Omar Calhoun was hyped up in the preseason by a writer or two. So far, the 6-foot-5 freshman has been impressive against lesser competition (22 points vs. Maryland Eastern Shore) and not-so-hot against top-end teams (6 points against Michigan State and N.C. State combined).

Is that disparity normal for freshmen? Let’s look at Omar Calhoun through 10 games vs. former Husky guards at the same point in their careers:

OMAR CALHOUN

vs. Low/Mid Majors: 13 points, 4.4 rebounds, 56 % FG

vs. High Majors: 4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 14.3 % FG

KEMBA WALKER (through 10 games)

vs. Low/Mid Majors: 11 points, 3.4 assists, 2.1 turnovers  in 27.8 minutes

vs. High Majors: 7.6 points, 1.6 assists, 3.6 turnovers in 24 minutes

SHABAZZ NAPIER

vs. Low/Mid Majors: 8.3 points, 2.9 assists, 35.6 percent in 22.5 minutes

vs.  High Majors: 9 points, 2.5 assists, 31.3 % FG in 24.5 minutes

BEN GORDON

vs. Low/Mid Majors: 12.5 points, 57.1 % FG, 45.8 % 3-pointers in 24.3 minutes

vs. High Majors: 8.8 points, 34.2 % FG, 8.3 % 3-pointers in 19.5 minutes

JEREMY LAMB

vs. Low/Mid Majors: 9.4 points, 5.6 rebounds in 23.8 minutes

vs. High Majors: 2 points, 3.5 rebounds in 12.5 minutes

Note: Although Rudy Gay did not play any high majors in his first 10 games as a Husky, he struggled mightily against Georgetown and Oklahoma in early January, totaling seven points on 3-for-17 shooting in back-to-back games. The same goes for Jerome Dyson, who shot 12-for-39 from the floor and 2-for-12 from 3-point range in three games vs. ranked opponents as a freshman.

The exception, of course, is Ryan Boatright. In his first two games against high-major competition, Boatright averaged 18.5 points.

If nothing else, you can count on Shabazz Napier to share an opinion or two.

Early in the season, the Huskies insisted that they were playing this season for Kevin Ollie, whose contract expires in April. Ten games in, it seems as though Ollie has positioned himself for an extension. So what’s the holdup? UConn athletic director Warde Manuel could be waiting for the first semester grades to be finalized (which likely happens this week) or he could be waiting to observe Ollie in Big East play.

Here’s what Napier had to say on the matter:

” Warde, our AD, we don’t know what he’s doing. After Michigan State game, I felt like he was going to get his (contract). Sometimes it doesn’t seem that way. I kind of came to terms with no matter what we do, it’s not going to be in our hands. We can win as many games as we want. I still don’t believe it’s going to be in our hands where (Manuel) is going to give him the job. Hopefully we keep on winning and keep being great student-athletes off the court so he can see that coach Ollie is just not about basketball. He’s about you being a man and maturing.”

And, of course, Ollie addressed the issue as well.

“”I’m going to do my job regardless,” Ollie said. “It’s something I can’t control, like the realignment — I can’t control that. I’m not worrying about the contract. You care about it because you do want a contract, but I’m not losing sleep over it. Trust me on that.”

(The players)  know I have a four-month contract, but they’re still playing like I’m here forever,” he continued. “So I’m going to do the same for them.”