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:

Kevin Ollie spoke with the media today, prior to his annual golf tournament, which supports sport and recreational opportunities for people with disabilities.

First, the lead story of the day: UConn assistant director of athletics-video services Dave Kaplan scored a hole-in-one on a the 184-yard, par-3 18th hole on Monday and won a Honda Pilot. Not bad for a self-professed "hacker."

"We can say that sets the tone for the season," Ollie quipped.

Dave Kaplan after hole-in-one #uconn pic.twitter.com/hgc3JEjJrh

— David Borges (@DaveBorges) August 3, 2015

Here's why that particular charity means so much to Ollie:

“It’s special to my heart because of (former UConn teammate) Steve Emt first. That’s why I got into the Tolland Fund. What we did for him, and what he went through in his car accident -- but he’s doing great now. Helping athletes with disabilities -- and I don’t even say disabilities. 'Disabilities' comes from your mind. These kids and young adults that we help, they’re striving for greatness. We want to give them a shot to compete -- on a national level, or just around here, recreationally.”

(on how recruiting has been going)

“It’s been going well. We’ve been making some good contacts with a lot of great players. Just sitting down and making sure your staff is getting seen -- that’s pretty much what it is. We’ve already evaluated the guys we like. It’s pretty much just making sure they see us. With social media, it’s a different environment now with recruiting. With all the different tournaments, it’s kind of hard sometimes. But that’s why we get down i the ‘situation room’ and prioritize and go after the guys we really want. Sometimes we win some, sometimes we lose some, but eventually it works out if you have the same creed in mind -- getting great UConn student-athletes, not just athletes.”

(on UConn tapping into the fifth-year senior market so successfully)

“The landscape of collegiate sports now. I believe it’s up to 700 transfers now, which is out of control. But you have to look at it in your recruiting portfolio as something that you have to do and understand and navigate. We start early, we had some great players to come to us this year. Hopefully, they play a vital role in a great season.”

“When R.J. (Evans) gets a master’s degree in one year, that pretty much helps everybody. Lasan (Kromah) did a great job, he’s gonna be finishing up. Everybody can’t be R.J. R.J. was our first fifth-year (senior) (since) I became the head coach. For him to do it in one year was really amazing. He really set a tone. Lasan came in and did a great job, helped us win a national championship but also did an amazing job in the classroom. Everything I’m getting from Sterling (Gibbs) and Shonn Miller is that they’re doing amazing in the counseling program they’re involved in. It’s going amazingly well.”

(on Amida Brimah)

“Last year he was out with the soulder injury, couldn’t really work like he wanted to work. Anybody who knows Amida, he still worked. But to the capacity he’s able to do it now is great. He just went to adidas Nation, got some great reviews on him there.”

(on whether this year we'll see "the real Sam Cassell")

"The real Sam Cassell? Yeah. I thought the real Sam Cassell was there. I touch him everyday, he’s breathing. As a player? Yeah, he got hurt, so he couldn’t really show the real Sam Cassell. But what he did do -- which was phenomonal -- was he stayed with the team. I felt like Sam was still working out, he was always around the guys, encouraging the guys. Sometimes, somebody gets an injury and they withdraw. He actually started coming in even more. That’s the real Sam for me. Everybody looks at the basketball, but I look at the totality of the man. For him to still involved himself with team activities, being hurt, really shows a lot about his character. That’s what we thought about with Sam coming in -- that he has a high character. I love him, and hopefully he has some more opportunities this year to go out and -- I guess -- show the real Sam Cassell. But I see the true man. And the true man has been there ever since.”

(on last season)

“I thought we had a season of up’s and down’s last year. But like I tell everybody, we had a character-building season. I had a character-building season as a coach. It’s not going to always be a national championship. We’re gonna have to go through some valleys. But in the valleys, that’s where you get stronger. I think we got stronger as a team, and we’re looking forward to 2015.”

(on whether UConn has definite plans for its 13th scholarship)

“Not yet. Hopefully a 7-footer parachutes down, and I’ll be right there to catch him. But I don’t know if that’s gonna happen. I look up all the time, hopefully he’s coming down soon. But if he doens’t come down, we’ll have that extra scholarship, and I’ll look at possibly a walk-on filling it. But it’s still open, there are still some activities around there. We’ve still got our antennae up, like always, checking and seeing what’s happening through the wire. So if you all hear something, make sure you put it on your Twitter account, OK?”

Kevin Ollie & Co. are currently in the midst of their firstJuly recruiting period with Ollie as head coach. 

For the first time in a while, UConn has four guys out on the road recruiting – Ollie, Glen Miller, Karl Hobbs and Ricky Moore. Teams are only allowed three people out recruiting per day, but staffs can rotate so that one guy is on the road but not recruiting on a given day while the other three are at events.

