Big East Expansion Approved

The Big East presidents have approved expansion, agreeing that the league would be better served by increasing the number of Bowl Subdivision football-playing members to 10. They unanimously approved the process to evaluate the terms and conditions for potential expansion candidates.

"Today, our Board of Directors affirmed a set of key strategic initiatives, including expansion, designed to enhance membership stability and maximize our value," stated Commissioner John Marinatto.

Marinatto said the conference will refrain from commenting further on the expansion process.

***Jim Calhoun won't be available to the media before practice today as both he and George Blaney were attending the funeral of an old friend. Calhoun apparently is a pall bearer at the funeral. He is expected to be at the Huskies' 4:30 p.m. practice.

We'll talk with assistant coach Andre LaFleur prior to practice.

***Some UConn-AIC notes:

Calhoun graduated from AIC in 1968. He was a two-time All-New England player for the Yellow Jackets and, in fact, twice played against UConn (scoring nine points on Dec. 4, 1963 and a team-high 27 on Dec. 1, 1964)

UConn is 20-0 all-time against AIC in the regular season, and Calhoun is 6-2 (all while at Northeastern). The only three times the Huskies have played AIC under Calhoun have been exhibition games. UConn defeated the Yellow Jackets, 75-59, on Nov. 1, 2006 at Gampel Pavilion – but trailed 36-35 at halftime! In 2008, the Huskies rolled to an 83-58 rout. On Nov. 4, 2009, UConn rolled to a 106-67 whitewash behind 28 points and 12 assists from Kemba Walker, 25 points from Stanley Robinson, 17 from Gavin Edwards and 16 points and 16 rebounds from Alex Oriakhi

UConn is 39-6 in exhibition games under Calhoun, including 32 wins in a row dating back to a loss to Marathon Oil on Nov. 21, 1993 at Gampel.

More to come ...