UConn sports

No, it’s not football. Don’t get your Notre Dame-style panties in a bunch. (Is that over the line?)

UConn and Texas have agreed to a four-game series in men’s basketball.

The games are spread of a six-year period, with the first meeting next season in Connecticut.

Here’s the thumbnail schedule:

2009-10 _ at UConn

2010-11 _ at Texas

2013-14 _ at UConn

2014-15 _ at Texas

Texas leads the all-time series 3-2, winning the last time the two played: the 2003 NCAA regional semifinals (That’s the Sweet 16 to you and me Rusty)

It’s another matchup for Jim Calhoun and longtime rival/friend Rick Barnes (That’s Bahhhns if you’re from greater Boston).

As I recall from the two times the teams played earlier this decade, Barnes, who coached at Providence from 88-94 and also at Clemson, is a terrific storyteller. Looking forward to some interesting pre-game chats.

- Neill

Exhibition No. 1 is in the books and what have we learned from UConn’s 83-58 win over American International College?

Not a whole lot.

Here’s a few highlights:

– Hasheem Thabeet is good when he’s playing against 6-4 guys. The 7-3 big man made all nine of his shots and scored 21 points. He also added 10 rebounds and six blocks.

“The guards are now realizing I actually can catch the ball and finish,” Thabeet said with a smile. “A lot of times when teams try to play zone, it’s just one pass and a basket.”

– Guard Craig Austrie, in the proverbial dog house recently, played well.

“I thought Craig played very, very well,” coach Jim Calhoun said. “He attacked and that’s what we need.”

– The Huskies’ warrior?

“Jeff Adrien was fair at best,” Calhoun said.

– A.J. Price says his knee felt fine.

“I felt real good. That was important to me, just to get out there and feel physically good,” Price said. “I’m happy with my performance. I think I played well and I think we played well as a team.”

Calhoun didn’t really agree, saying Price didn’t push the ball enough and wasn’t his usual self. But the coach wasn’t too disappointed.

It’s been a long day. I can’t stay in Storrs any longer. Maybe an update Thursday morning.

- Neill

All you football junkies will have to wait a little while (next week) … it’s basketball season.

Greetings from Gampel Pavilion and the start of year 23 for Jim Calhoun’s Huskies.

I’ve missed Kansas, A-ha, the Mighty, Mighty, Bosstones and all of the other big hits performed by the UConn pep band.

(FYI, I’m only being half-sarcastic. It’s a Pavlov thing. The pregame music in Storrs and Hartford kind of make me thing of basketball).

Anyway, a couple of items before AIC (Almost In College) hits the court to battle UConn:

– C Charles Okwandu isn’t playing tonight. The Harcum (Pa.) College transfer and Lagos, Nigeria, native still has perhaps one minor issue holding up his eligibility.

“It’s basically got to do with final clarification of everything,” Calhoun said. “We fully expect that he’ll be playing for us very shortly.”

Perhaps as early as Sunday’s exhibition against UMass-Lowell.

– Senior Craig Austrie is in the starting lineup, getting the nod over Kemba Walker in game one. Calhoun has been critical of Austrie in the preseason but he’s apparently been playing better lately.

Calhoun didn’t call out Austrie in practice very often, but found out what Calhoun said via the media.

“They (the comments) get back to me,” Austrie says with a laugh. “I’m from Connecticut and people let me know.”

Calhoun, of course, knows this.

“They read the newspapers. And if they don’t, their parents do,” Calhoun said.

Besides, the coach said, “Craig knows he wasn’t playing well.”

A senior from Stamford, Austrie has been through the ups and downs with Calhoun and wasn’t put off by the motivational words.

“Not at all,” Austrie said. “I wouldn’t expect coach to be any other way. He’s like that with everyone; he doesn’t just single me out.”

- Neill

UConn running back Donald Brown is one of 15 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award, a national player of the year award.