The July recruiting period has been a bit different this year, with five days on then two off over a three-week span. Coaches could recruit from July 10-14, July 17-21 and, now, July 24-28. UConn has been well-represented at events like the NIKE Global Challenge in Washington, D.C., and the Peach Jam down in South Carolina.

The Huskies have famously been in on seemingly dozens and dozens of Class of 2014 recruits, but obviously have more interest in some than others. With so many questions and possibilities of graduations and defections to the NBA after this season, UConn isn’t so much focusing on specific positions but, rather, high-level, high-character kids.

And with a bountiful Class of 2015 harvest (particularly at point guard) looming in the not-too-distant future, the Huskies aren’t overly concerned with filling all 13 scholarships for the 2014-15 season. They’re more concerned about bringing in quality players who fill needs – preferably versatile players like Daniel Hamilton, an NBA-talent who can play all three guard positions, and Rodney Purvis, who can also play the 1, 2 or even 3. Hamilton has already committed to the Huskies, and Purvis has transferred from NC State but won’t be eligible to play until ’14-15.

Here’s an incomplete list of 10 recruits, in no particular order, whom UConn has prioritized:

Pascal Chukwu, 7-foot-2 center, Fairfield Prep -- Very high on the Huskies' wish list. The Nigerian native and his host family have been extremely close to the vest about his recruitment. However, he recently noted that UConn, Providence and St. John's are three of the schools that have shown the most interest in him. Chukwu has made several unofficials to UConn. The thought is he'll stay close to home.

Kelly Oubre, 6-6 small forward, Findlay Prep -- High-scoring, strong-shooting 3-man has stated that "UConn is coming at me the hardest." 

Abdul Malik-Abu, 6-7 power forward, Kimball Union --- One of the Class of 2014's top big men; a strong, 235-pound specimen who's a very impressive rebounder.

Goodluck Okonoboh, 6-9 forward, Wilbraham & Monson --- Scout.com rates him as the best shot-blocker in his class.

Leron Black, 6-7 power forward, Memphis, TN --- Baylor decommit has said UConn, Florida, Illinois, NC State and Ohio State have been coming at him the hardest.

Josh Perkins, 6-3 point guard, Huntington Prep --- UConn's most coveted Class of 2014 point guard has said he'll announce his decision on Aug. 25 -- but not before a visit to Storrs.

Kameron Chatman, 6-7 small forward, Long Beach, CA --- An AAU teammate of Daniel Hamilton.

Devin Robinson, 6-8 power forward, Christchurch, VA. --- It appears UConn and Indiana hold the edge in his recruitment.

Terry Larrier, 6-7 small forward, Malvern, PA --- In the process of moving out to the wing full-time.

Bonzie Colson, Jr., 6-5 power forward, St. Andrew's -- UConn is definitely intrigued by son of former URI player, who made an unofficial to Storrs last month, but there's concern about his height (which is closer to 6-4). He has not been offered a scholarship yet.

Other recent recruits like Jared Terrell and Ahmed Hill aren't happening.

*** In other news: A night after Kemba Walker and A.J. Price teamed up on Kemba's All-Stars (along with UConn incoming frosh Amida Brimah) for an exciting night of GHPA action on Saturday, Price was at it again for the All-Stars on Sunday. Price had 33 points and nine rebounds, but it wasn't enough to prevent a 95-86 loss to PPF Graphics. Recent UConn alum R.J. Evans added 22 points and seven boards in the losing cause.

On Monday, Harte Nissan takes on Fairview Capital at 6:30 p.m., followed by Hot 937 All-Stars facing PPF Graphics at 8:15 p.m.

Not even sure where to start here. An emotional, and very fitting, end to UConn's season -- as well as its long, often dominant run in the Big East. Here's the game story, and here's the notebook, which touches on Shabazz Napier's return, the draft possibilities of Napier, Ryan Boatright and DeAndre Daniels, R.J. Evans' emotional pregame speech and Warde Manuel's announcement that there will be a groundbreaking ceremony for UConn's new practice facility on April 16. The facility should be completed in about 14 months, or around May, 2014.

Here's what Kevin Ollie and the players had to say after the game:

OLLIE:


“Everybody was crying, because it came from the heart. He’s been here one year, but he’s always going to have a special place. He’s a UConn family for life.”

(on whether Shabazz Napier will go pro)

“I’ll just give him feedback. I know a lot of GM’s, a lot of people up there. I’ll just get feedback. Of course he’s going to have to make a deision and live with it, and whatever decision he makes, I’ll support it. But, I’m going to give him feedback and we’ll go from there. Hopefully, he makes the right decision in his heart. We’d love him coming back, but if he goes to the NBA and plays well, that’s good publicity for us, too. Either way, it’s going to be fine.”

(who else may go pro?)

“Shabazz – Ryan, maybe DeAndre, who knows? I know they’re going to be players that provide a spark for us if they come back. And if they don’t, we’re going to make adjustments and keep plugging like we always do.”

