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Jeremy Lamb isn’t normally cracking jokes and shooting the breeze with the media after games.

As you’d expect, he’s pretty low-key, pretty straight-to-the-point during interviews.

After Sunday’s 50-48 loss to Notre Dame, Lamb was flat-out dejected. He didn’t look up from the ground when he spoke, and he didn’t beat around the bush in his answers, either.

Shabazz Napier (AP)

“It wasn’t their defense,” he said.  “We were horrible…horrible horrible.”

Indeed, UConn’s zone offense was pretty tough to watch. And the Huskies got beat to loose balls and offensive boards. Sprinkle in a few Notre Dame 3′s and you’ve got one of the most disheartening losses of the year.

Here’s the game story and the rundown of the ever-developing Ryan Boatright situation (in case you missed it, Tanesha Boatright’s attorney issued a statement to the NCAA, which promptly fired back a response).

A few quotes from The Boat and then we’ll get to the game:

* “It’s finally over, we can finally put it behind us. You don’t have to worry about me getting pulled out again.”

* “They shut the whole thing down….they have no more questions or anything.”

* “I don’t know what’s going on, whatever my mom and her lawyer have going on, that’s with them. I’m just happy to be back playing.”

And now for some Jim Calhoun quotes on the 50-48 instant classic…

* Calhoun on why Lamb attempted only nine shots (he hit six of them): “I know this sounds like a revelation, but the other team does know who he is. When he comes off the pick and roll, he’s doubled.”

* Calhoun on UConn’s energy: “The crowd, god bless ‘em, they tried to do the best they could to get the team awake, and I played as low-key as I could with them today, tried some different things, a possession team you can’t give two and three possessions because they’re going to grind you down…I think that comes from mental toughness.”

* This one pretty much sums it up:  “This is one of the few games where I look down at the sheet and say ‘I don’t know who to praise.’  Collectively, their team beat our team.”

*UConn wasn’t good by any means, but Notre Dame’s tempo — milking the shot clock, turning it into a halfcourt game — has had an effect on other teams, too. The Irish held Seton Hall to 42 points on Jan. 25 and limited high-flying Syracuse to 23 first-half points in a 67-58 stunner a week ago.

* I’ve thrown this stat around a lot this year, but now that UConn is actually in the midst of a three-game losing streak, it’s relevant. Under Calhoun, only two UConn teams — 1991 and 1992 — have suffered three-game skids and still made the NCAA tourney. This team is starting to draw comparisons to the 2010 squad (talented, but never put it together and missed the Big Dance). I won’t go that far yet. As my dad, the perpetual UConn optimist told me, “all teams have bad stretches.”

I still believe these Huskies are fully capable of making a deep NCAA run. These next three games — Georgetown, Seton Hall and Louisville — are absolutely crucial. UConn needs to snap out of this slump soon.

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You’re wrong! No, you’re wrong! Nuh uh, you’re wrong!

The NCAA and Tanesha Boatright’s lawyer, Scott Tompsett, have a nice little back-and-forth going. Here’s the statement released by the NCAA in response to Tompsett’s statement, which you can a few blog posts back:

Scott Tompsett’s allegations are not accurate. The NCAA statement regarding Ryan Boatright is factual and in response to numerous public misstatements and the resulting inaccurate reporting by some media. The NCAA acted appropriately to ensure the misleading accounts did not continue. The NCAA did not violate the student-athlete or family’s privacy in anyway, nor did it imply that the benefits were used to influence Ryan Boatright to attend the University of Connecticut.

In fact, both UCONN and Mr. Boatright should be commended for their cooperation throughout the process to gather information. The school and student-athlete’s dedication to uncover the facts should be viewed as a positive example, not somehow construed negatively.  Had Ms. Boatright cooperated fully from the beginning, this matter could have been settled months ago.

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This list is sure to need at least one more update this afternoon, but for now, here’s a rundown of links with Hearst Connecticut Media Group’s coverage of the Ryan Boatright saga:

* Scott Tompsett, the attorney representing Tanesha Boatright is threatening legal action against the NCAA after the organization took the rare step Saturday of publicly disclosing details of the investigation.

* Kevin Duffy takes a close look at the long, twisting — and sometimes comical — path that brought Boatright to UConn and saw him miss two stretches of games before finally being reinstated.

* Chris Elsberry writes the NCAA should be put behind bars for its handling of the situation.

* Here’s the full text of Tompsett’s statement.

* Here’s a statement released earlier today by UConn President Susan Herbst.

* In case you’re having trouble finding it all these posts, Kevin and Chris are live-blogging the game from Hartford.

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Scott Tompsett, the attorney representing Tanesha Boatright, emailed this statement prior to the beginning of UConn’s game against Notre Dame:

I represent Tanesha Boatright. The statement below is in response to the statement released late yesterday by the NCAA. Statement In Response to NCAA’s Statement About Ryan and Tanesha Boatright I am astounded that the NCAA released confidential information about Ryan’s case. Ryan and his mother Tanesha cooperated fully with the NCAA with the clear understanding that the information they provided would be kept confidential and would not be released to the public. The NCAA has violated the Boatrights’ privacy by releasing their personal information. Moreover, the NCAA’s statement contains false and misleading information.

For example, the statement implies that the benefits in question were provided to influence Ryan’s decision either to attend UConn or chose an agent, if and when he goes pro. That is false and the NCAA knows it.

