UConn sports

I’m not sure if it’s the national TV, the opponent or the weekend that brings out the best signs from UConn fans. But when you get all three, like Saturday’s game against Georgia Tech, it’s usually going to be entertaining at Gampel Pavilion.

There are always a few chest painters (not counting the Blue-White Kid), and Saturday was no different. A quintet of enterprising young (male) students sat in the front row at Gampel Saturday with E-S-P-N-! on the front of their bodies with P-R-I-C-E on the back.

There was also a big Craig Austrie fan (female) with a blue “24″ painted on her stomach Saturday. Well, maybe she was a Kiefer Sutherland fan but I doubt it.

As far as signs go, it takes a lot to impress me. Those intended simply to get TV time _ i.e., getting some cute phrase that fits with CBS or ESPN _ are usually automatically disqualified.

There were a couple of interesting ones Saturday:

– “Free Jerome” was a nice touch for the Dyson suspension

– “We Got Thabeet” is getting old, but it was appropriate nonetheless on Saturday

– “George Blaney’s Fan Club” has rarely missed a game this season (nor has the associate head coach missed a chance to give the die-hards a nod or wave of appreciation)

– “We’re enrolled” was kind of slap at the whole Nate Miles affair, but it was a chuckle I suppose

Doug Wiggins made a brief stop at Rockville Superior Court Monday morning. Really brief.

The UConn guard payed a $90 fine for his possession of alcohol by a minor infraction. The driving with a suspended license charge was nollied, or not prosecuted.

The only real news that came out of the day was Wiggins’ vital stats. His driver’s license says he’s 6-feet tall _ not 6-foot-1 as he is on the Huskies’ official roster or 6-foot-2 as he’s listed other places. Of course, that was probably when he was 16, so maybe he’s 6-1 by now.

OK, maybe there wasn’t much new information at all.

After beating Pittsburgh Saturday and claiming their fifth straight win, the Huskies planned a day of rest for Sunday. Well, sort of.

It’s Super Sunday, of course. And UConn coach Jim Calhoun had a caveat to his offer of a day off.

“We’re going to give them a day off to root for the Patriots,” said Calhoun, a Braintree, Mass., native and longtime Pats fan. “Any kid who doesn’t root for the Patriots? There’s no big prize. You just can’t come to Syracuse.”

The coach was joking, I think, especially when you consider a good portion of his roster _ OK, two guys _ come from New York. Curtis Kelly and A.J. Price wouldn’t dare root for the Pats.

Throw in Craig Austrie, a Stamford native, and it’s not exactly a Boston Tea Party.

Price actually went so far as to predict an upset.

“We’ll have to score some points,” Price said of the Giants. “I’m going to go with 35-31.”

Guard Doug Wiggins practiced with the second team Friday at Gampel and he’ll be in uniform Saturday against Pittsburgh. His suspension is essentially over.

“Doug is on the team, obviously, and practicing,” coach Jim Calhoun said. “I don’t know if he’s going to play (Saturday).”

It’s Calhoun’s call on whether or not Wiggins gets in.

“He will dress, and then I’ll go from there,” Calhoun said. “Basically it’ll be how I sleep on it. I’ve been trying to decide for the last couple of days and haven’t really come to a decision,” Calhoun said.

Jerome Dyson, of course, was not at practice. He will be out at least 30 days because of his positive drug test, though Calhoun said he’ll make the final decision on the length.

“As far as Jerome Dyson is concerned, he’s indefinitely suspended,” Calhoun said. “I’ve seen people put in numerical numbers. As far as I’m concerned, he’s indefinitely suspended and we’ll go from there.”

Calhoun said Dyson can’t practice with team but can use the facilities at Gampel.