(on UConn)

“UConn is the only brotherhood I know. Now, they’re a part of something special. It’s a special brotherhood, and we just showed it again.”

(on the end of UConn’s affiliation with the Big East)

“Change happens. Now, you’ve got to change your approach. We’ve got to have the same recipe that allowed us to win championships. Our recipe’s not gonna change, but we’ve got to change our approach as a coaching staff, as a university. But, the same things are going to be here – the pride, the tradition, the dominance. I’m just so glad I

DEANDRE DANIELS:

(on whether he’s thinking of going pro)

I haven’t really thought about it. I’m still just taking this in and still kinda sad that this season has been shortened.

(on when he knew Shabazz Napier would play on Saturday)

I had a feeling about it that he was going to play, after the South Florida game, that he was going to play, because I know Bazz and he’s a competitor. We were shooting around, and we came back in the locker room to get dressed and he’s in there with his shoes on. Then we went back in and he had his uniform on, and we were all happy.

RYAN BOATRIGHT

(on next season)

“If everybody comes back, it’ll definitely be a special team, if we come back and work the way we did in the offseason and play together like we did this year.

(on whether he’ll turn pro)

Me and Bazz have decisions to make. We’re gonna talk about it – our families, friends, coaching staff – we’re probably gonna talk to each other.

(on coming up clutch in OT)

“I’ve been put in those situations throughout my whole life. Coming here and playing with a great player like Shabazz, sometimes you’ve just got to take a backseat. Today was my time to shine and take over.”

(on his game-winning shot)

“I tried to get the separation that I needed, to get the lift. That’s what initiated the foul, I got up in his chest. Once I got the separation, I put it up with all the confidence in the world. And it went in.”

RJ EVANS:



SHABAZZ NAPIER

(on missing last two games)

“Watching those last two games just broke me down. I wanted to play so bad. Mentally, I was ready to play, but physically I wasn’t.”

(on when he knew he could play on Saturday)

I decided I was mentally ready, but I wasn’t going to push myself unless I was physically ready. I think there were 35 minutes left on the clock and I came back in and just suited up. I’m always mentally ready to play, but if I’m not there ready physically, I’m not going to push myself.”

A third straight loss for UConn, which is banged up and battered beyond recognition at this point. One more game and the season's over.

Saturday’s season finale vs. Providence is a rare advance sellout at Gampel. Plenty of fans will be there, but how many able-bodied players will be suiting up for the Huskies?

We know Niels Giffey (finger) is done for the season. Enosch Wolf (indefinite suspension), too. Logic would dictate that Shabazz Napier (foot), who’s missed the last two games, won’t return for one more fairly meaningless (at least for the Huskies) game. (Though I have a sneaky suspicion that Napier will give it a go).

Now, Tyler Olander and Omar Calhoun are question marks.

Olander left the game late in the second half with an injured left foot, and was seen leaving the Sun Dome on crutches, his foot in a walking boot.

Calhoun played, but his sprained right wrist obviously hampered him. He shot 1-for-14, even embarrassingly missing a wide-open dunk late in the first half. A UConn source told me before the game that, ideally, Calhoun would need about a week or so to rest his wrist before returning to action.

After Wednesday’s loss, Calhoun was asked if he’d give it one more go Saturday vs. PC.

“We’ll see what happens, see if I’ll be able to go,” he replied. “Right now, I don’t know.”

So how does a lineup of Ryan Boatright, DeAndre Daniels, R.J. Evans, Phil Nolan, Brendan Allen and Leon Tolksdorf look on Saturday? Not too good for the Huskies, though the Friars – who have played their way back to near the NCAA tourney bubble – probably would love to see that.

My guess is Olander is done but Calhoun gives it one more go. And again, I have no idea why, but I think Napier will be out there, too. Just a rather illogical hunch.

Quotes from today’s game, a 61-56 Cincy win over UConn. In added news: Niels Giffey suffered a dislocation fracture of his right index finger and was slated to be evaluated further when the Huskies got back to Storrs Saturday night.

PHIL NOLAN:

(on his career-best 8 points, 7 rebounds)

“I probably wpould have felt better about the way I played if we had got the win.”

(on missing first of two FT’s that would have tied the game with 20 seconds left)

“I felt pretty good. I was pretty confident I was going to knock the free throw down. We’re all human, we all make mistakes. Just can’t hang your head about it, you just keep playing.”

RYAN BOATRIGHT:

“It was very frustrating. Last few games we’ve been right there, for us to take the game. We just fell short, man. We didn’t even get a shot up at the basket. That’s the most frustrating thing.”

(on the non-shooting foul, non-goaltend call with 3 ½ minutes left)

“What was I gonna do, run out-of-bounds? Obviously, I was going up for the layup. Once I went up, he obviously hit the ball out of the rim. He was laughing at me like, ‘Yeah, I got away with one.’ It is what it is, man. The refs can’t get every call, I guess.”

