Another crazy week in college basketball -- which makes filling out a Top 25 ballot fun, from where I'm sitting.

While the top nine teams in last week's AP poll all held serve, there was turmoil among the next 16 (actually 17) teams. The No.'s 10, 11, 13 (twice), 14 (twice), 15, 17, 18 (twice), 19, 20 (twice), 22 (twice) and 25 teams all lost.

With that in mind, we've got no less than six new teams in this week's rankings -- and it probably could have been more. There are about a dozen other teams that could easily be ranked, and really there's not much if anything separating a batch of about 20-25 teams overall.

So, hello Syracuse, Purdue (yeah, I was late to the party, but I'm here), Providence, Xavier, Oregon and George Washington. Goodbye California, Wichita State, Indiana, LSU, Miami and Notre Dame.

UConn? Yes, it was one of those two-loss teams this past week. But the losses to Syracuse and Gonzaga, by a combined six points, on a neutral court isn't quite enough to jettison the Huskies from my Top 25. Especially since I had them ranked 13th last week. No doubt, UConn left the Bahamas with plenty of questions. But there is a lot of talent on this team, and I believe the Huskies will figure it all out.

1. Maryland
2. Kentucky
3. Michigan State
4. Kansas
5. North Carolina
6. Virginia
7. Iowa State
8. Oklahoma
9. Duke
10. Villanova
11. Purdue
12. Syracuse
13. Gonzaga
14. Xavier
15. Providence
16. Arizona
17. Cincinnati
18. SMU
19. Utah
20. Vanderbilt
21. Texas A&M
22. UConn
23. Oregon
24. Butler
25. George Washington

UConn and Syracuse both held their ends of the bargain, and we end up with the best Thanksgiving Day rivalry game of all when the Huskies and Orange meet at 3:30 p.m. in a Battle 4 Atlantis semifinal game.

On ESPN!

Only three current UConn players (Omar Calhoun, Amida Brimah and Phil Nolan) have experienced the Husky-Orange rivalry first-hand. But the ones who haven't are looking forward to it.

Rodney Purvis had the best quote:

"It's definitely a huge game. I remember being in high school when the went into, like, five or six overtimes. My mom let me stay up and watch that game. I'm happy to be a part of this game tomorrow. It should be a really good game."

As for Jim Boeheim? Well, I understand a coach might not want to talk about an opponent he doesn't even know he's facing yet, so he wouldn't discuss UConn after his Wednesday afternoon win over Charlotte. Still, I thought he might at least comment on how special it might be to meet up with the Huskies again. Instead, I got a "you guys" from him:



So, apparently, "us guys" -- the media -- are the only ones who wanted to see this game. Not the fans. Not ESPN. Not anyone here at the tournament. Just "us guys."

Oh, and as for Wednesday's win over Michigan? Impressive. Very impressive.

Here's Sam Cassell, Jr. talking about his breakout game.

Some articles and video from the Bahamas, where UConn is set to begin play in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament Wednesday night against Michigan. Gotta say I'm impressed by the amount of UConn fans here at Atlantis. Husky fans haven't always traveled well to early-season tournaments or even the NCAA tourney, but I think they're only outnumbered by Syracuse fans here. Of course, Syracuse fans tend to stick out a little more (because they wear orange ... that wasn't meant to be a joke!).

And it's always good to see R.J. Evans, who's here as a grad assistant for Shaka Smart at Texas.



Shaka Smart had some good things to say about Terry Larrier (who is here with the team. Transfers sitting out a year are traveling these days. Apparently, Duke started the trend):



Kevin Ollie on Michigan:



And John Beilein on UConn:

Here's the release sent out by AXS TV on Tuesday afternoon:

AXS TV’s exclusive primetime coverage of the 2015 Battle 4 Atlantis Men’s College Basketball
Tournament, which features University of Michigan vs. University of Connecticut Nov. 25 at
9:30 p.m. ET, will now be available to Comcast subscribers in Connecticut on channel 90, 190 or
192.

AXS TV’s channel feed will be available temporarily on Comcast starting Wednesday, Nov. 25 to
Friday, Nov. 27 encompassing the entire tournament. AXS TV’s Battle 4 Atlantis coverage
includes two games each night at 7 p.m. ET and 9:30 p.m. ET with commentary by Kenny Rice,
Seth Davis and Tom Walsh.

