UConn sports

A few items from the XL Center after UConn’s fifth straight win, a rather uneventful 76-61 win over Seton Hall:

– It was UConn’s 23rd straight win over a team from the Tri-state area (UConn, St. John’s and Seton Hall).

– Free throws were an adventure for the Huskies all afternoon, with Jeff Adrien and Hasheem Thabeet the biggest offenders. Those two played well otherwise, combining for 28 points and 29 rebounds.

Coach Jim Calhoun said it was associate head coach George Blaney’s job to teach free throw shooting this week. He was kidding (we think).

“I’d like to apologize for our foul shooting coach George Blaney,” Calhoun said of his friend. “He sends his personal condolences to all the UConn fans for doing such a poor job this week.”

– Seton Hall coach Bobby Gonzalez says his team won’t be down forever despite losing eight in a row to UConn and 14 of the last 15.

“We’re not going to stay as a floormat for Connecticut forever,” Gonzalez said. “We’re going to beat them one of these days.”

– Adrien is anxious to play Villanova on Wednesday but he REALLY wants to play Notre Dame.

Adrien has designs on breaking ND’s 45-game home win streak.

“I’m excited to break a record like that,” Adrien said. “It’s going to feel good.”

– PF/C Jarrid Famous of Westchester (N.Y.) Community College made an unofficial visit to UConn and watched the game.

Famous is also high on Seton Hall, Villanova and Louisville.

– Jerome Dyson is hurting a bit. His ankle isn’t great. He twisted his ankle Sunday. Otherwise he’s nearly 100 percent healthy.

“We may give him (Monday) off,” Calhoun said.

– Did everyone see what happened at Providence Saturday?

It’s really not funny considering how easy it was for some guy (I know the security people probably knew who it was) just to walk onto the court, but Calhoun and others (myself included, I admit) had to laugh a bit.

“I love Providence and it’s got great atmosphere,” Calhoun said. “But if you asked me what building (this could happen in)? ……..Easy one.”

Long after the game many of us in the press room thought back to some of the most memorable moments we’ve experienced at the Dunkin Donuts (Providence Civic) Center.

The one that sticks out (pun intended) is the sex toy that found its way onto the court in the middle of a UConn-Providence game Feb. 8, 2003. With Ryan Gomes on the free throw line, a fan tossed a dildo (the family newspaper term we used at the time I believe was ‘marital aide’) into the lane.

Denham Brown, not wanting to pick it up, gave it kick. The task was left to referee Pat Driscoll to transport the item to the scorer’s table.

I recall that PC coach Tim Welsh took the microphone and told the crowd to keep in their pants…I mean, keep in the stands. OK, actually Welsh said something totally different but I swear he was laughing when he said it.

- Neill

A little info from UConn’s practice on Saturday and some notes on Sunday’s game against Seton Hall:

– Injuries are a slight concern for the Huskies. Heading home Thursday night (about 1 a.m. Friday morning) from St. John’s, UConn coach Jim Calhoun looked around and didn’t like all the limping going on.

“We were banged up pretty good,” Calhoun said.

Both of A.J. Price’s knees were hurting. His surgically repaired left knee was “fatigued” and his right knee had a contusion on it.

Jerome Dyson’s knee was bothering him again.

Hasheem Thabeet’s hip was giving him some trouble.

All of them are fine now but collectively it could be something of an issue.

– Seton Hall may be winless in league play but the Pirates are not without their weapons. Guard Jeremy Hazell can shoot the lights out, the Pirates lead the league in steals, and they can score.

“They can score points. Whoever they play, they can score points,” Calhoun said.

UConn’s new lineup, with 6-9 Stanley Robinson at the three instead of a third guard, might hurt the Huskies just a bit Sunday.

“We’ve taken some minutes away from Craig (Austrie), some minutes away from A.J., and given them to Sticks,” Calhoun said. “That helps us defensively but it doesn’t help us ball movement wise.”

– Seton Hall is obviously anxious for a win.