(on backcourt violation with 5.2 ticks left)

“Cashmere (Wright) definitely hit it. He touched it before he even went backcourt. I shouldn’t have even been in that situation in the first place. I should have made a better play or we should’ve run a better play.”

R.J. EVANS:

(on his first career start at UConn)

“I had an idea, because I was in the first group yesterday in practice, but didn’t know for sure.”

(on his inbounds pass with 20 seconds left that was stolen by Sean Kilpatrick)

“We were running the same play we always run. (Titus) Rubles made a good play. He took the ball, I didn’t think he was gonna jump that high. That one’s on me.”

KEVIN OLLIE:

“I don’t even really want to talk about Shabazz. These guys played hard. Shabazz is gonna get back, he’s gonna get back healthy. We played hard. Ballhandling or not, we had 19 turnovers against Georgetown, we had 15 tonight. These guys put us in a situation to win.”

(on Nolan)

“He played well, played aggressive, played with energy. I had to get on him in the first half, he took the challenge like a man and he played very, very well for us. He’s gonna be a great player for us in our program.”

(on Evans’ inbounds pass)

“They had a big center on it. R.J. tried to throw it over the top. We had been trying to get it over the top most of the game, and he just got a piece of it and it came up short.”

(finally talking about Shabazz … sorta)

“You can’t fill in the slack for Shabazz. Shabazz is one the best players in the Big East. You’ve got to play your game. Nobody fills in the slack. We just played with heart.”

SHABAZZ NAPIER

“I just woke up today and didn’t feel like it was possible for me to play basketball.”

(on missing first game in UConn career)

“It’s so difficult. I was thinking about getting dressed at halftime. I don’t like missing games. I’ve fought through a whole bunch of injuries, but this one I just couldn’t do.”

The Peter Pan bus that UConn was taking to New Jersey for Sunday’s noon bout with Seton Hall got stuck in a hotel parking lot near Hartford, where it was picking up the coaches who weren’t able to get to campus due to the heavy snowfall.

(Huskies have some fun beating Seton Hall on Sunday)

UConn players got out of the bus to try to push it out of the snow – something they were able to do back on Dec. 29, following a win over Washington in Hartford. This time, it was to no avail.

“We all looked at each other like, ‘We need to get in the weight room,’” recalled guard Shabazz Napier.


Still, the Huskies made the most of it. Snowball fights ensued, Napier and Omar Calhoun engaged in a Boston vs. New York wrestling match that Napier said he clearly won, and an already close-knit team got even closer.

“We were just enjoying every minute we had with each other,” said Napier. “That helped us forget about the five-hour bus ride.”

Indeed, once the Huskies boarded a new bus, the normally three-hour trek to Newark turned into more than five as team bus driver Scott Kirkpatrick encountered stalled trucks at nearly every exit and ultimately had to travel through the backroads to get back on the highway.

But the Huskies made the arduous journey worth the trip by taking care of the Pirates, 78-67, before 7,634 at the Prudential Center.

“I’m proud of these guys, because they had every excuse in the world to make, and they didn’t make (them),” said coach Kevin Ollie. “They probably had five, six hours of sleep. We got in late last night (shortly after midnight), but no excuses. They came out and played.”

Evans talked about the frolicking in the snow at the hotel parking lot as a “good, team-bonding experience” until Ollie came out and said, “Get back on the bus before we do something stupid.”

Said Napier of his wrestling bout with Calhoun: "I snuck up on Omar the first time. He grabbed me. I've got to teach the freshman a little bit."

Boatright on the long bus ride: “It was an extremely long trip. I’ve never been on a bus that long. But it was cool. We had some movies, we were doing a little homework, things like that.”


***The good times spilled over into late in Sunday’s game, when Napier got out on a fast break and tossed the ball off the backboard. Boatright flew in to catch it and slam it home for an alley-oop. That’s something that Ollie might have labeled as “stupid,” had the play been botched (though UConn was up 14 at the time).

“He doesn’t care what we do as long as we complete the play,” Boatright insisted. “Now, if I had missed, it would have been another story. He doesn’t mind. He lets us play how we play.”

Said Napier: “Boatright’s just outstanding. He’s so athletic. I was kinda nervous because I didn’t think he was going to jump. He told me, ‘Off the backboard!’ I kept looking back and he wasn’t right behind me. I just did it, and next thing you know I turned around and he dunked it.”



Added Ollie: “I wouldn’t have done it, but let the kids have fun, they deserve it. They’ve been through a storm, got in here at (midnight), I got them in early to eat breakfast. It’s something I wouldn’t do, but I’m fine with it, as long as it goes in.”

*** Napier addressed the "violation of team rules" that kept him out of the first five or six minutes of Wednesday's loss to St. John's.

“It was bad communication, to be honest. I felt like I let the team down. I told Coach I’m sorry for that, it was bad communication on my part, and I won’t let it happen again.”


“He took it as a man and he was better," said Ollie. "I’m so proud of him, because he’s making the choice to change. He’s doing a great job. Without him, I don’t know where we’d be at.”