The full tournament schedule and channel listings in the Hartford-New Haven area are as
follows:

Wednesday, Nov. 25

Game 3: Texas A&M vs. University of Texas live at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
Game 4: University of Michigan vs. University of Connecticut live at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT

Thursday, Nov. 26

Game 7 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
Game 8 at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m.PT

Friday, Nov. 27

Game 11 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
Game 12 at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT

More information about the 2015 Battle 4 Atlantis Men’s College Basketball Tournament can be
found here: www.battle4atlantis.com

AXS TV channel listings in Connecticut are as follows, for zip code-specific listings please go to
axs.tv/subscribe:

 Comcast Ch. 90, 190, or 192
 DirecTV Ch. 340
 DISH Ch. 167
 Thames Valley Communications Ch. 702
 Frontier FiOS Ch. 1106

Lots of turmoil among the top 25 this week, which is how we like. Makes picking a new ballot each Sunday night/Monday morning all the more challenging ... and enjoyable.

We stick with Maryland at No. 1, even though the Terps had to rally to beat Rider, at home, and also nearly lost to 1-3 Georgetown (though the Hoyas are still pretty good). We welcome Miami and bid farewell to Michigan. Really wanted to get Tulsa and George Washington in there, after their respective wins over Wichita State and Virginia. But both came on their respective home floors, which makes so much of a difference. It's why I'm not even punishing North Carolina all that much for losing to Northern Iowa. There really aren't too many easy "true" road games in college basketball.

Plus, I wasn't quite comfortable having four American Conference teams in my Top 25. Yet. But that could happen. The league looks pretty strong at the top, with UConn, SMU, Cincinnati and Tulsa all fielding very good teams. Memphis, Temple and Houston remain to be seen. After that? BIG drop-off.

1. Maryland
2. Kentucky
3. Michigan State
4. Kansas
5. North Carolina
6. Virginia
7. Iowa State
8. Oklahoma
9. Duke
10. Gonzaga
11. Arizona
12. California
13. UConn
14. Villanova
15. Wichita State
16. Indiana
17. LSU
18. SMU
19. Cincinnati
20. Miami
21. Utah
22. Notre Dame
23. Vanderbilt
24. Texas A&M
25. Butler

With so much depth and talent, UConn will have different players stepping up each night. Likewise, it's inevitable some good players will have stretches where they don't put up big numbers. Like Jalen Adams. Until Saturday.

Adams broke out with easily his best game as a collegian, with 14 points, six assists, two steals and just one turnover, in the Huskies' easy win over Furman. He wasn't the only star, but it was a good sign to see the freshman break out just as UConn embarks on its trip to the Bahamas.

Also, here's a little update on New Haven's Tremont Waters, who is courting suitors like Virginia, Stanford and Villanova while still being recruited by UConn, Providence, North Carolina and Duke.

And, finally ...

Hail Atlantis!!!

Rodney Purvis worked very hard on his jump shot over the off-season, and it showed on Tuesday night in UConn's 85-66 dismantling of New Hampshire.

Here's the press release from AXS TV regarding TV coverage of the Battle 4 Atlantis: 

For the fifth consecutive year, AXS TV exclusively broadcasts primetime games from the 2015 Battle 4 Atlantis Men’s College Basketball Tournament. Held in the Bahamas, the noted tournament takes place during Thanksgiving week, Nov. 25 to Nov. 27. AXS TV’s regional channel listings and tournament broadcast schedule are below.

AXS TV’s primetime coverage tips off each night at 7pE and 9:30pE, starting Nov. 25 with vs. Texas A&M vs. University of Texas at Austin followed byUniversity of Michigan vs. University of Connecticut with commentators Kenny Rice, Seth Davis and Tom Walsh calling the action. The tournament also includes Gonzaga University, University of Washington, University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Syracuse University.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE – AXS TV’s tournament broadcast schedule is as follows (time and schedule subject to change):

Wednesday, Nov. 25
Game 3: Texas A&M vs. University of Texas live at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
Game 4: University of Michigan vs. University of Connecticut live at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT

Thursday, Nov. 26
Game 7 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
Game 8 at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m.PT

Friday, Nov. 27
Game 11 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
Game 12 at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT

More information about the 2015 Battle 4 Atlantis Men’s College Basketball Tournament can be found here: www.battle4atlantis.com

