Mike Aresco held a conference call today to talk about the American Athletic Conference -- which, of course, unveiled its new logo this morning.

Among the highlights of what Aresco had to say:

--- Men's and women's basketball championship tourney sites should be announced in a week or two -- "or sooner". Wherever the men's tourney is held, it will run from Wednesday to Saturday, with the title game on the Saturday before Selection Sunday, as in years past. The men's tourney will be televised by ESPN.

--- The league plans on having a football championship game after Navy joins in 2015, and is "pretty far along with our own bowl," per the commish.

--- The league has an automatic NCAA tourney bid that didn't have to be obtained because, essentially, it never really lost it. In the eyes of the NCAA, the American is really just the Big East with a new name.

--- After Navy joins, Aresco doesn't envision any new members joining. He also doesn't anticipate any more departures anytime soon. "There does appear to be a period of stability now," he said.

--- In all, Aresco feels great about the new league -- sentiments echoed by Susan Herbst earlier in the week.

“It’s a great group I’m dealing with, it really is. There was tension in the old structure … there was always some difficulty because you had some schools that only played basketball. In our league now, everyone in our league plays basketball and football and Olympic sports, except Navy, which will only play football. But we’ll treat them as a full member, in terms of voting and everything else.”

Here's the new American Athletic Conference logo. Commissioner Mike Aresco is slated to have a conference call with media members at 11:30 a.m. More later:

Kinda reminds me of a cross between the AFC logo:











And the NFC logo. But maybe I'm nit-picking:

Lasan Kromah grew up in the Washington, D.C. area, earned a criminal justice degree in his four years at George Washington University and loves everything about the school.

He simply wanted a change of scenery.

Kromah will get that this upcoming season at UConn, where he will spend his final season of eligibility as a basketball player enrolled in the school’s Cognitive, Instruction and Learning Technologies master’s program.

“I wanted to explore somewhere else, in a different environment, and play basketball at a higher level,” said Kromah, a 6-foot-5 wing who was second on the Colonials in scoring last season at 10.1 points per game.

Kromah missed his entire sophomore season at GWU after tearing a ligament in his left foot during a preseason scrimmage with NC State. That means he has another year of playing eligibility left, even though he graduated from GWU. He visited Indiana and Xavier, but felt most comfortable in Storrs.

“I got a good vibe, I really got a sense of family,” he said. “I have a good relationship with Coach (Karl) Hobbs. It’s an opportunity for me to develop and play.”

Indeed, Hobbs recruited and coached Kromah his freshman season at GWU. Hobbs was let go as head coach following the 2010-11 season and joined UConn’s staff.

GWU assistant coach Pete Strickland has coached Kromah the past two seasons.

“He definitely has the ability to score the ball,” Strickland said. “He has a very instinctive ability to get to the rim. He doesn’t really fit a type – he’s not a ‘classic’ anything – he just has a unique ability to get to the rim. He’s got great length to him and a nice nose for the basket.”

Strickland pointed out that Kromah has “plus-four” length – meaning his wingspan is 6-9.

“Defensively, because of his length, he’s kind of disarming,” Strickland said. “He had nine steals in a game (on Dec. 28, 2011, against UAB) that set a school record. He just kind of unfolds. You think you have a pass … now you don’t.”

Kromah whose mother hails from Liberia) insisted he had no ill will towards second-year GWU coach Mike Lonrgan or his staff. He said he doesn't really know any of the current UConn players but met Ryan Boatright, Phil Nolan, Rodney Purvis and a few others during his visit a few weeks ago.

Just got back from the UConn baseball team's viewing of the NCAA Selection Show, where the Big East-champion Huskies learned they'll be playing Virginia Tech in Blacksburg in their opener. It's a great story, really, not only because UConn swept to a Big East Tournament title as the No. 8 seed, but because the team is truly representative of Connecticut: Many of its key players hail from the Nutmeg State. And a lot of those players hail from the New Haven area.

It's also ironic, of course, that the Huskies win the final true Big East tourney of any sport. The same program that is "stuck", so to speak, in the new American Athletic Conference while the "Catholic 7" keep the Big East name and the league's other darlings (Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, Louisville) all run off to different power conferences.