Shabazz Napier sat out the last two practices (Wednesday and Thursday) after hurting his left shoulder early in Monday night’s Louisville game. He’s considered day-to-day with a shoulder contusion, and while there seems to be some good hope that he'll be able to play Saturday at Pittsburgh, nothing is certain at this point.

“Hopefully, he’ll practice (Friday) and have a good game on Saturday, but we wanted him to rest it, just in case,” Kevin Ollie explained. “He took a hard fall. We wanted to make sure everything structurally was fine.”

The injury came a little less than four minutes into the game, when Napier was fouled by Peyton Siva, crashed to the floor and had Louisville’s Wayne Blackshear land on his shoulder.

Here’s what Napier had to say about his injury:



And here’s some more of what Napier said, including a high degree of self-criticism from the Louisville game:

“It’s a struggle for me to move it to the side. It just hurts. I landed in an awkward position. (Blackshear) just landed right on my shoulder … it kind of pinched my rotator cuff. Whenever I rotate it, it hurts a lot. After the game it was hurting a lot, but now it’s cooled down. I’ve been moving it much better than I did after the game.”

UConn was originally slated to practice Friday morning at Gampel. Instead, the Huskies will go at 5 p.m. in Pittsburgh, to give Napier more rest and see if he’s able to get up some shots.

“Hopefully, I’m able to wake up with no pain and try to shoot, because I haven’t touched a ball in about three days. That’s kinda tough.”

“I’m kinda upset that I hurt myself during the Louisville game, because watching the tape, I felt like I didn’t give much. I looked slow and sluggish out there … I’m just trying to work harder now, look at myself in the mirror much closer now, because that was an awful performance by myself. No leadership, seemed like I didn’t keep my composure. Everything that I didn’t want to happen, happened. I just want to work harder for my teammates and the fan base, because they expected more and they should have gotten more, not only from myself but from the team.”

If Napier can’t play or is limited, UConn is confident others will step up and fill in for the team’s leading scorer.

“We have a motto around here: Next man up,” said Ollie. “If he’s not feeling well, not able to play to the level that we think he needs to play at, then R.J.’s got to play a bigger role, Brendan’s got to be ready to come off (the bench). We’ll find a way, like we’ve been doing the whole season.”

Said Tyler Olander: “It’s going to put a lot of pressure on the guards. Maybe we’re going to have to slow it down a little bit, just to give them a break. They can’t really be running up and down the whole time. We’re really going to have to execute in the halfcourt, slow them in transition, make them work on offense, definitely rebound. Just try to give Boat as much of a break as possible when he needs it.”

And Omar Calhoun: “We’ll see if he’s playing or not. We feel like as a group, we all stay together. Next man up, that’s what Coach Ollie always says.”

Early practice today at Gampel. Good chance for UConn players to get off their feet in the early morning, get their work in and have the rest of the day to themselves.

Shabazz Napier was certainly perky, as usual. Here's what he had to say when asked if he hoped Kevin Ollie would receive a contract extension soon:

“Sort of, I don't know. Warde, our AD, we don't know what he’s doing. I don’t know. After Michigan State, I felt like he was going to get this job, but sometimes it doesn’t seem that way. I’ve kind of come to terms that, no matter what we do, it’s not going to be in our hands. We can win as many games as we want, I still don’t know believe it’s going to be in our hands where he’s going to give him a job. But hopefully, we keep on winning and playing great and being great student-athletes off the court, so he can see that SCoach Ollie isn’t just about basketball, he’s about you being a man off the court.”


For his part, Ollie isn't thinking about an extension (though he joked getting one now would allow him to "buy more Christmas presents").

"I’m going to do my job, regardless," Ollie said. "It’s something I can’t control, like the realignment. I’m not worried about the contract. You care about it, because you do want a contract, but I’m not losing any sleepless nights over it, trust me on that. I get up in the morning, I’m refreshed, ready to go, ready to give my all for my players, because they’ll do the same for me. They know I’ve got a four-month contract, whatever it is. They’re still playing like I’m here forever. I’m going to do the same for them.”

Shabazz -- the gift that keeps giving -- also had a great quote when asked about Brooklyn's own Omar Calhoun:

"We want him to score, but it’s also important for him to understand, if you can’t score, he has to do something else. That’s what we have to get him to understand. It’s kind of hard coming from New York. New York, as it is, everyone thinks they’re better than everybody.”

Not so with Boston guys, 'Bazz?

“No, not at all," he said with a smile. "We don’t have that attitude, we just go out there and give it all we’ve got.”

Asked to respond, Calhoun simply noted that there's a fun rivalry between Boston, New York and Chicago (Ryan Boatright) on the team.