AXS TV channel listings in the Hartford-New Haven area are as follows, for zip code-specific listings please go to axs.tv/subscribe:

· DirecTV Ch. 340
· DISH Ch. 167
· Thames Valley Communications Ch. 702
· Frontier FiOS Ch. 1106

The top 25 teams in The Associated Press' college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Nov. 15, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and previous ranking:<

Record Pts Prv

1. North Carolina (37) 2-0 1,571 1

2. Kentucky (8) 2-0 1,520 2

3. Maryland (14) 1-0 1,496 3

4. Kansas (5) 1-0 1,415 4

5. Duke 2-0 1,348 5

6. Virginia (1) 1-0 1,341 6

7. Iowa St. 1-0 1,189 7

8. Oklahoma 0-0 1,095 8

9. Wichita St. 1-0 1,043 10

10. Gonzaga 0-0 1,040 9

11. Villanova 1-0 1,013 11

12. Arizona 1-0 913 12

13. Michigan St. 1-0 837 13

14. Indiana 1-0 763 15

15. California 1-0 761 14

16. Utah 1-0 514 16

17. Vanderbilt 1-0 462 18

18. Notre Dame 1-0 414 19

19. UConn 1-0 373 20

20. Baylor 1-0 368 22

21. Purdue 2-0 291 23

22. Butler 1-0 284 24

23. LSU 1-0 283 21

24. Michigan 1-0 141 25

25. Oregon 1-0 121 _

Others receiving votes: SMU 105, Texas A&M 83, West Virginia 78, Cincinnati 72, Louisville 39, Miami 37, Wisconsin 25, Providence 14, Dayton 12, Florida St. 10, Xavier 10, Iowa 8, Valparaiso 8, Texas 6, Rhode Island 5, BYU 4, W. Illinois 4, Oklahoma St. 2, Old Dominion 2, UC Irvine 2, Colorado St. 1, Washington 1, Yale 1.

Ballots Online: http://collegebasketball.ap.org/poll

Pretty easy Top 25 ballot this week. Wisconsin's out, Michigan's in. Not sure why I had the Badgers ranked to begin with, to be honest.

Everyone else stays the same. As I've already mentioned, I'm very impressed with UConn and believe I'll be moving them up the rankings within a few weeks. But don't sleep on Cincinnati, either. The Bearcats are VERY good this year, with their usual steadfast defense and even a little scoring ability, to boot.

I say Cincy gives UConn (and possibly SMU) a good run at the AAC title this season.


1. Maryland
2. North Carolina
3. Kansas
4. Virginia
5. Kentucky
6. Iowa State
7. Oklahoma
8. Duke
9. Gonzaga
10. Arizona
11. Wichita State
12. California
13. UConn
14. Villanova
15. Michigan State
16. Indiana
17. Utah
18. LSU
19. SMU
20. Cincinnati
21. Butler
22. Michigan
23. Notre Dame
24. Vanderbilt
25. Texas A&M

Where do we even start? This is a very talented team. Sure, it's Maine, but we've seen UConn teams of the past -- even good ones -- slog through early-season cupcake games with little energy or passion.

That doesn't appear to be in this team's DNA.

More later, but here's some of what Shonn Miller (double-double, 17 points, 10 rebouns) and Amida Brimah (18 points, nine blocks, one off the school record held by Hasheem Thabeet, Emeka Okafor and Donyell Marshall) had to say afterwards:

All four of UConn's Class of 2016 commits have signed and delivered their national letters-of-intent. Here's the press release sent out by UConn:

STORRS, Conn. --- UConn men’s basketball coach Kevin Ollie has announced that the program has received signed National Letters Of Intent from four student-athletes who will enroll as fulltime students in the fall of 2016.

Mamadou Diarra

Guard Alterique Gilbert (Lithonia, Ga.), power forwards Mamadou Diarra (Queens, N.Y.) and Juwan Durham (Tampa, Fla.) and small forward Vance Jackson (Altadena, Calif.) make up what is considered by most recruiting services as one of the top recruiting classes in the country. It is the first time UConn has had a recruiting class including four players ranked in the Top 100 since the incoming freshman class of 2006-07. 

“I think each of these student-athletes brings something different to the program, in terms of their basketball skills,” UConn coach Kevin Ollie said. “They don’t overlap each other, which I like in my classes. I don’t want two players just alike, because that’s not fair to the players or the program. We really look at versatility, players who can do a number of things on the court.”

