There were some scary lines turned in by UConn players in Tuesday night's 69-65 loss to NC State at MSG, but let's start with the positive.

Enosch Wolf is becoming a nice revelation, scoring 12 points, grabbing nine rebounds as UConn's only productive big man against the tough Wolfpack. He made another wing jumper, as well as a nifty turnaround after an offensive rebound. More importantly, he mixed it up underneath and did a good job on the glass against tough opponents like C.J. Leslie and bruising Richard Howell.

"He seems like he likes the big stage," said Ollie. "Whenever we're in a big game, he shows up big time. He has confidence and he gets to his spots and he knows his limitations, which is a great strength of his. Some other players don't know their limitations.

Here's what Wolf had to say about his strong game:



It was opposite day for Shabazz Napier, who normally comes alive in the second half. On Tuesday, he scored UConn's first 10 points and had 15 by the break, but finished with 19.

As always, Napier had some interesting things to say afterwards:



Ryan Boatright was tough with 18 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and just one turnover. But there was precious little help from other sources.

DeAndre Daniels had seven points but four turnovers and just one rebound. His back "locked up" at some point, according to Ollie, but no one was making any excuses. Niels Giffey had no points, rebounds or assists before fouling out. Tyler Olander also went scoreless, with just three rebounds in 19 minutes.

"I told Tyler, in trying times, you can't stop trying," Ollie said. "DeAndre's got to play better. He knows that, first and foremost. I believe he has the talent, the ability to create more on the low post, not settle for 3's. He feels the worst. He's a competitor, he wants to play better."

One thing is certain: Ollie likes his team's toughness, despite Tuesday night's loss:

UConn coach Kevin Ollie and various players met with the media Sunday to talk about Tuesday night's Jimmy V Classic bout with NC State at Madison Square Garden (start time is listed as 9 p.m., but don't expect it to start any time before 9:30 p.m. The Georgetown-Texas tilt tips off at 7 p.m.)

We had some notes, quotes and video on a few items on yesterday's blog, and here's some more specific, NC State-oriented stuff in advance of the game:

*** The Wolfpack are well-balanced, with six players averaging in double figures. T.J. Warren, a 6-8 freshman forward, leads the way at 15.3 per game, followed by Richard Howell at 14.1 ppg and a team-leading 7.8 rebounds per contest. Howell, a bruising 6-8, 257-pound junior, is shooting a whopping 74 percent from the floor.

C.J. Leslie, the ACC preseason player of the year, checks in at 11.7 and 7.5. Highly-touted freshman Rodney Purvis, a one-time heavy UConn recruit, averages 10 points per game. He had started NC State's first five games until the Wolfpack's last game, a Nov. 27 loss at Michigan.

*** Ollie on NC State (and a little Omar Calhoun on the New York native's first-ever chance to play on the Madison Square Garden floor):




*** Obviously, the Jimmy V Classic is near and dear to NC State, though this is only its second time participating in the event (2002). Jim Valvano coached the Wolfpack for 10 seasons, winning the national championship in 1983. He died of cancer in 1993, two weeks after giving his inspirational "Don't Ever Give Up" speech at the ESPYs.

NC State will pay tribute to Valvano on Tuesday by wearing specially-designed jerseys. The red road jersey features a net design around the collar and shoulders, reminiscent of Valvano wearing the nets following the '83 title. On the back of each jersey is the famous line, "Don't Ever Give Up" (which was first heard during a pregame speech on Feb. 21, 1993, prior to NC State's bout with Duke). The V Foundation's "V" logo will also be on the jersey.

Besides his obvious strong ties to NC State (he was the schools athletic director for three years, as well), Valvano does share a connection with UConn, as we also noted in yesterday's blog.

Ollie never got a chance to meet Valvano, but still was able to garner a tremendous amount of respect for the man.