The baseball team's run sort of reminds me of the 1998 Providence baseball team, which learned earlier in the season that it would be cut after the season was over thanks to good ol' Title IX. All the Friars did was storm to a Big East title and NCAA tournament run. UConn's situation is different, of course, but has a similar feel.

It's also ironic that, while things look so good for UConn athletics right now (baseball team is Big East champs, women's hoops are national champs, men's hoops looking very strong for next year), the exact opposite can be said for Rutgers, whose athletics program is now a national embarrassment. Yet Rutgers gets to run off to the Big 10 a year from now, while UConn is stuck in the AAC. Doesn't seem right.

*** As for the men's hoops team, it appears the Huskies will indeed travel out to Seattle this season to face the University of Washington. That looked like it might be shelved for another year or so, since it's possible the two teams could meet in the 2K Sports Classic in November at Madison Square Garden. But it now appears the teams may simply "get it out of the way" this season, so to speak, and risk the chance of playing each other twice in the same season.

*** UConn president Susan Herbst talked about the AAC's "very good meeting" in Florida last week.

"Everybody's like-minded, everybody wants it to work very well, so it's very collegial," she said.

She doesn't think it'll be awkward to have Louisville and Rutgers in the league just for this one season.

"They're all professionals, the coaches and AD's," she said. "And Louisville's been a class act, heading out of the Big East. They've really been great to work with."

*** As for the new practice facility, Herbst said it could be at least partially operable by March or so, noting that some people on the construction site have said that this year's senior players (Shabazz Napier, Niels Giffey, Tyler Olander) "might be able to play a little bit at the very end. It might not be tricked out with all the equipment and everything, but the courts may be (ready to go)."

*** Herbst also noted that she had nothing really to do with the decision to allow Enosch Wolf back on the basketball team next year, only without a scholarship. The decision was a collaborative effort between Kevin Ollie, Warde Manuel and members of the student affairs committee.

"Obviously, Kevin knows the kids the best, he's closest to them, he understand the team," she said. "Warde was definitely involved, and people outside of athletics who work with the students. We'll see how it pans out."

Spoke (very) briefly to Lasan Kromah today. He said his transfer to UConn isn't official yet, but it's what he's hoping to do.

It seems Kromah's decision to transfer had as much to do with the fact that, under NCAA guidelines, he can do so without having to sit out a year as it does anything else. Obviously, he was recruited by current UConn assistant Karl Hobbs and played for Hobbs his first two years (though he sat out his sophomore season with an injury), so that figured to be an attraction.

GWU assistant coach Pete Strickland said that he hasn't been made aware of where Kromah is heading to, but hasn't spoken to him in a couple of days. (Colonials head coach Mike Lonergan is away at the A-10 meetings).

Here's what Strickland said about Kromah as a player:

"He definitely has the ability to score the ball. He has a very instinctive ability to get to the rim. He doesn't really fit a type -- he's not a 'classic' anything -- he just has a unique ability to get to the rim. He's got great length to him and a nice nose for the basket."

Strickland said that Kromah was considering transferring to UConn, Indiana and Xavier, among others. He noted that the 6-foot-5 Kromah has "plus-four" length. In other words, he's got a 6-9 wingspan.

"Defensively, because of his length, he's kind of disarming," Strickland said. "He had nine steals in a game (on Dec. 28, 2011, against UAB) that set a school record. He just kind of unfolds. You think you have a pass ... now you don't."

As for Kromah off the court: "He's an upbeat kid. I think he really likes Karl. I think that's probably a good fit."

*** Also, Rodney Purvis has been invited to attend the 2013 USA Basketball Men's U19 World Championship Team training camp. Here's the press release sent out by UConn:

Rodney Purvis (Raleigh, N.C.), who has transferred into the University of Connecticut men’s basketball program, is one of 24 players who have accepted invitations to attend the 2013 USA Basketball Men’s U19 World Championship Team training camp.

Purvis, a 6-4 guard, and the rest of the invitees will travel to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., to participate in the training camp, which begins on June 14. The final 12-man team will be selected during training camp and will train in Colorado until June 19, continue training in Washington D.C., through June 22, then leave for Prague, Czech Republic, to compete in the June 27-July 7 FIBA U19 World Championship.