Gilbert, a 5-11 point guard out of Miller Grover High School, is rated among the top 30 players nationally by most recruiting services. An exceptional athlete known for his tremendous speed, quickness, and strength, he averaged 18.5 points, 6.2 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.3 steals as a junior.

“Alterique can play either guard position,” Ollie said. “He is a prolific scorer, but also a great facilitator. He’s fast, and we like all our guards to have some tricks and he comes with a boatload of tricks. He’s hard to guard and I think he’ll be a great competitor, a great teammate and a great leader for us.”

Jackson, a 6-8 forward with a deadly longrange shot, was named the 2015 Long Beach Press-Telegram Dream Team Player of the Year after averaging 19.4 points and 7.1 rebounds for St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.). As a sophomore, he was teammates with current UConn sophomore Daniel Hamilton on a Bosco team that won the state championship. Jackson, rated a top 50 player, will play his senior season at Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif).

“We know that Vance is an exceptional shooter, but he has so much potential to improve in a lot of areas and I think he is dedicating himself to that,” Ollie said. “He’s an underrated passer and an underrated defender. I think he’s going to be an exceptional all-around player for us, who is going to open a lot of people’s eyes.”

Diarra, a 6-8 power forward who attends Putnam Science Academy (Putnam, Conn.) is explosive around the rim and is an outstanding rebounder at both ends of the court. He averaged 10.0 points and 7.5 rebounds last year to help Putnam Science to a 27-8 record.

“Mamadou is a very hard worker and an exceptional person,” Ollie said. “He is a tremendous athlete whose rebounding is getting better and better as days go by. I love his motor and I love his work ethic.”

Juwan Durham

Durham, a 6-9 power forward out of Tampa Preparatory School, was rated among the top 30 players in the country, despite having missed the last few weeks of his junior season with a knee injury. Until he was injured in February last year, he was averaging 22.9 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.7 blocks per game. He is extremely long and mobile and a tenacious rebounder. 

 
"Juwan is a Mr.Versatility in a 6-9 frame,” Ollie said. “He can play on the perimeter, put the ball down on the floor, and he’s a terrific rebounder and shot-blocker. I think he’s going to be a stat-stuffer for us.”

Taken as a whole, the incoming freshmen form the highest-rated recruiting class in Ollie’s four-year tenure as UConn head coach.

“I think all of them have the potential to come in and be great players here, but like I always say, potential has got to become reality based on hard work,” Ollie said, “and I think they all have the mindset of being detailed hard workers. I think it’s going to be a special group when it’s all said and done after they finish their playing careers here at Storrs.”

UConn is anxious to kick off its 2015-16 season Friday night against Maine at Gampel. Game starts at 7:30 p.m. (not 7 p.m., per usual).

Here's some of what Sterling Gibbs had to say after Thursday's practice, as he gets set to begin his first and only season as a Husky:



And here's some of what Kevin Ollie had to say:



Elsewhere:

*** Phil Nolan took part in most of Thursday's practice, but Ollie wouldn't completely sign off on Nolan being available to play on Friday, saying that the senior forward was still favoring his ankle a bit.

*** Tyler Olander took in practice. Olander is playing professionally in Lithuania, but recently hurt his leg and is back rehabbing it for a couple of months. It's a similar injury to what DeAndre Daniels sustained over the summer, according to Ollie.

Two of UConn's Class of 2016 commitments have signed their national letters of intent, while the other two should be doing so over the next few days.

Vance Jackson, the 6-foot-8 forward out of California, signed his at a ceremony out at Prolific Prep in Napa, California on Wednesday.

It's official!!! #Uconn #BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/KWJBJQr4Zf

— Vance Jackson (@vancejackson26) November 11, 2015

Meanwhile, Juwan Durham, the 6-11 center out of Tampa who will sit out this season after tearing an ACL for the second time in seven months, signed his down at Tampa Prep on Wednesday, as well.

Juwan Durham signs his letter of intent for UConn. @TampaPrep @tampaprepbball @TBO_PrepSports pic.twitter.com/wbKnllZk2f

— Olivia Stacey (@Olivia_Stacey) November 11, 2015

Point guard Alterique Gilbert out of Georgia is expected to ink his LOI over the next day or two, while Mamadou Diarra of Putnam Science Academy will do so during his team's "Midnight Madness" festivities on Saturday night.

