While Michigan State is a tough way for UConn to kick off the Kevin Ollie Era, it won't get a whole lot easier for the Huskies this winter.

UConn's schedule features seven games against teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25 (Michigan State, NC State, Notre Dame, Louisville, Syracuse and Cincinnati twice) as well as three other teams also receiving votes (Marquette, Pittsburgh and Georgetown). Three of the teams (NC State, Louisville and Syracuse) are top-10 picks.

In addition to the rest of UConn's Big East slate, there are are also non-conference bouts with a pair of major-conference foes, Wake Forest (who should be better this season) and Washington (a potential NCAA tourney squad that can shoot). And don't sleep on whomever UConn faces in its second Paradise Jam game, either Iona (led by Momo Jones, one of the best teams in the MAAC) or Quinnipiac (which has visions of an NE-10 title this season). Sheesh, a loss to Tom Moore's Bobcats would be tough on Ollie.

No one said it's going to be easy for Ollie this season. Get the feeling he wouldn't want it any other way.

A couple of other things:

*** Here's a Jim Calhoun retrospective from this month's Connecticut Magazine, with the first part written by yours truly.

*** Also, a reminder that the National Prep Showcase, featuring many of the top prep players and teams in the nation (including several UConn targets), will be held at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven next week, Nov. 16-18.