"I just knew him through Coach (Dee) Rowe," Ollie said. "He told me different things that made a difference in his life, just the wonderful people that he touched. Just to be around all his family members back in New York (in October) was a great thing, to understand who he was, what he'd done. His legacy lives a long time. That shows a great, successful man, when he can die and his legacy of him helping people beyond basketball ... it's just a great situation for us to play and honor a great man."

*** Here's what NC State coach Mark Gottfried had to say about UConn in his weekly press conference, courtesy of gopack.com. He spends about the first 3:13 on the Huskies.

*** Playing at MSG is old hat for some UConn players like Shabazz Napier. It never gets old, though.

"It's big, man," Napier noted. "It's like playing at the Apollo. The light's are on, the atmosphere is crazy. that's the basketball Mecca, right there."

Omar Calhoun said he's expecting a "packed house, the crowd screaming, yelling, and everybody going out there and going hard."

Why didn't the Brooklyn native ever get a chance to play at the Garden before? For one, he went to a Catholic school (Christ the King), and they play their championships at Fordham. The public schools play their championships at MSG.

I'm gonna blog as well as UConn played tonight ... which is to say, not very well. Not well at all. Though certainly better than UNH, which isn't a very good team.

In all seriousness, UConn can take some solace in that it won a game despite not playing very well in any particular area. Even winning a rebounding battle (43-40) for the first time this season isn't overly impressive when you consider the opponent.

But, a win is a win is a win, and as Kevin Ollie rightly noted, "I'm not gonna apologize for it."

Nor should he. But clearly, UConn has to play much better if it expects to upend No. 16 NC State Saturday night at the Garden. Ryan Boatright's quote on that game was telling:

"NC State's a great team. They're athletic, they've got the size, they've got a good point guard, C.J. Leslie's a great player. And, it's in the Garden. Being in New York, period, is going to up your enthusiasm. We've got to up the intensity, or we're going to get embarassed."

Indeed, these Huskies do tend to play up or down to their competition level. I don't see a lot of games where the walk-ons get to get in on the fun this season.



*** Boatright played well tonight with a season-high 19 points (9-for-11 from the foul line), along with four assists and just one turnover. Omar Calhoun added 16 points and a career-best eight rebounds. DeAndre Daniels had a career-high 10 rebounds.

Ollie on Calhoun: "I like his rebounding, I like his aggressiveness, getting 15 points, getting to the free throw lin 11 times. (But) he's got to play better. The Big East is going to be tough sledding."

Said Daniels: “I talk to K.O. every day, he’s always telling me my offense is going to come, all you’ve got to do is keep rebounding. Keep rebounding and everything’s going to fall in place.”

*** Tyler Olander continued his recent funk, fouling out in just 16 minutes of action. He did manage eight points and four boards in that time, but his propensity to pick up fouls is a concern.

“We’ve got the guys we’ve got, we’re going to play with them, believe in them,” said Ollie. “Hopefully, Tyler believes in himself. He’s got to stop fouling. I need him in the game for more minutes.”

*** Shabazz Napier also had an off-night, finishing with just five points, three assists and a pair of turnovers. Why is the junior guard so inconsistent?, Ollie was asked.

“If I had the answer, I’d have a lot of people sitting on my couch and I’d be a psychiatrist,” the coach joked.

*** UConn is providing plus/minus stats after games this season. It's nice, though the numbers can be misleading. Case in point: Napier had the best plus/minus tonight at +14, followed by Boatright at +12 and Olander at +10.

That's it. We'll have some video a little later tonight.

Proving you can bet on anything, Jimmy Shapiro of Props PR sends along the betting odds set by Bovada (www.Bovada.lv) on who'll win national player of the year honors this season, as well as the over/unders on points per game of certain players.

According to Bovada, Alex Oriakhi is a 50-to-1 bet to win AP Player of the Year. Shabazz Napier's over/under on points per game this season is 13.5. Oriakhi's is 10.5, and his rebounding average is 8.5.