*** Elsewhere, not sure if people knew that Ted Woodward was back at UConn (he has been for about a year now) ... but he is back in Storrs, in a different capacity. Woodward spent 10 years as the head coach at Maine before being fired after the 2014 season. Ironically, UConn opens its 2015-16 season against Maine on Friday night at Gampel.

When UConn kicks off its 2015-16 season on Friday night at Gampel against Maine, there will be a somewhat familiar face on the opposing sidelines.

Bob Walsh is in his second season as head coach of the Black Bears. The name may not ring a bell, but Walsh was an assistant coach at Providence for seven seasons in the early-to-mid 2000's -- which means he was on the sidelines for those years when the Friars were a real thorn in the sides of the Huskies.

"The battles that we had ... obviously, they were an elite program," Walsh said of the Huskies. "It was a huge game for us, I know that. In that league, they were one of the elites. The passion of their fans, the program they've been able to build over there ... when people talk about what Storrs, Connecticut was 25, 30 years ago compared to what is is now ..."

Walsh, of course, was Tim Welsh's assistant for those seven seasons with the Friars. And here's some irony: Welsh will be SNY's analyst for Friday night's game. Awkward? Nah. Walsh is looking forward to it.

"It's really cool," said Walsh. "It is interesting, because I owe him so much. He hired me when I was 26, made me a Big East assistant and probably had more influence over my growth as a coach than anyone I’ve worked with."

Walsh added that Welsh's father, Jerry (a legendary coach in upstate New York), calls him at the beginning of each season wishing him good luck.

"It's cool to think I've got a chance to coach against UConn, and (Tim Welsh) will be there," Walsh noted.

*** Friday night's game came about fairly late in the schedule-making process. Maine was slated to begin its season against URI, but Rhody backed out unexpectedly, leaving the Black Bears looking for an opening-night foe. Walsh knows Glen Miller from when Miller coached at Brown, and knows Karl Hobbs from when Hobbs was Jim Calhoun's assistant the first time around. The Huskies needed an opening-night opponent, and, voila.

"I just got done watching them against New Haven, and I was saying, 'Man, are they long and athletic,'" said Walsh. "I think they're really talented. My first question was, 'How did they struggle last year, by their standards?'"

"Jalen Adams is a monster," Walsh continued. "I'm watching it, (saying), 'Who's that? Oh, that's Jalen Adams.' I think their talent is remarkable. I think they're absolutely a Top 20 team."

*** The Black Bears have a local connection, as well: Bunnell High product Isaac Vann is a freshman forward for Maine who could very well start on Friday night. Vann, a 6-foot-5, athletic wing, had 22 points and 16 rebounds in an exhibition game against Division 3 Husson.

"We saw him play over the summer (of 2014) ... and thought he was real good, and there was no way we could get him," Walsh said. "Monmouth and some MAAC schools were all over him in the fall, but he said he wanted to take his time. We stayed in contact, and in the middle of the year, my assistant told me, 'I think we can get Isaac Vann.' My response was, 'Get outta here.' But we had him on campus with his mom, and he enjoyed it.

"We felt really good about getting a 6-5, athletic wing. He needs to put on weight. He's kind of 'UConn Lite,' For our level, he's kind of like the players UConn's had success with, a wing who can really score."

It's also worth noting that Vann is a cousin of former UConn guard Oliver Macklin.

The 2015 National Prep Showcase will run Nov. 20-22 at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, and as always, a strong field full of top recruits will be on display.

UConn fans should take note of the following: Putnam Science Academy, with commit Mamadou Diarra and Husky Class of 2017 target Hamadou Diallo in tow, will play on Friday, Nov. 20, at 8:30 p.m. against Sunrise Christian Academy.

PSA will play again the following night, at 8 p.m., against Monteverde Academy.

Meanwhile, Cushing Academy, featuring prime Class of '17 UConn target Makai Ashton-Langford, will play on Sunday, Nov. 22 at 5 p.m.

Also worth noting: New Haven's own Tremont Waters, whom UConn has offered and is still recruiting, plays on Nov. 20 with South Kent Prep against Hargrave Military Academy, then again on Nov. 22 at 11:45 a.m. against Monteverde.

