UCLA men’s team for most in the history of the game. UConn has been ranked No. 1 in the AP poll for 44 straight weeks, but this is the first time in 35 weeks that it was not unanimous.

This is the third straight season UConn was voted No. 1 in the preseason poll and the eighth all-time overall (1995, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2008, 2009).
Stanford was ranked No. 3. Tennessee was No. 4, while and Xavier rounded out the Top 5.

The Huskies were one of five teams from the Big East in the poll. West Virginia, Notre Dame, Georgetown and St. John’s were ranked No. 11 through No. 14, respectively.

UConn will play a total of 12 games against 11 teams ranked in the poll during the regular season. The Huskies will play Big East rival Notre Dame twice.

Here’s what Zeise told the AP regarding his choice of Baylor at No. 1: 

“We aren’t voting on last year’s team, we are voting on this year’s team. And although UConn has the best player, they also have lost a lot of points, rebounds and assists and experience, and will have to rely on a lot of freshmen,” Zeise said. “At some point late in the year they might become the best team, but I can’t imagine they are now.”

1. UConn (39) 992

2. Baylor (1) 934

3. Stanford 922

4. Tennessee 886

5. Xavier 818

6. Duke 802

7. Ohio State 759

8. Texas A&M 664

9. Kentucky 649

10. Oklahoma 595

11. West Virginia 579

12. Notre Dame 560

13. Georgetown 506

14. St. John’s 452

15. North Carolina 420

16. UCLA 382

17. Texas 274

18. Florida State 270

19. Georgia 241

20. Iowa State 195

21. Maryland 134

22. Iowa 121

23. TCU 117

24. Vanderbilt 109

25. Michigan State 105

Others receiving votes: LSU 75, Georgia Tech 73, Dayton 67, Gonzaga 64, DePaul 49, California 44, NC State 28, Bowling Green 22, Nebraska 19, Temple 15, Wisconsin-Green Bay 15, San Diego State 8, Wisconsin 8, USC 7, James Madison 5, Rutgers 4, Arkansas-Little Rock 3, Arizona State 2, Pittsburgh 2, Kansas 1, Miami (FL) 1, Penn State 1, Tulane 1.

Rich

The Huskies registered a 92 percent Graduation Success Rates (GSR) as the NCAA released this year’s figures for Division I student-athletes Wednesday. UConn’s percentage beat the national average of 79 percent for all athletes.

The Huskies’ GSR was also better than the national average for women’s basketball teams (83 percent) and all women’s sports (87). It was the sixth best percentage in the Big East.

The GSR was developed as a more accurate way to track the academic success of student-athletes. Using a six-year time frame (this time it was 1998-2003), the GSR measures graduation rates of student-athletes. Transfer students are included in the calculation of the GSR. If a student-athlete transfers from an institution in good academic standing then the transfers are merely passed on to the new institution.

This year’s GSR scores include the incoming freshman classes from 2000-01 through 2003-04.

“We’re pretty proud of the fact that kids who come here graduate,’’ Huskies coach Geno Auriemma said. “They enroll for the right reasons. They want to get a great education. They want to prepare themselves for the future and they we want to win championships. And we wanted to prove once again that those two things are not mutually exclusive. We’re proud of the grade point average that our kids consistently attain. I don’t know that any other school in America has had three of their basketball players be the National Scholar-Athlete of the Year as we’ve had with Rebecca (Lobo), Jen (Rizzotti) and Maya Moore. I would love to look it up, but I don’t have the stats. But I don’t think there’s another college in America playing at the Division I level that we play at that’s had three. So I think that’s a statement about what we believe in here as a university and what our basketball program stands for.’’

Here’s year-by-year GSR breakdown for the Huskies over this particular six-year span – 1998 (87 percent), 1999 (91), 2000 (92), 2001 (100), 2002 (100) and 2003 (92).

Rich

There will be more fans in attendance at a women’s basketball game at Gampel Pavilion or the XL Center this season. But consider the crowd of 150 that turned out Wednesday night at the UConn Student Union Theater to support the second annual Geno Auriemma’s `A Night of Hope’’ a win for Geno’s Cancer Team in its ongoing fight against cancer.

The turnout more than doubled that from a year ago. It also provided proof that not only is the effort of Andrew Sullivan, the executive director of Geno’s Cancer Team College Initiative, and his committee making a difference, but that the students on campus want to make a difference.