“They’re going to come out blazing,” UConn forward Jeff Adrien said. “We have to jump on them early. We have to initiate before they do.”

– About 700 tickets were left for the game as of Saturday morning.

– Calhoun was asked if anyone this season could match his 1995-96 team’s record of 17-1.

“Pittsburgh..they have the components,” he said.

“They have a point guard (Levance Fields) that has 112 or 113 assists already, and he’s so much better than what he appears at times. … (Sam) Young is a young pro. (DeJuan) Blair is one of the most devastating all-around players in the league. They have depth and they believe.

“So could they? Yeah, I think they could. I would bet against it if I was a betting man. Only because I think you’re going to have a night or two that it doesn’t happen or where someone else plays great.

“Sixteen-and-2 would be very hard. I think most people would say if you could put 15-3 into their book right now, they might take that and feel they’re going to win it (the league).”

– The ACC vs. Big East PR battle continued Saturday at UConn.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said Wednesday that the ACC was the best conference in the nation. The Huskies, obviously, disagree.

“I heard somewhere that Coach K said the ACC is the best conference,” UConn forward Jeff Adrien said. “I don’t know where he got that from.

More in Sunday’s Post.

- Neill

A look back at Thursday’s UConn-St. John’s game with our now typical format of information and folly.

UConn 67, St. John’s 55

TURNING POINT _ The start of the second half.

After fumbling away a five-point lead at the end of the first half on two silly turnovers (one by A.J. Price, one by Stanley Robinson), the Huskies came out of the gates in half No. 2 on a mission.

The plan: pound the ball into Jeff Adrien (and sometimes Hasheem Thabeet) and adjust to St. John’s adjustments. Adrien banged in the post to score eight points in the first six minutes of the second half and then guard Kemba Walker took over.

“At one point I felt the score shouldn’t have been that close,” Walker said. “At halftime we talked it out, and we came out and exploded on them.”

Walker’s nifty fastbreak layup, back-door cut and lucky (bank) 3-pointer put UConn comfortably ahead.

A couple of long jumpers by Price, who was pretty awful until then, kept the Johnnies at bay.

UNSUNG HERO _ UConn trainer James Doran.

I’m not sure what the precise medical diagnosis is or what the treatment options are for a shot to the stones (which it appears is what Jerome Dyson suffered Thursday night) but Doran helped Dyson return to the court pretty quickly.

And that was after Dyson seemed on the verge of tears when he first came off the court.

For more information on such injuries you can read the New England Journal of Medicine (king of the medical periodicals) or watch America’s Funniest Home Videos (kind of the kicks to the groin).

BEST ‘X’ AND/OR ‘O’ _ Reminding Thabeet that he wasn’t in foul trouble.

The 7-foot-3 UConn behemoth is so used to hearing whistles that he’s expecting the worst. Though he was only called for one foul in the first half Thabeet thought he had many more and was playing tentative on defense at some points Thursday.

“I thought I had three fouls and all the fouls were called on somebody else. I had to let up a couple plays where they shouldn’t have got layups,” Thabeet said.

Jim Calhoun and his staff soon reminded Thabeet (cordially, I’m sure) that he wasn’t in foul trouble _ and to forget about it even if he was.

“The coaches called me over and told me even if you have fouls just play your game,” Thabeet said. “Don’t worry.”

Thabeet was credited with five blocked shots against the Red Storm and given unofficial credit for 15 more “bothers” by Calhoun.

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS _ There really weren’t many. Remember when UConn-St. John’s at the Garden was a big deal?

I know there are economic factors and St. John’s-isn’t-that-great-now factors, but 7,000 for this game? Pretty sad.

Cliff Robinson, Donyell Marshall, Lou Carnesecca and Walter Berry found the time to show up. It was the average Joe’s (not THE Average Joe’s, of course) that didn’t make it.

There were plenty of calls by the officials that fans of both teams probably objected to, but there weren’t enough supporters of either side to make much of a stink about them.