Here are some of the odds and over/unders posted by Bovada for some notable national players and Big East players. As an AP voter who'll vote for Player of the Year, I probably shouldn't even acknowledge this. But ultimately, I found it blogworthy, if nothing more.

Odds to win 2012-2013 Associated Press Player of the Year


Cody Zeller (Indiana) 7/2
Shabazz Muhammad (UCLA) 11/2
James Michael McAdoo (North Carolina) 13/2
Deshaun Thomas (Ohio State) 13/2
Doug McDermott (Creighton) 8/1
Nerlens Noel (Kentucky) 12/1
Mason Plumlee (Duke) 25/1
Peyton Siva (Louisville) 25/1
Kyle Anderson (UCLA) 35/1
C.J. Leslie (NC State) 35/1
BJ Young (Arkansas) 50/1
Isaiah Canaan (Murray State) 50/1
Alex Oriakhi (Missouri) 50/1
Gorgui Deng (Louisville) 80/1
Chane Behanan (Louisville) 125/1
Field 20/1

PLAYER STATS:
2012-2013 Season - Total Points Per Game - Chane Behanan (Louisville)
Over/Under 11½

2012-2013 Season - Total Rebounds Per Game - Chane Behanan (Louisville)
Over/Under 8½

2012-2013 Season - Total Points Per Game - Gorgui Dieng (Louisville)
Over/Under 9½

2012-2013 Season - Total Rebounds Per Game - Gorgui Dieng (Louisville)
Over/Under 10½

2012-2013 Season - Total Points Per Game - CJ Leslie (NC State)
Over/Under 14½

2012-2013 Season - Total Rebounds Per Game - CJ Leslie (NC State)
Over/Under 7½

2012-2013 Season - Total Points Per Game - Doug McDermott (Creighton)
Over/Under 22½

2012-2013 Season - Total Rebounds Per Game - Doug McDermott (Creighton)
Over/Under 8½

2012-2013 Season - Total Points Per Game - Shabazz Napier (UConn)
Over/Under 13½

2012-2013 Season - Total Points Per Game - Nerlens Noel (Kentucky)
Over/Under 9½

2012-2013 Season - Total Rebounds Per Game - Nerlens Noel (Kentucky)
Over/Under 10½

2012-2013 Season - Total Blocks Per Game - Nerlens Noel (Kentucky)
Over/Under 3½

2012-2013 Season - Total Points Per Game - Alex Oriakhi (Missouri)
Over/Under 10½

2012-2013 Season - Total Rebounds Per Game - Alex Oriakhi (Missouri)
Over/Under 8½

2012-2013 Season - Total Points Per Game - Mason Plumlee (Duke)
Over/Under 14½

2012-2013 Season - Total Rebounds Per Game - Mason Plumlee (Duke)
Over/Under 10½

2012-2013 Season - Total Points Per Game - Peyton Siva (Louisville)
Over/Under 9½

2012-2013 Season - Total Assists Per Game - Peyton Siva (Louisville)
Over/Under 5½

2012-2013 Season - Total Points Per Game - Brandon Triche (Syracuse)
Over/Under 12½

2012-2013 Season - Total Points Per Game - Cody Zeller (Indiana)
Over/Under 17½

2012-2013 Season - Total Rebounds Per Game - Cody Zeller (Indiana)
Over/Under 7½

Happy to say I'll be Connecticut's AP Top 25 men's basketball voter again this season. I think this is the fourth straight year? Those Sunday night West Coast late games are always fun when your ballot's supposed to be in by Sunday night.