Purvis, a former McDonald’s All-American, played his freshman season at North Carolina State in 2012-13, appearing in 35 games, starting 23. He averaged 8.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, shot 44.2 percent overall and 38.5 percent from three-point range. As per NCAA transfer rules, he must sit out the 2013-14 season, although he can practice with the Huskies. Beginning with the 2014-15 season, he will have three years of eligibility remaining for UConn.

Besides Purvis, the rest of the invited players include: Ryan Arcidiacono (Villanova University/Langhorne, Pa.); Bryce Alford (La Cueva H.S./Albuquerque, N.M.); Brandon Ashley (University of Arizona/San Francisco, Calif.); Robert Carter (Georgia Tech/Thomasville, Ga.); Damyean Dotson (University of Oregon/Houston, Texas); Kris Dunn (Providence College/Oakdale, Conn.); Javan Felix (University of Texas/New Orleans, La.); Michael Frazier (University of Florida/Tampa, Fla.); Marcus Georges-Hunt (Georgia Tech/College Park, Ga.); Shaq Goodwin (University of Memphis/Atlanta, Ga.); Aaron Gordon (Archbishop Mitty H.S./San Jose, Calif.); Jerami Grant (Syracuse University/Bowie, Md.); Montrezl Harrell (University of Louisville/Tarboro, N.C.); Rondaé Hollis-Jefferson (Chester H.S./Chester, Pa.); Jahlil Okafor (Whitney Young H.S./Chicago, Ill.); James Robinson (University of Pittsburgh/Mitchellville, Md.); Marcus Smart (Oklahoma State University/Flower Mound, Texas); Jarnell Stokes (University of Tennessee/Memphis, Tenn.); Rasheed Sulaimon (Duke University/Houston, Texas); Devin Thomas (Wake Forest University/Harrisburg, Pa.); Mike Tobey (University of Virginia/Monroe, N.Y.); Nigel Williams-Goss (Findlay Prep/Happy Valley, Ore.); and Justise Winslow (St. Johns H.S./Houston, Texas).

The USA U19 World Championship Team will be led by Florida head coach Billy Donovan, who will be assisted by Virginia’s Tony Bennett and VCU’s Shaka Smart. The player selections for the team will be made by the 2013-2016 USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team Committee, chaired by Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim.

Purvis is one of 16 of the invited players who has previous USA Basketball experience. He was a member of the 2012 U18 USA National Team that won the gold medal at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship and qualified the U.S. team for the FIBA U19 World Championship.

*** Finally, this from the American Athletic Conference:

In its first full meeting as the American Athletic Conference, the league made important strategic decisions and addressed many pertinent issues as its membership moves forward together in the reinvented Conference.

The Conference’s Presidents, Athletic Directors, Senior Woman Administrators, Head Football Coaches and Head Men’s and Women’s Basketball Coaches participated in the meetings.

“I am pleased and proud to be a part of a group that is dedicated, optimistic and effective,” said Commissioner Michael Aresco. “We have accomplished a great deal and are moving ahead with great confidence. We have a strong new name that has been well-received. Our soon-to-be-released new logo will support our new name. The American is going to be a prominent force in college athletics.”

Among the subjects addressed by the league’s Presidents and Athletic Directors:

Agreed on a financial distribution plan for the member institutions
Approved a new conference logo, which will be revealed in the near future
Further developed a branding, marketing and public relations strategy
Narrowed the search for men’s and women’s basketball postseason tournament venues
Discussed plans for a digital network
Met with television partners to discuss scheduling and promotional plans
Discussed The American’s position in the College Football Playoff
Agreed to pursue the creation of its own bowl game and maintain an outstanding Conference bowl lineup





























The Conference Presidents chose R. Gerald Turner, President of Southern Methodist University, as their new Chair. Susan Herbst, President of the University of Connecticut, will serve as Vice-Chair. Outgoing Chair Judy Genshaft, President of the University of South Florida, will remain on the Executive Committee, ensuring continuity in governance. Genshaft provided outstanding leadership in the transformation of the Conference.






“The American Athletic Conference has tremendous institutions that are committed to excellence in academics and athletics,” said Genshaft. “We are moving forward as a Conference with great resolve.”






