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ACC Presidents approved a grant of media rights Monday that extends through 2026-27, according to an ESPN report. The agreement effectively locks up all teams for the next 14 years, preventing other power conferences from poaching.

If an ACC school chose to leave, its media rights, including revenue, for all home games would remain with the ACC regardless of league affiliation, according to ESPN’s report. Simply put, it would make very little financial sense for any ACC school to flee, which complicates UConn’s future.

It’s widely believed that UConn would have a higher long-term ceiling — in all sports — if it were in a different conference. And for quite some time, the ACC seemed the most likely destination. Back in November, an ACC vacancy opened when Maryland accepted a bid to the B1G. UConn and Louisville were considered the top potential replacements, and the ACC quickly chose Louisville to fill the opening.

Ever since, the common belief was this: UConn, seemingly the most complete sports school not included in the power conferences, must wait for another ACC vacancy and then make a hard sell.

But Monday’s grant of rights drastically alters the situation. The above scenario no longer exists, and it seems another escape route has been blocked.

Stuck in the AAC, UConn could draw interest from the B1G if the conference decides to expand (the league would choose from schools in the SEC, AAC, Conference USA or Mountain West because the ACC, Big 12 and Pac 12 have grants of rights). In that regard, Monday’s news could work in UConn’s favor. With the ACC out of the realignment picture, there are less teams “available” for the B1G and Big 12.

The B1G currently has 14 teams, but there’s been rampant speculation that the league will expand to 16. OhioState President E. Gordon Gee told The Columbus Dispatch in January that expansion talks were “ongoing.” Although it would make little geographical sense for UConn to join the B1G or Big 12, it’s certainly a better alternative to the AAC.

Of course, UConn could still wind up in the ACC if the conference seeks a 16^th basketball school. Thus far, ACC commissioner John Swofford has been adamant about sticking with 15 teams.

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A new logo has officially been unveiled at UConn, according to a report on the University’s website.

Here’s your new Husky dog:

New UConn logo (UConn Today)

Athletic director Warde Manuel on the new logo (per UConn Today): “Our student-athletes and coaches believe that the new Husky dog logo boldly reflects values such as pride, loyalty, strength, determination, and athleticism. They are all very excited to wear it into competition and to see it displayed prominently in our facilities. The new logo is a significant piece of the new visual identity of UConn athletics.”

Kevin Ollie: “I absolutely love this new Husky Dog logo. It looks fantastic on our uniforms and I know that our fans will love it as much as we do. Our new identity is a look that I know I will be proud to wear.”

Geno Auriemma: “This logo is everything that a Husky is supposed to be – powerful, aggressive, determined,” he says. “It is looking right through you and saying ‘Do not mess with me.’ This is a streamlined, fighting dog, and I cannot wait for it to be on our uniforms and court.”

As for me?

I don’t hate it.  I’m sure over time I’ll come to really like it. I don’t deal well with change, though, and I never thought there was anything wrong with the old Husky. Give us your thoughts below.

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Just four days after he was granted release from NC State, former McDonald’s All-American Rodney Purvis announced Friday he will transfer to UConn, according to a report by the Raleigh News & Observer.

Purvis, a 6-foot-3 guard who was named the 2012 Gatorade State Player of the Year in his native North Carolina, was a top-15 recruit out of Upper Room Christian Academy. After withdrawing commitment to Louisville in May 2011, he chose NC State over UConn that September.

“I really trust (UConn coach Kevin) Ollie,” Purvis said in the report. “They have a great tradition of producing NBA guards and that’s where I want to be someday.”

The rumors started swirling almost immediately after Purvis’ transfer was made public that the Huskies would again be in the mix. On his Twitter account Friday afternoon, Purvis posted: “Feeling Husky!!!!!!”

By rule, Purvis will have to sit out the 2013-14 season (barring a waiver). In 2012-13, he started 23 games but saw his minutes dwindle late in the season. Purvis averaged 8.3 points per game, 2.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists and shot 39 percent from three-point range.

There is no news to report on the Shabazz Napier front today.

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Rodney Purvis, a top 15 recruit in the class of 2012, is transferring from N.C. State, as reported by Joe Giglio of The Charlotte Observer.

UConn will likely be “in the mix” for Purvis, a source told CBSSports.com’s Jeff Goodman. The 6-foot-2 guard chose the Wolfpack over the Huskies in Sept. 2012. He had originally committed to Louisville, but withdrew his commitment in May 2011.

If he chooses UConn, Purvis will almost certainly sit out a year (barring some type of waiver). In that case, he won’t overlap with Shabazz Napier, who may jump to the NBA this year anyway. Ryan Boatright, a sophomore, would be a senior in Purvis’ first year of eligibility.