The complete list of semifinalists include: Sam Bradford, So., QB, Oklahoma; Donald Brown, Jr., RB, Connecticut; Darryl Clark, Sr., QB, Penn State, Michael Crabtree, So., WR, Texas Tech; Chase Daniel, Sr., QB, Missouri, Shonn Greene, Jr., RB, Iowa; Graham Harrell, Sr., QB, Texas Tech; Jeremy Maclin, So., WR, Missouri, Colt McCoy, Jr, QB, Texas; LeSean McCoy, So., RB, Pittsburgh; Knowshon Moreno, So., RB, Georgia; Javon Ringer, Sr., RB, Michigan State; Zac Robinson, Jr., QB, Oklahoma State; Mark Sanchez, Jr., QB, USC; Tim Tebow, Jr., QB, Florida.

The award will be announced out Dec. 11 as part of ESPN’s college football awards show. It will be formally presented to the winner March 6 in Atlantic City, N.J. _ not far from Brown’s hometown of Atlantic Highlands.

Brown leads the nation in rushing at 156.22 yards per game.

Afternoon update:

Brown said he was glad to be included on this list when he met with a handful of reporters Wednesday afternoon in Storrs, but his blunt honest was surprising.

“It’s an honor but at the same time it’s unrealistic,” Brown said. “A kid from UConn will never win an award like this. I know it just as well as anyone else.”

Wow.

Now, let’s be clear on something. He’s right.

OK, he’s wrong with the “never” but he’s right about the immediate future.

It would take a UConn running back gaining 2,500 yards and the team going 11-1 for Brown to win the Maxwell or the Heisman or the Walter Camp, etc. That’s not going to happen this year.

But for Brown to admit that? Kind of interesting.

There’s nothing wrong with it, of course. And the team-first attitude that Brown portrays is probably just what coach Randy Edsall wants.

“It doesn’t really matter to me,” Brown said. “If we keep winning and taking care of business, the accolades will come.”

More in Thursday’s Post and here on the blog.

- Neill

Just a little public service announcement from your friendly neighborhood blogger.

Go out today and vote. It doesn’t matter which candidate or candidates you support, just make sure your voice is heard.

Stepping down from my high horse now…

- Neill

OK, remember when I said the UConn-Syracuse game would start at noon?

I lied.

At least, someone lied to me.

Anyway, last-minute change by ESPN big wigs and it’s going to be a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Still on ESPNU….sorry.

- Neill

– The Nov. 15 UConn-Syracuse game will kickoff at 7 p.m. and will be seen on ESPNU.

– Not much in the way of info from this morning’s Big East conference call with the coaches.

UConn’s Randy Edsall was asked about quarterback Tyler Lorenzen and did at least acknowledge it’s a possibility the senior returns.

“It looks like within the next two weeks Tyler could be ready to play,” Edsall said.

- Neill

Head coach Randy Edsall won’t say what Darius Butler’s knee injury is, but did say Sunday that his star cornerback and part-time wide receiver will be out 4-6 weeks because of it.

Butler was rolled up on during a kick return Saturday against West Virginia.

The timetable makes it sound like he might be back for the regular season finale against Pittsburgh, but more likely he’ll be done until any bowl berth comes along.

Butler had an MRI performed on Sunday.

It doesn’t sound like a ligament tear (maybe a sprain?) and the coach said “I don’t think so” when asked if Butler would have surgery.

“I DON’T THINK SO?”

(Raise your hand if you believe the head coach of a Division I college football team “doesn’t know” whether or not his best player’s injury will require surgery.)

The vagueness of the injury news Edsall dispenses in drips and drabs is always frustrating, but it’s especially so when a key injury like this occurs. Stop me if you’ve hear this one before…oh, wait….you probably have…I rant a lot, don’t I?

Anyway, as he always says in such situations, Edsall and the Huskies are already moving on.

“There’s nothing you can do. He’s not going to be out there,” Edsall said. “We’re not going to sit here and cry about it.”

The coach wouldn’t say which way he and the staff are leaning but it’s a safe bet Robert McClain will start in Butler’s place.

– Not much else in the way of news.

No other injuries according to the coach (I’ll believe that one when they take the field against Syracuse in two weeks).

No idea who the starting quarterback will be when they play again, the coach says. (I’ll believe that one hell freezes over).

Edsall doesn’t know if Tyler Lorenzen would be healthy enough to play against the Cuse. (Insert your own snappy line about disbelief).

- Neill