In fact, the two individuals who provided the benefits are friends of the Boatrights. They were simply helping the family with no expectation of repayment or reciprocation. And there’s not a shred of evidence that they influenced Ryan’s decision to attend UConn or that they intend to represent Ryan if he ever goes pro. The public also should know that the NCAA never told Tanesha and Ryan who made the accusations about them or told them the substance of the accusations so they could defend themselves. Further, contrary to the NCAA’s statement, neither Tanesha nor Ryan received a car from anyone. Until the NCAA released its statement, the Boatrights considered this matter closed. But the NCAA’s improper release of private and false information has caused the Boatrights to consider their legal options.

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UConn president Susan Herbst released the following statement on Ryan Boatright, who’s set to return to the UConn lineup today against Notre Dame after being reinstated yesterday afternoon by the NCAA:

We are pleased that Ryan is now eligible to play basketball, and thank his family, friends, fellow students, faculty, coaches and everyone who has supported him and the university over the last several months.

This young man has shown tremendous patience and poise all the while in the national spotlight. This is a strength of character that is seldom demanded of college freshmen and I am extraordinarily proud of him, our team and our coaching staff.

As far as the process that took place over the last few months, the University does have ideas about how it might be improved and we would like continue this dialogue.

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From the NCAA:

University of Connecticut men’s basketball student-athlete Ryan Boatright has been cleared to compete immediately, the NCAA announced today.

This situation involves many of the specific concerns expressed by NCAA membership regarding improper third party influence over student-athletes and their families. Specifically, it included more than $8,000 in cash and other impermissible benefits, including a car. These benefits – which are not allowed because they are inconsistent with the principles and values embraced by the NCAA membership – were provided to Mr. Boatright and his mother both before and while he was at UCONN. These impermissible benefits were provided by at least two individuals linked to nonscholastic basketball and professional sports.

Mr. Boatright was granted limited immunity by the NCAA Committee on Infractions, a committee comprised of NCAA members. The limited immunity allowed him to avoid missing a significant number of games and repaying the impermissible benefits. It was granted in an effort to gather information regarding third party involvement. Limited immunity is an important yet selectively used tool for the enforcement staff to gather information that would not otherwise be available.

• Early October 2011: UCONN and the NCAA enforcement staff began interviewing individuals and collecting documentation based on numerous credible allegations indicating that several impermissible benefits had been provided to the student-athlete and his mother. The source of the allegations had also provided a significant amount of documentation to substantiate the claims.

• Early November 2011: The NCAA enforcement staff agreed with UCONN that the student-athlete should not be allowed to compete based on the evidence collected as of that date. While all the relevant information requested from his mother had not been received, the NCAA agreed with UCONN that it was in the best interests of the student-athlete to go ahead and process the known violations while waiting for the other requested records.

• November 18, 2011: Mr. Boatright was reinstated by the NCAA with the condition of a six game withholding and repayment of $4,500 in impermissible benefits to charity. UCONN had declared Mr. Boatright ineligible for preferential treatment violations from two different individuals. The impermissible benefits included travel expenses for his mother during four official visits to NCAA schools and approximately $1,200. In addition, Mr. Boatright was provided travel expenses, hotel, meals and training expenses during a two-night trip to California.

• November 26, 2012: Mr. Boatright returns to competition.

• January 11, 2012: Mr. Boatright’s mother, through her attorney, provided additional requested documents.

• January 13, 2012: After a review of those records, the NCAA enforcement staff and UCONN confirmed that an inappropriate source had been making car payments on behalf of Mr. Boatright’s mother as had been originally reported by the source. At this time, UCONN decided to withhold him from competition.

• January 16, 2012: After considering all of the facts and circumstances known at that time, including the fact that the student-athlete was likely the least culpable actor, the enforcement staff extended an offer of immunity to the student-athlete conditioned on full, complete and truthful cooperation by the student-athlete and his mother in pursuing the remaining allegations.

• January 17 and 19, 2012: To clarify some remaining concerns, Mr. Boatright and his mother were re-interviewed by the NCAA enforcement staff and UCONN representatives.

• January 27, 2012, 7 p.m.: Both the student-athlete and his mother sent the enforcement staff additional records.

• January 28, 2012 at 2 p.m.: After reviewing the additional records, the enforcement staff notified the university that the NCAA staff believed that the student-athlete and his mother had fulfilled the conditions of immunity and therefore, the student-athlete was again eligible for competition.

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Ryan Boatright’s second NCAA review won’t result in a suspension.

A source told Hearst Connecticut Saturday afternoon that the freshman guard had been reinstated with no penalty and will be eligible to play Sunday against Notre Dame.

The UConn athletic department later confirmed the report.

Boatright was under joint review by the NCAA and UConn for the second time this season. The first investigation, which was announced Nov. 2 and concluded on Nov. 18, resulted in a six-game penalty for accepting a plane ticket from AAU coach Reggie Rose.

That information was provided by an ex-boyfriend of Boatright’s mother. The same man contacted the NCAA and sparked the second investigation, a source said.

UConn announced the second review on Jan. 13, the night before the Huskies took on Notre Dame about 120 miles outside Boatright’s hometown of Aurora, Ill.

Fifteen days and two UConn losses later, a resolution was finally reached. This time, the NCAA concluded Boatright did nothing wrong.

“He’s been frustrated, understandably,” one source told Hearst Connecticut Saturday morning. “He’s just waiting for them to realize these are false accusations.”

Boatright is averaging 10.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. With him, UConn is 8-2. In the nine games he missed, the Huskies went 6-3.