The Huskies are getting ready for Senior Day Sunday afternoon in Storrs and an all-important matchup with Louisville.
– It’s the final game at Gampel Pavilion this year. Well, that is unless a first-round NIT game somehow gets thrown into the mix.
“It’s most likely the last time we’ll play here this year,” UConn coach Jim Calhoun said after practice Saturday. “I hope it’s the last time we play here this year, actually, even though I love it here.”
– It’s the last home game (again, probably) for Stanley Robinson, Jerome Dyson, Gavin Edwards, et al.
“It’s been very interesting. I’ve been working and all that extra stuff,” Robinson said. “It’s been fun. I’m happy I came, I’m happy I committed to UConn. It’s been a great journey for me.”
Said Calhoun, in what was like a Dorothy-to-the-Scarecrow moment: “I’ll miss Stanley a great deal.”
As a freshman, Robinson kissed the Husky logo at center court in Gampel Pavilion during Midnight Madness. We may see a repeat of that performance.
“I think I’m going to have to kiss the Husky when I leave, too,” Robinson said.
– Dyson may have spent more time in the training room than anyone in UConn history (Scott Burrell perhaps the lone exception) but he needed most of that treatment.
“With me, he’s on the all-tough team,” Calhoun said. “He’s Lyman DePriest, he’s Taliek Brown, he’s Kevin Freeman.”
Dyson could be one of UConn’s top 10 scorers of all time, but he does other things too.
“One of the better defenders I’ve ever had,” Calhoun said.
Like Robinson, it seems Dyson is pleased he chose the Huskies.
“What sticks out in my mind the most is our fans,” Dyson said. “When you get here, they’re always outside. Rain, snow, cold, whatever, they’re always out there. It’s nice to know how much they support us whether we’re winning or losing.”
Despite a 30-day suspension and a near career-ending injury, Dyson said he was confident he’d make it to this day.
“Coach has always stuck by me good or bad,” Dyson said. “That’s something I’m grateful for. He didn’t have to. There were points where he stuck his neck out for me.”
– Calhoun on Edwards:
“If I had one regret, I’d redshirt and have him again,” Calhoun said. “Because it took him a long time to develop. Others may feel differently, that he should have played over Jeff Adrien or should have played over Hasheem Thabeet. I don’t necessarily share that belief.
“But I do believe he’s got a great basketball future ahead of him,” Calhoun said.
For his part, Edwards has no regrets.
“A little frustrated but I’m kind of glad that I’ve gone through everything I’ve gone through, all the trials and tribulations,” Edwards said. “I think it’s made me better as a person and a player.
“I wish could have maybe got some more playing time or been more successful, but in the end I’m glad everything turned out the way it did,” Edwards said.
Edwards had a number of friends and family members in attendance for Saturday’s practice, including his mother, father and a number of his mother’s relatives from Manitoba, Canada.
– Center Jon Mandeldove won’t be part of the Senior Day festivities. He will apparently try and return for a fifth year.
“I’ve invited him back for his fifth year. He hasn’t played this year, he’s redshirting,” Calhoun said. “If he can get things squared away academically with me and the school, but me first, then we’d (take him back).”
– Walk-ons Alex Hornat and Kenny Borton will also be honored before Sunday’s game.
“A lot of people don’t realize some of the kids over the years who have helped us, from Jason (Baisch) to all the other guys who really helped us every day in practice, and Alex is one of those guys,” Calhoun said.
– Oh, and there’s a game to be played here, too. Louisville trounced UConn earlier this season at Freedom Hall.
“We’ve got to make sure that we make good decisions offensively and stop them from scoring so easily,” Calhoun said.
“We have to take care of the ball,” Dyson said. “They’ll pressure us a lot. We’re going to have to take care of the ball, rebound and run good offense.”
- Neill