“I am honored to help shape the future of the American Athletic Conference,” said Turner. “Everyone is excited about our extremely bright future and working together.”






"We are moving quickly on all fronts and I am so pleased with the progress,” said Herbst. “UConn is proud to be building this new league and thrilled to be part of all the excitement that comes with creating a bold new vision for student-athletes and our fans. Our exposure will be greater than ever, and we look forward to showing our championship ways to even broader audiences."






The American has television agreements with ESPN and CBS Sports, two of the most prestigious media organizations in sports. The contracts will provide unprecedented national coverage for the league. All football and men’s basketball conference games will be televised.

According to multiple reports, Lasan Kromah, a fifth-year senior-to-be, is transferring from George Washington University. He'll be able to play immediately.

Kromah missed his entire sophomore season due to a left foot sprain, hence the year of eligibility. He was second on the Colonials in scoring last year at 10.1 points per game.

Kromah would take the scholarship of Enosch Wolf, whose suspension is over and has been invited back to the team -- as a non-scholarship player.

Not sure if I like that. I guess you could say UConn is still giving Wolf the chance to play, and that he made his own bed by getting arrested in a domestic dispute with his girlfriend in February.

Still, it seems UConn is finding a way to open up a scholarship for a player at the expense of another player. 

Enosch Wolf's suspension is over and he can return to the Huskies team -- as a non-scholarship player. Interesting.

Here's UConn's press release:

Junior Enosch Wolf’s suspension from the University of Connecticut men’s basketball program has ended and he is eligible to return to the team for the 2013-14 season as a non-scholarship player.

Wolf, a 7-1 center from Goettingen, Germany, played in 22 games for the Huskies last season, starting three, and averaged 3.4 points and 3.4 rebounds, while shooting 59.0 percent, in 13.7 minutes per game. His highest-scoring games of the season were 12-point efforts against Wake Forest and North Carolina State.

Wolf had been suspended from the program on Feb. 11, 2013, and he did not participate in the final eight games of the season.

Wolf returned to his home in Germany following the end of the second semester and is expected to make his decision about coming back for his senior year within the next few weeks.  

Jim Calhoun was honored last night at the eighth annual Dick Vitale Gala, which raised money for the fight against pediatric cancer through the V Foundation for Cancer Research, along with Bobby Bowden and Bill Self. Among the celebrities in attendance were Billy Donovan, Jim Larranaga, Tom Izzo and Jay Wright. Here's the press release sent out by the V Foundation:

Celebrities from the world of sports and entertainment crowded the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota on Friday for the Eighth Annual Dick Vitale Gala to raise money in the fight against pediatric cancer through The V Foundation for Cancer Research. The event was hosted by ESPN’s Dan Shulman and honored three sports icons: former Florida State University and Hall of Fame football coach Bobby Bowden, former University of Connecticut and Hall of Fame basketball coach Jim Calhoun, and University of Kansas head men’s basketball coach Bill Self.


The sold out event hosted more than 800 people and featured over 70 celebrities. Attendees included the this year’s ACC championship coach University of Miami’s Jim Larranaga, back-to-back national championship coach University of Florida’s Billy Donovan, and former Virginia Tech head men’s basketball coach and current ESPN college basketball analyst Seth Greenberg. Other NCAA men’s basketball coaches in attendance included Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, NC State’s Mark Gottfried and Villanova’s Jay Wright. Attendees enjoyed an after party with live music from The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards.

Since the event’s inception in 2006, the Vitale Gala has raised more than $10 million for cancer research. This year, net proceeds of the event will benefit pediatric cancer research.

The Hamilton brothers have saved their parents a lot of money in college tuition over the past decade or so. Here's a video from the L.A. Times on the four -- Greg, Jordan, Isaac and new UConn commit Daniel:

According to the Bovada online sports betting website, UConn has 33-to-1 odds on winning the NCAA championships next April.