With Kevin Ollie as head coach, UConn has retained two commits (Kentan Facey and Terrence Samuel) and received a 2013 commitment from 6-foot-11 center Amida Brimah. Purvis, who averaged 8.3 points at N.C. State, would undoubtedly be Ollie’s most-celebrated addition.

UConn has not received a commitment from any player in the class of 2014.

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As reported last week by The Washington Post, UConn and Maryland will open next season against one another Nov. 8 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

“We couldn’t be more pleased to open our basketball season at Barclays Center against Maryland,” UConn Athletic Director Warde Manuel said in a release. “We have a large and passionate fan base in and around New York City that has demonstrated a consistently high level of support to our men’s basketball team. We look forward to this opportunity to play against one of the top programs in the nation at a world-class facility, while showcasing our team and the passion of Husky Nation.”

It’s a strong scheduling move for the Huskies, who will need to “schedule up” in the non-conference as they begin a stint in the watered-down old Big East (still in search of a name).

Maryland (25-12) will likely return four of five starters. Sophomore center Alex Len is widely projected as a lottery pick in this year’s NBA Draft.

UConn (20-10) may return all five starters. Shabazz Napier, a first team All-Big East pick, has not yet announced his plans for next season.

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Jim Calhoun’s contract as special assistant to the athletic director expired March 15, but the former UConn head coach “fully intends” to continue working within the athletic department.

After retiring on Sept. 13, Calhoun’s transitional agreement gave him two options by mid-March: Accept a final payment of $1 million or return to the university as coach emeritus at $300,000 per year for five years. It appears he’ll opt for the latter, although he said “nothing is finalized yet.”

In retirement, Calhoun has been working with athletic director Warde Manuel on scheduling matters.

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Some quick thoughts on the NCAA tournament as we prepare for Sweet Sixteen action Thursday:

*My original Final Four was Kansas, Louisville, Miami and New Mexico. I’d like a do-over, and I’d instead like to go with Michigan, Louisville, Indiana and Arizona.

Buzz Williams (AP)

*Best games of the Sweet Sixteen: Kansas/Michigan and Duke/Michigan State. Both feel like Elite Eight matchups, don’t they? I believe any of those four are capable of winning the national championship. Louisville is the favorite (as it should be), but something scares me about Peyton Siva and Russ Smith. In a fullcourt game, they’re awesome. If a team can handle their pressure, though, and limit fastbreak opportunities, the Cardinals sometimes struggle to score in the halfcourt. Siva is a streaky shooter and Russ Smith is, well…you know how he is.

*Best game of the tournament: The obvious choice here is Wichita State/Gonzaga, but I like Marquette/Butler. No, it wasn’t as well-played as the Shockers’ upset over the Zags. It was, however, a classic back-and-forth battle, a physical, dive-on-the-floor affair. You have to hand it to Buzz Williams: He’s been to three consecutive Sweet Sixteens, the longest current streak among Big East teams.

*Speaking of  Buzz, the UCLA job remains open and two top candidates — VCU’s Shaka Smart and Memphis’ Josh Pastner — have decided to stay put. That leaves a dwindling field of qualified candidates. Williams, who has averaged 24.2 wins in his five seasons at Marquette, must be near the top of the list.

Newsflash for UCLA:  Rick Pitino isn’t leaving Louisville, Tom Izzo isn’t leaving Michigan State or Billy Donovan isn’t leaving Florida. Why would they?

I’d imagine that UCLA will have to settle for one of two options (or three if you include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who reportedly expressed interest in the job Wednesday): A former NBA guy or a young college coach. Villanova’s Jay Wright and Washington’s Lorenzo Romar have been mentioned as a candidates.

Now, don’t freak out UConn fans, but I don’t see why UCLA wouldn’t contact Kevin Ollie. While unproven, Ollie looked like a star-in-the-making as a rookie at UConn. He grew up in Los Angeles, and given his NBA background, he’d probably kill the L.A. recruiting scene. He’d make perfect sense.

With that said, there’s no way Ollie leaves. He’s far too loyal to the program and the university. When he says things like “I’ll keep coming back to my office until the keys stop working,” you have to believe him.

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No longer the Big East, the league that UConn calls home will add Tulsa as a full member in 2014, according to an ESPN report.

The old Big East will also make East Carolina a member in all sports. When Tulsa arrives in 2014, nine of the 11 schools will have been former Conference USA members. Navy, the 12th school, is set to join in 2015.

Still in the process of choosing a name, the league is considering titles such as the “America” and the “Metro,” according to CBSSports.com’s Jerry Fowler.

On Tuesday, the soon-to-be-renamed league entered a long-term deal with CBS for basketball coverage. The contract extends through the 2019-20 season and includes up to 12 appearances per year, half of which will be conference games. The league previously agreed to a TV deal with ESPN that goes through 2019-20. It was reported to pay about $20 million per year. Financial terms of the CBS contract were not disclosed.