*** he Huskies face Fordham on Friday, and despite the Rams' 2-8 record, they're not to be overlooked. They're led by junior guard Branden Frazier (15.6 ppg, starring roles in 'George of the Jungle,' 'School Ties' and 'Airheads') and senior forward Chris Gaston, who's in his second game back after missing six due to injury.

Gaston is a beast, and apparently he was once nearly a Husky. According to Jim Calhoun, the 6-foot-7, 231-pound senior forward strongly considered transferring to UConn after a freshman season in which he averaged 18 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. Gaston apparently made a visit to St. John's in that time, but wound up staying at Fordham.

“He’s just energy," Ollie said of Gaston. "With hard work, he’ll have a shot at the NBA. I think he can handle the ball, can get it at the perimeter. He can rebound, and he can stretch it out to 3-point land and take the opponent off the dribble.”

He also knows Napier well: the two share a Puerto Rican heritage and both tried out for the Puerto Rican National Team this past summer in San Juan.

“We used to communicate all the time," Napier said. "I kept in touch with Mike Rosario, also. You’ve got to keep in touch with people who are the same as your culture. You’ve got to keep them close, because you never know when you might need that person.”

*** R.J. Evans, who sat out the Maryland-Eastern Shore game largely as a precautionary measure, is good to go tomorrow night vs. Fordham.

*** Jim Calhoun, UConn board of trustees vice chairman Tom Ritter and others will gather with employees of several Hartford businesses to participate in the state's observance of a moment of silence for victims of the tragic school shootings in Newtown.

The observance will take place on Friday at 9:15 a.m. at CityPlace in downtown Hartford. Calhoun will give remarks. The moment of silence will be observed at 9:30 a.m.

Watching the latter part of UConn's practice today, it's obvious that the Huskies' offensive sets are far more complex than thye've been in recent years.

It's also obvious that UConn players are sometimes having trouble remembering all the intricacies -- the screens, cuts, hand-offs, etc. That was apparent on Thursday night against New Hampshire and again today at Gampel Pavilion.

“Offense takes time," Kevin Ollie explained afterwards. "I just want them to move aggressively, share the basketball, pass and cut. Just know that if you give a ball up, you can get it back. We just want to make sure we’re connected. I don’t know if they picked it up well or not. It didn’t show that well against New Hampshire. We’ve been watching film … we’ve got to continue to better. We’ve got a lot of new players, different players, different roles. Offense takes time, and we’re just really working on timing, execution, making sure we’re making good passes, not turning the ball over.”


A few different times, Ollie had to raise his voice and/or walk a player through what he should have (but didn't) do on a previous offensive set.

“I can’t just say, ‘Go harder on offense,'" he noted. "It takes time to teach it and for guys to be prepared, and that you just can’t do it in these two hours. You’ve got to take it home to your dorms, you’ve got to understand where you’re supposed to be at. Hopefully they’ll do that, and they’re getting better.”

*** No one on UConn has struggled to get in the flow -- on either offense or defense -- more than Tyler Olander lately. The 6-9 junior has been plagued by foul trouble, fouling out of three of the Huskies' past four games, and is averaging just 5.4 points per game thus far.

"I believe in him – that’s the main thing," Ollie reiterated. "And he’s got to believe in himself, and I think he’s doing that.”

Here's what Olander said about his recent struggles:



*** Meanwhile, R.J. Evans participated in non-contact drills today and may graduate to full-contact for tomorrow's practice. As for Tuesday, he says trainer James Doran tells him it'he'll be a game-time decision.    

*** We'll have lots more notes, quotes, video, etc.on NC State, Jimmy V, MSG and other stuff tomorrow.

Few people in sports are more focused on the task at hand than Kevin Ollie. Banned from the postseason? Left out in the lurch by the ACC? No biggie. UConn's got a game tomorrow night (vs. New Hampshire), and that's all he and the team can control right now.

Here's what Ollie had to say today about Louisville/ACC/conference expansion, etc. (along with some video of Ollie leading Omar Calhoun through a drill, then talking about today's events):

“I don’t pay attention to it too much. You definitely care, but I’m not worried about it. I’m going to coach my team. We’re in a great conference now and we’re going to try to win conference titles. I just really believe in Susan and Warde, that they’ll make the best decision for this university. Because I love this university.”

“Wherever we go, we’re going to compete for conference titles and conference championships.”

“I’m going to leave it up to our great president and great AD to get it done for us and put us in the best situation possible, and I know they’re doing that each and every day.”



“We’re happy to be breathing, happy to have a conference, happy to play these games. I know she’s doing her due diligence with her staff, with the AD and his staff, to come up with the best solution possible for this university.”

The players seem rather unfazed and unconcerned by it all.

“These guys have enough going on – banned from the postseason, all that stuff – and they’ve got to worry about their schoolwork," Ollie noted. "We’ve got so many things we’re looking positively at. Hopefully we hone in on these next two weeks and get these academics done, because we’re in good shape now. I think their minds are on their final exams, not on the ACC.”