Even the true hecklers lost some of their vigor and originality. Soon after sitting down at my seat at the press table before tip-off a man in the front row offered me a little advice:

“Hey buddy! Hold on to your laptop tight. Watch out for A.J. Price!”

Good one, sir. Very timely and fresh.

And A.J.’s never heard anything like that before.

LOOKING AHEAD _ Country road…take me home…to the place…I belong…

I know, I’ve taken one too many trips to West Virginia and I have that song permanently stuck in my head.

And it’s not as if the Huskies haven’t been home. They’ve traveled back and forth to each of their last three games, making what looks like a three-game road trip on paper into three separate jaunts.

Still, the players and coaches will be happy to be back in the old Hartford (XXL) Civic Center Sunday to face Seton Hall.

The Pirates have a weapon or two (Jeremy Hazell will shoot the lights out if given the chance) but look for UConn to embrace the home cooking and win big.

UConn has won seven straight games over Seton Hall as well as 14 of the last 15 and 21 of the last 23.

Since 1993, Seton Hall has beaten UConn only twice: once in 1997 when a head coach named George Blaney led the Pirates to a win in Hartford; and once in 2001 when a guard named Darius Lane shot the Huskies out of NCAA Tournament contention (four 3′s in the final four minutes including an off-balance 25-footer near the end) in the regular season finale for both schools at the Meadowlands.

BY THE NUMBERS

6 _ Double-doubles by Jeff Adrien this season.

39 _ Double-doubles by Jeff Adrien in his UConn career.

36 _ Double-doubles by Notre Dame center Luke Harangody in his career, the second-highest active total in the Big East.

- Neill

Have to catch a train home so not a lot of time to blog. We’ll have more Friday.

Just wanted to pass along a story that coach Jim Calhoun told after UConn’s 67-55 win over St. John’s.

Apparently former UConn point guard Khalid El-Amin’s family was the victim of a crime Dec. 27.

Calhoun said three “molotov cocktails” were thrown through the window of his family’s home just outside of Minneapolis. Many of El-Amin’s sports trophies and other UConn memorabilia were burned, though no one was physically hurt by the attack.

El-Amin and his family are Muslim though police are apparently unsure of the motive.

El-Amin is currently playing professional basketball in the Ukraine but according to Calhoun he is traveling home to be with his family.

- Neill

If you think it’s cold outside your house or office, head to the UConn campus in Storrs.

I swear there’s a different weather pattern here than in any other part of the state. Whatever the temperature is in Bridgeport or New Haven, subtract five degrees and you get Hartford. Subtract five more degrees and you get Storrs.

That’s scientific fact. You can look up. (Please don’t look it up)

On to the news from basketball practice Wednesday afternoon:

– UConn is playing its third straight road game, trying to complete its first 3-0 sweep of such games under Jim Calhoun.

“It looks like we’re going to stay in the East,” Calhoun said with a laugh.

He’s right. Madison Square Garden is sometimes like a home game for the Huskies, anyway.

It probably won’t be Thursday, though. St. John’s is playing OK now and there might be a good number of “real” home fans in the seats.

– Calhoun has talked a lot about “staying in the moment.” Some are trying to distract him but the coach says the moment is St. John’s.

“Our moment right now is not Seton Hall,” Calhoun said. “I know it’s coming up on Sunday only because Tate (George) called me up about tickets and Cliff Robinson called me about tickets. Cliff also threw in the St. John’s game, too.”

– Center Hasheem Thabeet hasn’t been at his best lately. He knows it and the coaching staff knows it.

“We need Hasheem to step it up a little bit,” Calhoun said. “He can’t go through a game without being close to double figure rebounds and get us three to four blocks. I don’t mind 12 points but the other two parts we need him to do. We need him to be a presence early. I don’t care if he gets a goaltending call.”

Calhoun says Thabeet’s hip is still bothering him.

The coach also hopes Thursday’s game gives Thabeet a chance to play against the kind of players (read: smaller) he sometimes has big games against.