Anyway, here's the preseason Top 25 I submitted to the AP a few minutes ago (minus the occasionally witty blurbs). Although they are eligible to be voted for despite their postseason ban, UConn doesn't make the cut:

1. Louisville
Rick Pitino may be, in Jim Boeheim's words, "full of (bleep)," but the defending Big East champ Cardinals certainly aren't.
2. Indiana
Most figured Tom Crean would get Hoosiers back to national prominence quickly. Led by Cody Zeller, it's happening now.
3. Kentucky
The beat goes on: farewell, Anthony Davis; hello, Nerlens Noel. (By the way, didn't Yankees notice that 'Cats won national title this season?).
4. Michigan
I've always loved John Beilein as a coach. Give him a team brimming with talent and watch out.
5. N.C. State
On Dec. 4 at MSG, UConn will see first-hand if Wolfpack deserve preseason tabs as ACC's best team.
6. Ohio State
I'm a little leery of Buckeyes without a dominant big man in middle, but Aaron Craft is a top guard.
7. Duke
OK, let's get our Plumlees straight: Miles is gone, Mason's back and Marshall's ready to go. Right? Right.
8. Kansas
Jayhawks slipped from first to second in Big 12 for first time in eight seasons last year. Not likely to repeat that this season.
9. North Carolina
If UConn players could have taken phony courses UNC players have been taking, they might be eligible for NCAA tourney this year.
10. Florida
Gators will be playing Yale in New Haven on Jan. 6 so that Rhode Island's Erik Murphy gets a chance to play game closer to home. Should be fun.
11. Syracuse
Orange play UConn for final time as members of the Big East on Feb. 13 in Hartford. Sad.
12. Michigan State
The Kevin Ollie Era (and '12-13 college hoops season) kicks off with bang when Huskies face talented Spartans Nov. 9 in Germany.
13. UCLA
If Shabazz Muhammed, Kyle Anderson are deemed eligible, Bruins could be Final Four-bound.
14. Arizona
After starring at Xavier last year, Mark Lyons gets to play for Wildcats this season as a grad student. Odd.
15. Creighton
Blue Jays have one of best players in nation in coach's son Doug McDermott, who could average over 25 per game this season.
16. Memphis
Will Joe Jackson be "Steppin' Out" as one of nation's elite players this season?
17. Baylor
Surprised Scott Drew hasn't found a way to get Brittany Griner to play for his team.
18. San Diego State
Fab Five father Steve Fisher has top four scorers returning from last year's Mountain West regular season champs.
19. Missouri
Those predicting that Mizzou is Final Four good apparently feel Alex Oriakhi will be 2010-11 Oriakhi, not '11-12 Oriakhi.
20. St. Louis
It's too bad Rick Majerus (heart issues) will be sidelined for what could be Billiken's most exciting season in years.
21. Notre Dame
With Farmington's Tim Abromaitis unable to secure a waiver to play, who'll be Big East's scholar-athlete of the year this season?
22. UNLV
Roscoe Smith won't be able to play this season for this "organization" (as he likes to call teams), but Rebels are very strong.
23. Pittsburgh
With a healthy Tray Woodall and frosh Steven Adams in two, no way Jamie Dixon has second disappointing season in a row.
24. Virginia Commonwealth
Another NCAA tourney run will make Shaka Smart even more attractive to big programs (including Warde Manuel?).
25. Tennessee
After watching Jarnell Stokes dominate UConn first-hand last year, I'm pretty high on the Vols this season.

ALL-AMERICA:

Doug McDermott, Creighton

Cody Zeller, Indiana

Isaiah Cannan, Murray State

Jamaal Franklin, San Diego State

C.J. Leslie, NC State

Sorry, couldn't resist. When I heard about one of UConn's potential new recruits, Myles Davis, the first thing I could think of was the legendary jazz musician (different spelling, I know). And since 'Bitches Brew' wouldn't have been a very politically correct title of this blog, I went with one of Davis' earliest and most influential albums.

Either way, if UConn signs this kid, I'm really going to have to resist the cheesy jazz references throughout his Husky career. Especially if they sign a kid named John Coltrane, too (relax, he's a jazz musician, too, not an under-the-radar recruit).

Anyway, seems like Villanova is in the lead for Davis' services, but he certainly likes Storrs, as well.