“We come to these things, and we’re never quite sure how many people are going to come and what their motivation is,’’ Auriemma said. “It’s a much greater turnout than last year. Hopefully, every year we will add to it as more people will know about it and our message will get a little stronger and resonate a little more with people on campus. It’s not easy to go to school, do your work and have your other commitments, both personal and professionally, like some of you do and commit yourself to something like this.
“In such a short period of time Andrew and his committee have done a great job of staying with it. They work it. They have functions. They have another one the night before the first game (Nov. 13 at Huskies Bar and Restaurant) and I’m going to go. I’m going to sneak in there that night and say `hi’ to everybody. I want to know who these kids are. I want to be a part of them. I want them to be a part of us, but I want them to know that they can count on me if they need anything and just like they want me to count on them. I’m thrilled to be a part of it, thrilled to be a part of them.’’

The night featured video profiles of former NC State basketball coaches Jim Valvano and Kay Yow, who both lost fights against cancer. Angela Santacroce, a committee member of Geno’s Cancer Team, Sullivan and Auriemma each took some time to address the crowd. RubyFruit and The Chordials, two nine-member female a cappella groups, performed and the crowd recited the “Poem of Hope’’ in closing.

Auriemma called The Chordials back to the stage once he stepped to the podium and urged them to perform another song. He then joined the group as it sang “I Can’t Make You Love Me’’ by Bonnie Raitt.

Also on hand for the event was the UConn women’s basketball team. Auriemma made a point to thank them for their support.

“They’re kids just like anybody else,’’ Auriemma said. “Sometimes we only see them as basketball players and we don’t see them as college kids who have the same concerns as other college kids. And breast cancer is something that doesn’t know anything about how old you are or what class you’re in and where you go to school. So I’m glad that they could take some time off of their busy schedule and come out here and support this.’’

The proceeds from the event, which carried a $5 donation, benefited the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Geno’s Cancer Team has raised more than $150,000 for the foundation since 2007.

The next event will be the second annual “Dress To Impress To Put Cancer To Rest at Huskies the night before the Huskies open the season against Holy Cross Nov. 14. It is set to begin at 9:30 p.m., with Emilee Fitzpatrick of the Real World: Cancun and other former Real World stars slated to attend.

“I’m anxious for this next event,’’ Auriemma said. “Next spring … We had the Kentucky Derby event and we didn’t have it this year because of some commitments that I had. And we’re going to do it again next spring. We’ve got a great group here. We’ve got a great committee that works on Geno’s Cancer Team. And Andrew’s committee is fantastic. So it’s all the right people doing all the right things.’’

Rich

Junior Tiffany Hayes had no idea where the camp was located. All she knew was that it was in the woods somewhere in the state.

Freshman Bria Hartley initially wondered how she would survive for a couple of days without her cell phone. She ultimately learned that she can live without it for a bit of time, even in this fast-paced era of multi-media.

The Huskies spent last weekend at Camp Jewell in Colebrook. It was a bonding excursion that definitively brought a team with five freshmen closer together with the start of the season less than three weeks away.

“It was a good team-bonding experience,’’ Hartley said. “I definitely think we feel closer, especially with the freshmen and the older girls. Because as freshman we don’t live with them so we’re not around them as much. We definitely got to know each individual a lot more.’’

The Huskies left campus Friday night and returned Sunday afternoon. In between, they practiced at The Gilbert School in Winsted.

Much of the time spent at Camp Jewell, where they stayed in cabins, was spent taking part in trust-oriented activities. Hartley said one challenge forced them to navigate through a series of ropes, but they were unable to touch the ropes in the process. The players were linked together, with some blindfolded. A strategy was developed. Leaders emerged.

They also tackled a task that featured a pair of wires that continued to widen as the challenge wore on and a ropes course that included a good deal of climbing.

“It was definitely about trust, depending on one another,’’ Hartley said. “And definitely doing those different obstacles you definitely gained a lot of test for the person.’’

The getaway provided the freshmen with some quality time to get to know the upperclassmen. There were 1-on-1 conversations, which helped to cut the gap between players new and old.

“In the beginning we knew it would be hard to bond as a team because you have that split of five freshmen and six players returning,’’ freshman Stefanie Dolson said. “But we went to Camp Jewell and it was amazing. I loved it, personally. It wasn’t just about the games that we played. We had a bonfire and it was one of the most heartwarming things I’ve ever been a part of. We’d be sitting there and I noticed that everyone was talking. There would be two freshmen with an upperclassman or one freshman with two upperclassmen. We were mixing with each other and you could see everyone come together and it was so precious.’’