“He’ll be facing good players, but not quite the size that he’s had to face recently,” Calhoun said.

– Freshman PG Kemba Walker can dunk a basketball. He hasn’t yet in his UConn career, however. Is that because he knows if he somehow misses that he’ll be pulled from the game very quickly?

“Definitely. That’s what it is,” Walker said.

Walker says he’ll do it eventually.

“It’s only two points but I’m going to get one for y’all,” he said.

– Walker has played at MSG three times before, all as a high schooler for Rice High. His team played against St. Patrick’s in his sophomore year of high school, Simeon Career Academy (Derrick Rose’s team from Chicago) his junior year, and against St. Benedict’s last season.

“This is my first time playing in the Garden at the college level,” Walker said. “Just to be back home is going to be a lot of fun.”

Walker isn’t the only UConn guard from the New York area anxious for a trip home.

“It’s always a thrill to play there,” A.J. Price said. “Being from New York you always get a different rush just playing there. The first time is even more special.”

– UConn freshmen Charles Okwandu and Scottie Haralson might be late to the game but they’ll be there Thursday.

The two have that same afternoon class that has caused travel problems in the past but the duo is expected to attend the class Thursday and join the Huskies in the early evening.

Haralson and Okwandu were late to the West Virginia game and missed the Cincinnati game entirely.

- Neill

Here’s some info on UConn’s upcoming sale:

STORRS _ The University of Connecticut Division of Athletics will hold a UConn Merchandise Sale this Sunday at the West Exhibition Hall of the XL Center in Hartford from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The sale is being held in conjunction with the annual UConn Club Auction and will take place prior to the UConn vs. Seton Hall men’s basketball game, which begins at 2 p.m. THE SALE AND AUCTION ARE OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. A TICKET TO THE BAKETBALL GAME IS NOT REQUIRED TO ATTEND THE SALE OR THE AUCTION.

The sale will feature unused UConn promotional merchandise and apparel from such manufacturers as Nike, Reebok and Aéropostale. Items, which will be priced at 50 to 75 percent below retail, include t-shirts, shorts, jackets, hats, travel bags, sweatshirts and hoodies, sweatsuits, outerwear, game jerseys and footwear.

Cash, check and credit cards will be accepted at the “UConn Sale” and all sales will be final.

The UConn Club Auction will be held at the same time and place and will feature items such as a new Toyota Camry, courtesy of the Connecticut Toyota Dealers, sports memorabilia, travel and leisure packages, tickets to sporting events, theatre and dining gift certificates and electronics.

- Neill

UConn sent out a reminder Tuesday about its players headed to all-star games.

In case you hadn’t heard:

STORRS _ The University of Connecticut football team will have five players take part in upcoming all-star games in January.

Defensive end Cody Brown (Coral Springs, Fla.), cornerback and wide receiver Darius Butler (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and offensive tackle Will Beatty (York, Pa.) will all take part in the Senior Bowl, which takes place on Saturday, Jan. 24 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. The game will be televised by the NFL Network and the three Huskies will play for the North squad. That team will be coached by Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis and his staff.

All three of these Huskies were first team All-Big East picks following the 2008 season.

UConn strong safety Dahna Deleston (East Hartford) and defensive end Julius Williams (Decatur, Ga.) will both take part in the Texas Vs. The Nation All-Star Game on Saturday, Jan. 31 at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. That game will be televised by CBS College Sports and the “Nation” team will be coached by the legendary Howard Schnellenberger, now of Florida Atlantic.

Beatty helped anchor a UConn offensive line that allowed junior Donald Brown (Atlantic Highlands, N.J.) to be the leading rusher in the country as the Huskies ranked first in the Big East, and 13th nationally, in rushing yards per game at 216.38 yards per game.

Cody Brown was second in the BIG EAST in sacks per game at 0.77 per contest and was also second in the league in tackles for a loss. He made a total of 56 tackles on the season.