Friday, November 20th

10:30a.m. Notre Dame Prep (MA) vs. Fork Union Military Academy (VA)

12:00p.m. South Kent (CT) vs. Hargrave Military Academy (VA)

1:45p.m. St. Thomas More (CT) vs. IMG Academy (FL)

3:30p.m. Bridgton Academy (ME) vs. Canarias Basketball Academy (ESP)

5:15p.m. Vermont Academy (VT) vs. Spire Institute (OH)

7:00p.m. Northfield Mount Hermon (MA) vs. Lee Academy (ME)

8:30p.m. Putnam Science Academy (CT) vs. Sunrise Christian Academy (KS)

Saturday, November 21st

9:30a.m. Fork Union Military Academy (VA) vs. St. Thomas More

11:15a.m. IMG Academy (FL) vs. Bridgton Academy (ME)

1:00p.m. Hargrave Military Academy (VA) vs. Northfield Mount Hermon (MA)

2:45p.m. Elev-8 Academy (FL) vs. Notre Dame Prep (MA)

4:30p.m. Sunrise Christian Academy (KS) vs. Brewster Academy (NH)

6:15p.m. DME Academy (FL) vs. New Hampton (NH)

8:00p.m. Montverde Academy (FL) vs. Putnam Science Academy (CT)

Sunday, November 22nd

10:00a.m. Brewster Academy (NH) vs. Spire Institute (OH)

11:45a.m. South Kent (CT) vs. Montverde Academy (FL)

1:30p.m. New Hampton (NH) vs. Elev-8 Academy (FL)

3:15p.m. Tilton (NH) vs. DME Academy (FL)

5:00p.m. Cushing Academy (MA) vs. Blair Academy (NJ)

6:30p.m. Wilbraham & Monson (MA) vs. Canarias Basketball Academy (ESP)

Sports Illustrated has UConn ranked No. 19 in the country, based on methodology, statistical projections for offensive and defensive efficiency, and other analytics.

Of course, I've never turned to SI as any sort of Bible of college hoops. But take it as you will.

The magazine has the Huskies second in the AAC to SMU, and projects UConn as a fifth seed for the NCAA tournament. It's got two AAC teams in the tourney (UConn and Cincy; SMU is, of course, ineligible). And, of course, the first team out -- Tulsa, an AAC team.

UConn's ranked No. 20 in the preseason AP Top 25 poll, released on Monday at 1 p.m. Here's the entire poll:

^                        Record   Pts Prv

1. North Carolina (35)   26-12 1,566  15

2. Kentucky (10)          38-1 1,520   1

3. Maryland (14)          28-7 1,487  12

4. Kansas (5)             27-9 1,410  10

5. Duke                   35-4 1,350   4

6. Virginia (1)           30-4 1,347   6

7. Iowa St.               25-9 1,185   9

8. Oklahoma              24-11 1,088  13

9. Gonzaga                35-3 1,047   7

10. Wichita St.            30-5 1,032  14

11. Villanova              33-3 1,013   2

12. Arizona                34-4   917   5

13. Michigan St.          27-12   838  23

14. California            18-15   757   _

15. Indiana               20-14   755   _

16. Utah                   26-9   499  19

17. Wisconsin              36-4   433   3

18. Vanderbilt            21-14   393   _

19. Notre Dame             32-6   360   8

20. UConn                 20-15   307   _

21. LSU                   22-11   268   _

22. Baylor                24-10   265  16

23. Purdue                21-13   236   _

24. Butler                23-11   223  24

25. Michigan              16-16   126   _

Others receiving votes: Oregon 116, SMU 112, West Virginia 84, Texas A&M 72, Cincinnati 63, Miami 48, Louisville 46, Georgetown 23, NC State 19, Florida St. 18, Texas 18, Rhode Island 17, Dayton 12, Xavier 12, Providence 10, Iowa 6, BYU 5, Valparaiso 5, Boise St. 4, Old Dominion 3, Oklahoma St. 2, San Diego St. 2, UCLA 2, Cent. Michigan 1, Iona 1, UC Irvine 1, Yale 1.

Slow start, certainly room for improvement, but overall UConn was happy with its 88-72 win over Tampa in its exhibition opener on Sunday.

Forget the individual stats with this team -- it is a deep, talented squad that could have different players stepping up as stars every night. On Sunday, it was Shonn Miller, with 18 points, six boards and a pair of blocks.

Here's what Omar Calhoun (11 points, two 3-pointers) and Kevin Ollie had to say afterwards. More later.