The trip not only helped the team bond, but it also helped veteran players polish their leadership skills. Hayes, in particular, was a beneficiary of the time at Camp Jewell.

Hayes has been working on becoming a better leader this season in the wake of the loss of Tina Charles and Kalana Greene to graduation and the addition of the freshmen. Last weekend was another step forward.

“There are different types of leaders and I need to be what’s called a `driver leader’ and that’s something we learned at the team bonding camp,’’ Hayes said. “It was a great opportunity to learn a lot about each other so that we can become a better team. It was very productive and we got a lot done.’’

Rich

Bridgeport is one of 16 sites that have been selected to host the first and second rounds of the 2012 NCAA Division I women’s basketball tournament, the NCAA announced Tuesday. Fairfield University will host the event.

The dates of the games at the Arena at Harbor Yard will be either Saturday, March 17 and Monday, March 19 or Sunday, March 18 and Tuesday, March 20, 2012. They will be determined in June of 2011.

While nothing is a lock when it comes to the NCAA Selection Committee, it would be hard-pressed for it to ship UConn out of the state with its ability to fill the arena. The Huskies have previously played in Bridgeport in 2004 (first/second round), 2006 (regional) and 2008 (first/second round), averaging 8,292 fans in six games with four sellouts.

The other 2012 opening round sites that have been selected are Ames, Iowa; Baton Rouge, La.; Bowling Green, Ohio; Chapel Hill, N.C.; Chicago; College Park, Md.; College Station, Texas; Little Rock, Ark.; Nashville, Tenn.; Norfolk, Va.; Norman, Okla.; Notre Dame, Ind.; Spokane, Wash.; Tallahassee, Fla.; and West Lafayette, Ind. The regional sites are Des Moines, Iowa; Fresno, Calif.; Kingston, R.I.; and Raleigh, N.C.

Rich

There is something to be said for how being a senior seems to spark a change in a player. The finality of their career creeps in and a sense of urgency becomes a driving force behind the way they practice and the way they carry themselves.

Being a senior has changed point guard Lorin Dixon. She said a change took place during the off-season as she began preparing for this season. And it has carried over to practice as the Huskies begin preparation for a run at a third straight national championship.

“Lorin has had a really good week,’’ Huskies coach Geno Auriemma said. “She’s had a couple times where that hamstring or her groin injury is bothering her, or whatever it was. But for the most part she’s been really good. With Lorin it’s like when she’s good, she’s as good as anybody in the league. And the trick for us is keeping that confidence level at that level all the time. The only thing that gets Lorin in trouble is when she starts to question and starts to doubt herself. I would say 90 percent of the time this year in the time that we’ve had practice she’s been different than she’s been in the past. She’s vocal. She’s on top of things. She’s organizing. She’s taking the time when she’s on the sidelines to talk to the guys when they come off. So she’s been really, really good.’’

As good as Dixon has been, freshman point guard Bria Hartley too has had her moments where she has excelled in practice. But that does not necessarily mean that Dixon won’t open the season as the starter at the position.
Auriemma said that he has enough confidence in Hartley to start her and that she is going to be “incredibly important’’ to this year’s team. But there is something to be said for experience. Right now, it appears that Dixon will start at the point.
“Yeah, I (have confidence in Hartley). That doesn’t mean I’m going to (start her),’’ Auriemma said. “I’ve got tremendous confidence in her, and she knows it. That’s the other thing. She knows the coaches have a lot of confidence in her. So she walks around confident. Now some of that’s fake because she’s scared to death because I’ve already told her that Tiffany (Hayes) and (Caroline Doty) have never lost a college game so you better not screw this thing up. So she’s nervous. She’s really nervous. But she’s confident.’’

There were approximately 400 students at the first annual Geno Auriemma’s “A Night of Hope’’ last year. Auriemma is hopeful that turnout will be even bigger tomorrow night for the event, which will benefit the V Foundation for Cancer Research and the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, at the UConn Student Union at 7:30.

A donation of $5 is requested to attend the event. Geno and Kathy Auriemma (Geno’s Cancer Team co-founders), Angela Santacroce (Y Me? CT) and Andrew Sullivan (Geno’s Cancer Team) will serve as guest speakers. There will also be performances by Rubyfruit and The Chordials.