Butler made 40 tackles on the season with four pass break-ups and also saw time on the other side of the ball as a receiver for the Huskies with receptions for 123 yards.

Deleston had 60 tackles on the year for UConn with three for a loss and two interceptions, including one that he returned for 100 yards in the Huskies’ 38-20 win over Buffalo in the International Bowl.

Williams had 41 tackles on the season with 11 of them for a loss and six sacks.

- Neill

Today we begin a regular feature on the old (relatively new) blog.

A few fun, some serious items from the previous day’s game.

UConn 81, Cincinnati 72

TURNING POINT _ A.J. Price’s two 3-pointers in the final minute of the first half.

Yes, Price had already hit one triple in the game. But his two daggers near the end of the first half (one of which came from way, way out as the buzzer sounded) not only kept the Huskies in the lead, it proved Price had put his West Virginia woes behind him.

He was going to play well and he wasn’t going to let the Huskies lose.

UNSUNG HERO _ Jonathan Mandeldove. The junior center has obviously become a role player for the Huskies. He’s an energetic practice player and a vocal supporter of his teammates from the bench during games. That being said, it’s rare that Mandeldove gives UConn meaningful minutes.

He did Saturday, though. Mandeldove played five minutes in the first half with Hasheem Thabeet in foul trouble. He only got one rebound and committed one hard (smart) foul, but Mandeldove made a small difference in the game.

Of course, he was wide open some six or seven times during his brief stay in the game and was never really an offensive option. Mandeldove’s got a little more time to bank before Price, Jerome Dyson and company start throwing him lob passes.

BEST ‘X’ AND/OR ‘O’ _ Jim Calhoun’s rare yet timely shift to a zone defense stemmed the tide with Thabeet out of the lineup in the first half. The Husky center sat the final seven minutes and his teammates played 2-3 zone without him.

There’s a school of thought (a pretty good school, too, not a safety school) that the Huskies would be best suited to play zone all the time, keeping Thabeet close to the hoop full-time.

That’s probably not going to happen but look for Calhoun to utilize it in a pinch as the season goes on.

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS _ Last year when UConn went to Cincinnati The Big O was in the house. This year at Fifth Third Arena not only was Oscar Robertson absent, a lot of fans didn’t show.

The crowd of more than 9,000 was one of the Bearcats’ largest of the season (only a battle with city rival Xavier drew more) but still rather sparse considering the No. 5 team in the nation was in town.

Actually the fans in Cincinnati appeared quite knowledgeable with their screams. One guy behind us near press row kept yelling “Where the hell is the weak-side help defense? HELP!”

Another one hurled a timely scream toward the Cincinnati guards “There’s a minute left and you’ve got two fouls to give! What the hell are you waiting for?”

(By the way, if you think ‘hell’ is a bad swear you haven’t been to many games lately)

Actually, maybe the Cincinnati fans aren’t any smarter than those of other Big East teams, maybe I could just hear them better because it was a pretty quiet building Saturday.

LOOKING AHEAD _ It’s been a long time since UConn won consistently against Big East foes at Madison Square Garden (there was Gardner-Webb Part I last season). The Huskies beat St. John’s two seasons ago at MSG, too, but have lost four straight in Big East tourney play.

Thursday UConn is back at the Garden to face the Johnnies. It’s tough get a read on St. John’s. The Red Storm already own a win over Notre Dame (that one will be in the ‘huh?’ category all season) and played Pittsburgh tough for a half-plus on Sunday (before getting blasted).

St. John’s seemingly has a short bench and not a ton of talent. Still, expect the team to play tough.

BY THE NUMBERS

8 _ The number of 3-pointers UConn made on Saturday, a season high.

12 _ The number of 3-pointers Providence made against Cincinnati when they met Tuesday.

15 _ The number of 3-pointers Marquette made against Cincinnati when they played last week.

2 _ The number of blocked shots by UConn against Cincinnati, a season low. The Huskies’ previous low was five against Hartford, Wisconsin and Gonzaga.

- Neill