Here are the odds on some other major teams, sent to us by Jimmy Shapiro (with UConn AAC conference mates in bold):

2013-14 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship - Odds to Win     

Kentucky                              5/1

Kansas                                 11/2

Louisville                              17/2

Michigan State              12/1

Duke                            14/1

Arizona                                 15/1

North Carolina                    16/1

Florida                                  18/1

Ohio State                    20/1

Syracuse                              25/1

Connecticut                         33/1

Indiana                                  33/1

Memphis                              33/1

Michigan                              33/1

Colorado                              40/1

UCLA                            40/1

Baylor                           50/1

Creighton                      50/1

Georgetown                        50/1

Gonzaga                       50/1

Iowa                                       50/1

Marquette                            50/1

Missouri                               50/1

NC State                       50/1

New Mexico                        50/1

Oklahoma State            50/1

Pittsburgh                            50/1

St. Louis                              50/1

VCU                             50/1

Wisconsin                            50/1

Butler                                     66/1

Illinois                                    66/1

Minnesota                            66/1

St. John's                     66/1

Tennessee                           66/1

UNLV                            66/1

Villanova                       66/1

Virginia                                 66/1

Wichita State                 66/1

Florida State                 75/1

Notre Dame                  75/1

Alabama                               100/1

Arizona State                100/1

BYU                             100/1

California                             100/1

Cincinnati                             100/1

Iowa State                     100/1

Kansas State                100/1

Miami Florida                     100/1

Ole Miss                       100/1

Oregon                                 100/1

Purdue                          100/1

San Diego State            100/1

Stanford                       100/1

Texas                                    100/1

Vanderbilt                     100/1

West Virginia                      100/1

Arkansas                              150/1

Boise State                   150/1

Colorado State              150/1

Dayton                                  150/1

St. Mary's                     150/1

Temple                                  150/1

USC                             150/1

LSU                              150/1

Caught up with Rodney Purvis this morning at Gampel. He arrived in Storrs with his mother, Shanda McNair, on Sunday, and already feels at home.

"Based off when me and my mom were driving around the campus, once we first got here, I could tell it was definitely a great family-oriented place," he said.

Purvis, who started taking summer courses today, met with Jim Calhoun this morning in Calhoun's office.

“Just being in his presence is a great thing for me," Purvis said. "He couldn’t believe it was me at first. When he first saw my face, he was like, ‘Holy smokes!’ That was pretty cool."



Purvis very nearly committed to Calhoun after making an official visit to UConn in September, 2011. But the Raleigh, N.C. native wound up choosing his hometown school, NC State.

“I was kind of leaning towards UConn once I left here. But once I got back home, things kind of switched up a little bit. It’s just a learning experience for me, that’s how it is. God’s just making my steps for me as I go along. I feel like this is the place I deserve to be at.”

At the time, rumors were rampant that Calhoun might be retiring. But Purvis said Calhoun's potential departure played no role in his decision 20 months ago.

“This is a great place, no matter what. Coach Calhoun built this, I knew for a fact he’d still be around. I knew Coach Ollie would be next in line. Coaching didn’t really have anything to do with it. It was just me being young-minded, me being a kid, a 17-, 18-year-old kid, and not wanting to leave my mama, that’s it.”

Purvis's freshman year at NC State didn't quite pan out the way he envisioned.

“There were a lot of distractions, with me being from Raleigh, and just trying my best to adapt to the offense, things like that, that was really it," he said.

As a transfer, he must sit out this season. But he'll be the consummate teammate.

“(I'll) just bring a lot of energy. Basketball’s a lot of fun, just being around guys who love the game, sharing the same passion as these guys, because that’s the type of university that Connecticut is. I just can’t wait to get in the gym with my teammates.”

“Coach Ollie told me he can see me playing 1, 2 and 3. I’m just going to do whatever I can to help the team win. I just can’t wait until it’s my turn to play. And while I can’t play, I’m going to cheer my teammates on and be the best cheerleader for the team."

*** Also ran into Andre Drummond, who will be on campus for the next couple of months to work on finishing his degree. His first class, a health class, began today, and he'll be taking communications classes starting in June's summer class period. He also hopes to take online courses during the season.

Here's the funny thing: if and when Drummond does get his degree, UConn won't benefit from it from an APR standpoint. Why? Because he was a walk-on his freshman year with the Huskies.

Drummond was very happy with his rookie season, despite missing 22 games late in the year due to a fractured tailbone.

“My main goal was to come in, play as hard as I can, let things come to me and not try to outdo myself," he said. "When my time came, I did what I needed to do, played with a lot of effort and energy. That’s what Detroit loves.”