Free pink wristbands will be distributed and the first 75 women in attendance will receive a Victoria’s Secret PINK gift.

“I just think it’s great to involve the whole UConn community,’’ Auriemma said. “I’m always surprised. I guess I shouldn’t be, but I’m always surprised how college kids turn out for causes like that. They get a bad rap. When we’ve had these things, and there’s been other things, they’ve really done a great job supporting causes. I’ve been really impressed.’’
“It’s really just an opportunity to indoctrinate people into the art of giving and to bring some awareness to it. It should be good. It should be a big night. I’m looking forward to it. We’re going to hopefully try to make it bigger and bigger, and maybe we’ll bring in bigger acts.’’

Texas A&M coach Gary Blair said last week that the Aggies will meet the Huskies in the Virgin Islands next season. However, nothing has been finalized on UConn’s end at this point.

“As far as I know it’s in our plans, but there’s not been a signed contract,’’ Auriemma said. “The big thing was coming around with the foreign tour … You can do a foreign tour, and then the Pac 10 brought up legislation, `We want to outlaw it because it’s too expensive.’ So (the NCAA was) going to come out with `can’t do it.’ Then that was voted down. So we thought, `OK, it’s over. Now everybody can go.’ Then they voted that incoming freshmen are allowed to go in August, which that was never the case before. That’s why we stopped going in August when we went to Italy. So now they’re saying, `Alright, freshmen can go.’ But now the Big 10’s brought up, `Well, we want to outlaw it.’ So now they’re going to vote on whether or not you can go on a foreign tour after they said freshmen can go on a foreign tour. Now we’re going to vote on whether you can actually have one. See how that works?
“I would like to go on a tour because it’s really good timing (this summer). You’ve got five freshmen this year. So you’ve got a bunch of new guys coming in next year. You’ve got Maya graduating. It’s a great time to get as many extra games in as you can. Go someplace. Travel. Spend some time together. But we never can make any commitments because the legislation is always on hold.’’

Rich

Samarie Walker has been practicing fullcourt since Saturday. It’s a good sign for the freshman forward as she missed the preseason with a strained left hamstring.

Walker is still not yet at 100 percent. She said it still bothers her, but the main thing is it has not kept her out of practice.

“Honestly, I wasn’t as behind as I thought I would be,’’ Walker said. “I thought I was going to be more out of shape than everybody. But I’m probably in the best shape of my life. With the plays and all of that I just need … the more we play the more team chemistry we’ll have and I’ve got to get used to playing with everybody. They’ve had a chance to play with each other since the summer and in preseason. I missed out on preseason. In the next few weeks I think that’ll all catch up.’’

Walker has been told that she is one of the best offensive rebounders on the team so that has been a focus of hers. She said defensive rebounding had been a strength in high school.

Auriemma provided a primarily favorable review of Walker’s first few days tonight.

“Actually, not bad,’’ Auriemma said. “She has like moments when she’s in her comfort zone around the basket or when she can catch it and drive it to the rim. She’s a very difficult matchup inside the lane because she can get the ball up on the rim against kids bigger than her. And she’s really strong. Right now she’s just too tentative because she hasn’t played much in the preseason and she’s a little bit unsure. But when she’s in that comfort level she looks good. She’s way too introverted. We need her to come out of her shell a little bit. And hopefully that’ll happen.’’

Practices have gotten better for the Huskies. A big reason is that Auriemma has avoided putting all five freshmen on the floor at the same time.
“We’ve figured out certain combinations,’’ Auriemma said. “The first couple days we just kind of let everybody do everything. And now we’ve limited their access so to speak. We’ve limited their exposure to the lights at Gampel Pavilion so that they don’t get heat stroke. We’ve kind of done a much better job of, `Hey, I don’t want all these guys out here by themselves.’ I think they’ve gotten better because we’ve limited some of the things that we want them to do. So it’s been really good.’’

Freshman center Stephanie Dolson appears to have the inside track to a starting role.
“She has a real good sense of where she needs to be and when,’’ Auriemma said. “That’s not easy at all to be like all of a sudden, boom, there she is and she’s in exactly the right spot. Or she made a couple plays the other day and today where she’ll get it and somebody will cut and you won’t even think that she even notices and, bam, the ball ends up in the kid’s hands for a shot. She’ll make a 12-footer coming out of the lowpost. She just has a pretty good feel, and she’s skilled.’’

Rich