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A few quotes about Kevin Ollie’s five-year contract extension:

Kevin Ollie (AP)

*Kevin Ollie: “My legs were shaking and everything. It was like the first game I stepped in the XL Center. My legs were shaking because I was excited. I was excited for the moment. I just thought it could never happen for a guy out of South Central Los Angeles — to be here at UConn and be the head basketball coach, but I’m an unrealistic thinker, just like coach Calhoun. That’s what thing I learned from him — he’s unrealistic to come in here and believe in Storrs and make this a powerhouse, that’s unrealistic thinking. And that’s how I think. I’m never going to settle for mediocrity. I’m never going to let my team settle for mediocrity.”

*Shabazz Napier: “I think he’s been doing a spectacular job on the court and also off the court…He and the coaches are the reason why we’re 10-2.”

*Jim Calhoun: “With the new leadership of Susan Herbst and Warde Manuel and now with Kevin as the head basketball coach for the forseeable future, I feel very good about the future of the men’s basketball program at UConn. I know Kevin will do a great job, as he already has, and I am looking forward to more success for the Huskies in years to come.

*Geno Auriemma: “I am absolutely thrilled for Kevin and for UConn. Kevin stepped into a tough situation and has done a great job in all facets. The UConn men’s basketball program is in great hands with Kevin Ollie and I look forward to working with him for years to come.”

*Dick Vitale: “Kevin absolutely rolled up his sleeves and earned the opportunity to coach his alma mater. He is the perfect hire. His passion and love for the game will be contagious to his players.”

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WHEN: Tonight, 7:30

WHERE: XL Center, Hartford

RECORDS: Washington 8-4, UConn 9-2

ON THE AIR: ESPN2 (Bob Picozzi, Bill Raftery) WTIC-1080 AM (Joe D’Ambrosio, Wayne Norman)

UP NEXT: Tuesday at Marquette, 8 (ESPNU)

WASHINGTON

• Abdul Gaddy G 6-3 Sr.: 13.3 ppg, 3.8 apg
• C.J. Wilcox G 6-5 Jr.: 19.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg
• Scott Suggs G 6-6 Sr.: 13.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg
• Desmond Simmons F 6-7 So.: 6.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg
• Aziz N’Diaye C 7-0 Sr.: 11.8 ppg, 9.7 rpg
• Andrew Andrews G 6-2 R-Fr.: 6.7 ppg, 2.7 apg
• Jernard Jarreau F 6-10 R-Fr.: 3.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg

UCONN

• Ryan Boatright: G 5-10 So.: Made 24 of last 35 FGA
• Shabazz Napier: G 6-0 Jr..: 23 assists in past 3 games, 21 in previous 8
• Omar Calhoun G 6-5 Fr.: Double-digits in 7 of past 11
• DeAndre Daniels F 6-8 So.: Only Husky with double-figure rebs in a game (vs. UNH)
• Enosch Wolf C 7-1 Jr.: 4 pts, 5 rebs since earning starting job on Dec. 7
• Tyler Olander F 6-9 Jr: 5 pts, 6 rebs vs. Fordham
• Niels Giffey F 6-7 Jr.: 4.4 ppg
• R.J. Evans G 6-3 R-Sr.: 9 pts in 15 mins vs. Fordham
• Phil Nolan F 6-9 Fr.: 0 pts, 2 rebs in 15 mins vs. Fordham

STORY LINES

NEWTOWN VISIT: Kevin Ollie and the Huskies visited the Newtown Youth Academy Thursday afternoon to engage with the children affected by the Dec. 12 tragedy. On Friday, Ollie discussed the trip. “It’s the responsibility we have,” Ollie said. “This is our job. This is why God created us — to help other people in need and hopefully on the other end, somebody’s helping you.”

SIZING THE HUSKIES UP: For just the third time this season, UConn will be at a serious size disadvantage (Michigan State and N.C. State were the others). Washington center Aziz N’Diaye leads the Pac-12 with 4.1 offensive rebounds per game. The 7-footer also shoots 63.2 percent from the field, which ranks second in the league. Washington’s backcourt–6-foot-5 C.J. Wilcox and 6-foot-6 Scott Suggs–could make life difficult for Ryan Boatright and Shabazz Napier.

TIME ZONE DEFENSE: Washington has already played in Connecticut this season. The Huskies took part in the Hall of Fame Tipoff Classic (held at Mohegan Sun), and split games against Ohio State and Seton Hall. Since Lorenzo Romar took over in 2003, Washington is just 2-12 when playing in the Eastern Time Zone.

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Kevin Ollie is the next UConn men’s basketball coach. This time, the title is permanent.

UConn announced Saturday that Ollie, who accepted a seven-month contract on Sept. 13, had received a five-year extension through April, 2018. The deal is worth an excess of $7 million.

“We’re going to do things well, and we’re going to do them properly,” Ollie said. “I’m not coming here with a five-year contract. That’s what it says on the paper, but we’re recruiting for a lifetime here. We’re going to recruit like we’re going to be here for 20, 25 years.”

Under Ollie’s leadership, UConn has jumped out to a 9-2 record, including a season-opening upset over then-No. 14 Michigan State. Athletic director Warde Manuel needed just three and a half months to arrive at a decision.

“It was time,” Manuel said. “I always said to you guys when you asked me the questions about when I’m going to make the decision, I said ‘I’m going to talk to Kevin and he’s going to be the first to know.’ But I believe that, for the long-term, that he was going to be the right fit for our program. And at that moment I felt it, there’s no need to wait.”

In addition to UConn’s play on the court, its first semester classroom performance was vital to the extension.

“I think the timing of today was about seeing what the student-athletes did under his leadership academically,” Manuel said. “Obviously it was very, very important in general and very important for where the program is right now.”

UConn, which is banned from the 2013 postseason because of a low academic progress rating (APR), has made a strong push to improve academics since Manuel arrived in March. As a result, Ollie’s contract is heavy on APR language: In the event that UConn scores below the NCAA standard of 930 in a given year, Ollie will forfeit any postseason bonuses. Two consecutive years of a sub-930 score could result in suspension or termination of employment with just cause, according to the contract. Ollie can also receive bonuses for good academic performance.

“I have a belief in my student-athletes,” Ollie said. “We’re students first, and we’re going to get it done. We’re going to get the right kids in here, and I believe, with the support system we have, we can cultivate a great learning experience for our guys.”

UConn hosts Washington (8-4) tonight at the XL Center at 7:30.