Ryan Boatright was asked if playing in the Big East was one of the reasons he came to UConn:

"A little bit, not a huge part. Of course, you're going to a good league, you're going to play good teams day in/day out. My main concern was if we were going to play the style of basketball I like to play."
Oh yes, that pesky game vs. UNH Thursday night. It appears Leon Tolksdorf, who practiced today, will be available. R.J. Evans won't be, but he's making "great progress," according to Ollie.

Evans shot around on the sidelines during practice and looks good.

"His reange of motion is coming back," Ollie said. "He's coming back very quickly, and I just love the way he's doing his due diligence in the training room with James Doran."

A UConn spokesman said it's possible -- though not very likely -- that Evans could be back for next Tuesday's bout at MSG with NC State. Harvard on Dec. 7 is more likely, though there is no timetable for his return.

Stony Brook may be a bit tired, having played a game yesterday (an 82-75 win over Canisius) and ferried to Connecticut this morning. But the Seawolves don't figure to be a pushover for the Huskies.

Stony Brook is looking to go 5-1 for the first time since November, 2009, and just the second time in program history. The Seawolves are a fierce rebounding team, beating Canisius on the boards 47-32 on Saturday. They also hit 27 of 31 free throw attempts.


A win today would give Stony Brook its first-ever victory over a nationally-ranked opponent. It would also give Steve Pikiell his 100th win as Stony Brook’s head coach.


Elsewhere:

*** As expected, R.J. Evans and Leon Tolksdorf are both out today. UConn associate head coach Glen Miller told The Day's Gavin Keefe that Evans is hoping to be back by the Huskies' Dec. 4 battle with N.C. State at Madison Square Garden.

*** Trying to think of the last time, before Brandon Austin, that UConn lost a much-coveted recruit to Providence. Not Kris Dunn, whom UConn backed off on late in the recruiting process. Not Ryan Gomes, whom UConn obviously didn't think much of. Geoff McDermott, who the Huskies liked after getting in on his recruitment late, might be the best (and only) answer.

R.J. Evans suffered a sterno-clavicular (collar bone) sprain in practice on Thursday and will likely be out for at least a couple of weeks. Nothing’s broken, which means he won't likely be out for six weeks or so, which is obviously good news for UConn.

Still, this is a tough blow for the Huskies. Evans is averaging 5.8 points off the bench, but his contributions go beyond the stats. He gives the Huskies hustle and hard-nosed play, always the most likely to dive for (and come up with) a loose ball, always one to mix things up physically. He’s the proverbial “glue” player for UConn, and while he’ll be back at some point this season, his absence will be greatly missed.

“Everybody’s gotta step up," said coach Kevin Ollie. "He’s doing a lot of key things for us that don’t show up in the stats. You can’t be R.J., but you can be yourself, grow and evolved. There are going to be some roles that are going to be different. Omar’s going to have to play some point if one of the guys get hurt or in foul trouble.”

Ryan Boatright echoed those sentiments:

“Me and Bazz are going to have to rebound a little more, somebody else is going to have to step up scoring. It’s got to be a collective effort, because he does so much. Everybody’s got to step up.”

 
And here's what Shabazz Napier had to say:



*** Leon Tolksdorf, who has played sparingly thus far, also suffered a mild left knee sprain and will miss the Stony Brook game.

*** After beating Tom Moore’s Quinnipiac squad in double-OT in St. Thomas Sunday night, the Huskies will look to go 17-0 all-time against former Jim Calhoun assistants when they face Steve Pikiell’s Stony Brook Seawolves on Sunday at 4 p.m.

Pikiell played at UConn from 1987-91 and was a two-time captain. After graduating, he spent one season as Jim Calhoun’s assistant before playing for the New Haven Skyhawks for a season, then joining Yale’s staff as an assistant.

He has other ties to UConn’s current staff: Pikiell was an assistant on Karl Hobbs’ staff at George Washington for four seasons.

*** The 4-1 Seawolves, for some reason, played Cainisius on Saturday (winning the game, 82-75), so they’ll be playing their second game in as many days on Sunday at Gampel.

The last time UConn lost to an in-state foe was Dec. 29, 1986 -- a 49-48 loss to Hartford in Jim Calhoun's ninth game at the helm.

The Huskies haven't lost to an in-state foe since. That's 67-0: 19-0 vs. Fairfield, 13-0 vs. Hartford, 12-0 vs. Yale, 9-0 vs. both CCSU and Quinnipiac and 5-0 vs. Sacred Heart.

UConn is also 15-0 against former Calhoun assistants.

So there's got to be some pressure on the Huskies to avoid an upset by upstart Quinnipiac in the Paradise Jam on Sunday night, right? Wouldn't want to end that impressive streak in Ollie's fourth game at the helm, right?

Meh, not really.

"I wouldn’t necessarily call it pressure," said Ryan Boatright. "We're not gonna take them lightly. We tell each other we’re not going to let them make a name off us.”