Drummond returned to play the final 11 games of the season with the Pistons and reports no ill effects from the injury.

“Everything’s great. It was just a freak accident.”

*** We can also report that Tony Robertson has recently earned his degree. And Taliek Brown is close, too. Neither will help UConn's APR either, however, since they left school so long ago.

*** Oh, and don't completely discount the possibility of UConn still playing at Washington this season.

Apparently, Daniel Hamilton really can see himself at UConn.

The 6-foot-6 Class of 2014 wing out of Los Angeles verbally committed to the Huskies late Friday night. He's Kevin Ollie's first 2014 commit and will join NC State transfer Rodney Purvis in what's shaping up to be a very talented team.

"It's an up-and-coming program," Hamilton told ESPN.com. "Me and Coach (Kevin) Ollie have a great relationship. I knew him before he got the job there. It's an opportunity for me to come in and step in and do some damage."

After an official visit to UConn last weekend, Hamilton told SNY.tv, "I can see myself at UConn."

Hamilton is the younger brother of Denver Nugget Jordan Hamilton, as well as Isaac Hamilton, who plays at UTEP. He's ranked No. 28 by rivals.com for the Class of 2014.

Some highlights of Hamilton in action for Don Bosco Prep:

Although Omar Calhoun averaged 11.1 points per game and earned Big East all-rookie team recognition this past season, his father says fans never truly got to see the “real Omar.”

That’s because Calhoun was bothered by hip soreness throughout his freshman campaign. Over the past six weeks, Calhoun had surgeryon both of his hips (on March 26 for his left hip and about a month later on his right hip) that will keep him sidelined for about 3-4 months.

The surgery was performed by UConn team physician Dr. Michael Joyce.

“He played through it,” Omar Calhoun, Sr., said of his sone. “He had a little pain and discomfort, and he played through it and still had a solid freshman year. We’ve got a lot of faith in Dr. Joyce and the UConn training staff. They’re saying he will be even better than he was (before the surgery).”

Calhoun was treated for femoral acetabular impingement (FAI), which is a fairly common condition in athletes. The procedure essentially shaves bone to alleviate discomfort and potentially avoid future problems.

Calhoun, Sr. said his son’s struggles with his hip issues manifested themselves most with his ballhandling.

“He struggled with his handle, that’s where you saw the difference the most,” he said. “He was in pain. To have good handle, you’ve got to get down low. He was in pain at times doing that. He’s a lot more explosiveness (than what he showed).”

Calhoun was also hampered by a sprained wrist, causing him to miss UConn’s season finale March 9 against Providence, but that is now 100 percent.

Calhoun will be on crutches for the next 3-4 weeks, his father said. He’ll stay at UConn to begin summer courses on Monday and rehab with the Huskies’ training staff, and should be ready to resume basketball activities by mid-August.

And it looks like Calhoun will have company on campus from a guy he never got a chance to play with.
Andre Drummond is planning on returning to UConn this summer to continue working on his degree, he told a Detroit sports talk radio station on Wednesday.

Omar Calhoun recently had two hip surgeries for treatment of femoral acetabular impingement (FAI) -- which basically shaves bone to alleviate discomfort and potentially avoid future problems -- a condition that is common with athletes, according to UConn.

The news was originally reported by the Connecticut Post.

Calhoun had the procedure on his left hip at the end of March and on his right hip at the end of April. Recovery time is 3-4 months.

Daniel Hamilton, the 6-foot-6, Class of 2014 shooting guard out of Los Angeles, enjoyed his official visit to UConn this weekend. (Don't they always?).

"I can see myself at UConn," he told SNY.tv. "Me and Coach (Kevin) Ollie got along real well. I've known him since before he was the coach at UConn."

Also interesting to note that Syracuse and Villanova will apparently be playing a 1-1-1 series with Syracuse over the next three seasons. They'll play next year in the Carrier Dome, the following season in Philly, then in 2015-16, they'll meet at Madison Square Garden.

The 'Cuse will also be playing St. John's next season. And if you're expecting Syracuse to start up any kind of series with UConn over the next few years, here's some advice -- don't. Not gonna happen.