“UConn is another guard-oriented school and I know they know what they are doing,” Davis told Adam Zagoira. “I went there for an unofficial. I worked out with the guys. I worked out with Kemba [Walker] and Shabazz Napier. C.J. Leslie was down there. I got to run with the guys.

“They just had a bad year last year.”

Apparently, Georgetown is in the running, as well.

Tell us where you've heard this one before: Jim Calhoun says that signing a contract extension with UConn is just around the corner.

“It’s signaturable,” Calhoun said of the contract, while perhaps making up a new word along the way. “Right now, it’s up to the university. As soon as they say ‘go,’ as far as I’m concerned, it will be done.”

Of course, Calhoun said back in January that his extension was essentially done, and after a source with knowledge of the situation told me in mid-March that it would be a done deal in about a month, Calhoun said the same thing publicly.

A Wall Street Journal story on Wednesday noted that questions surrounding Calhoun’s unsigned contract, coupled with health issues that sidelined him for seven games this past season, had scared off potential recruits, including Josh Selby, the McDonald’s All-America guard who recently signed with Kansas University.

In fact, over the last couple of weeks, the Huskies have whiffed on some of the most sought-after recruits in the country. Selby, Brandon Knight (Kentucky), Doron Lamb (Kentucky), Corey Joseph (Texas) and C.J. Leslie (North Carolina State) all were heavily recruited by UConn but ultimately chose to go elsewhere.

Still, when reached on his cell phone this afternoon while he was on his way to a round of golf with his son and George Blaney, Calhoun said he is “thrilled” with the five members of the program’s incoming freshman class, which is ranked No. 17 in the nation by scout.com and includes Roscoe Smith, the scouting service’s No. 6-rated small forward.

“I like the kids we have here,” Calhoun said. “We didn’t get everybody we started out after, no. But we got more guys than we expected.”

Calhoun apparently is referring to the fact that two players – 6-foot-9 power forward Tyler Olander of Mansfield and 6-foot point guard Shabazz Napier of Cambridge, Mass – were originally slotted as Class of 2011 recruits. But Olander elected to graduate from E.O. Smith High this spring rather than return to prep school for a year. Napier has been awaiting word from his prep school, Lawrence Academy in Groton, Mass., on whether he’ll be able to re-classify from Class of 2011 to 2010. According to one source, Napier received word on Wednesday that he’s good to go for next season. However, sources around the program said it wasn't a done deal yet.

If Smith, Napier, Olander, 6-4 shooting guard Jeremy Lamb and 6-9 center Michael Bradley are all to suit up for the Huskies next season, something must be done to make room for them. UConn has nine returning players, which would give them 14 players for 13 scholarship spots.

Calhoun said he’s had discussions with freshman guard Jamaal Trice, who didn’t see a single second of action in Big East play this past season, about playing time next year and a possible transfer, though nothing has been determined.

Asked if senior center Jonathan Mandeldove, who effectively red-shirted last season after struggling with academics, is definitely in the mix for next year, Calhoun said: “Talk to me after finals.”

Read more on the potential NCAA investigation into UConn's alleged recruiting violations in tomorrow's Register.

Just spoke to Lisa Leslie (no, not THAT Lisa Leslie ... C.J. Leslie's mom). Looks like C.J. will wait until Monday to make his announcement, probably at a press conference.

Or today ... apparently, Leslie has decided on NC State, according to reports.

Brandon Knight, arguably the No. 1 recruit in the nation, will announce his collegiate decision Wednesday at 4 p.m. It will be televised on ESPNU. After that, the rest of the dominos (Josh Selby, Cory Joseph, C.J. Leslie, Doron Lamb, etc.) will fall.

For UConn fans crossing their fingers for Knight to come to Storrs, here's a bit of news: there has been contact between Knight and the UConn staff within the last day or two. That may not mean anything, but it's all we've got right now.

Stay tuned ...