Here's what some of the other key figures are saying about the game, which will be televised on the CBS Sports Network Sunday at 9 p.m.:

TOM MOORE:

“It’s a great opportunity for a team like Quinnipiac to be playing a team as storied as UConn, both nationally and in-state. It has huge implications for our alumni and our students and fans. Years and years of living in Connecticut, hearing all about UCOnn, it’s nothing but respect and good feelings towards them.”

“As our program grows, we’ve tried to treat this trip as a chance to sort of grow our national name a little bit. Playing on national TV against a team like that will help that. Now, the task is on us to play well.”


“Their two guards really pressure the ball well. I thought they were terrific (Friday) rolling off screens. Kevin has them working really hard defensively, they have great resilience, and they’re running some really good stuff offensively, too. They looked organized, well-coached, committed.”

“We’re excited to play them. Our guys are really happy and excited to play them. We’re really looking forward to it.”

(on the only other time Moore has faced UConn while at Quinnipiac, an 82-49 loss on Dec. 16, 2007)
“It was a real awkward feeling on my part, just playing Coach Calhoun and all the kids I had recruited and stuff. We both felt more comfortable not continuing the series at that point. Maybe someday in the future it’ll continue, I’m not sure.”

KEVIN OLLIE:

(on Quinnipiac's overtime win over Iona on Friday night)
“They just played hard, stayed within their sets.Their bigs are really relentless on the backboards, Ike (Azotam) came out and had another big game with 10 rebounds, their guards were effective, they had five guys in double figures. It’s a good team we’re facing (Sunday) night.”

“I just want to coach the game, not worrying about who’s on the other side. We’ve got to come out with the identity we’re trying to establish, play hard. I don’t care who’s on the other side.”

“There’s distractions all over the place – contract, this, that. I can’t control that. I can’t control what Quinnpiac is doing in their practice. I can’t control Scott, I can’tcontrol Coach Moore. I know their team is going to be prepared and ready to play. If they’ve got extra motivation, that’s fine. I’ve got motivation for this team to compete and succeed at the highest level. That’s my motivation every day I wake up.”

R.J. EVANS, who was recruited by Moore while at Norwich Free Acadmey and made an unofficial trip to Quinnipiac.

"(Coach Moore) has done a great job with that program. They’ve competed in the NEC the past couple of years, and I definitely respect them as an opponent.”

SCOTT BURRELL:



"It’s exciting. It’ll be fun, especially for our guys. For me, personally, I don’t think it’s any different … it’s a challenge for us as a staff and for our guys. They’re going to try to play against a Big East, high-level team that we don’t play too often.”

(on his friendship with Ollie)

“(It's a) good friendship. We played two years together, play golf together in the summer. We have a good relationship. We’re just going to compete against each other as coaches tomorrow. It’s different.”

(incidentally, Burrell says Ollie is much improved as a golfer and has lowered his handicap from the 20's to about a 9. Burrell, however, says he's around a 4).

IKE AZOTAM, Quinnipiac's star forward, who teamed with Shabazz Napier on the Metro Boston AAU team and remains a good friend with the UConn guard:

"It’s gonna be challenge, but it’s gonna be fun. Coach Moore used to coach there, it’s going to be nice to play them.”

“Shabazz and Boatright are pretty good with the ball in their hands. We’re going to attack them, they’re going to attack us. We’ve just got to play strong.”

“I think our frontcourt can play with them. We’ve just got to be aggressive, make free throws, rebound and defend.”

A solid, 67-49 win for UConn tonight over scrappy Vermont. Nothing scintillating, nothing bad. The Huskies got balanced scoring and played strong defense, but did get outrebounded (39-32) by the Catamounts.

Let's talk R.J. Evans tonight. The Holy Cross transfer and grad student scored 11 points off the bench on 5-for-5 shooting, grabbed a few rebounds, swiped a couple of steals and just provided that solid overall game that's quickly becooming his trademark.

"He's just stabilizer, a guy that I can look to being consistent," said Kevin Ollie. "I know what I'm going to get form R.J. I'm going to get intensity, I'm going to get him to play hard, I'm going to get him to play unselfishily. And, he's a grown man. I mean, he's been through this before. And he's on a big stage now and I think he's relishing the moment. It's just his time to play."

Said Evans: “I see my role as whatever coach tells me to do. When I go on the court, I’m going to play my hardest, help my team.”



A starter and double-digit scorer at Holy Cross, Evans said the transition to being a role player off the bench hasn't been tough at all.

“It’s not much of an adjustment. It’s going out and playing basketball, which I love. I’m a team player, so it dpoesn’t matter if I play two minutes or 30 minutes, just as long as my team wins.”

Evans, 22, is the elder statesman of the team ("They ask me if I've signed up for AARP yet," he quipped). Still, Ollie mentioned a couple of weeks ago that it might have been a challenge for a kid from Holy Cross and the Patriot League to establish himself as a leader on a Big East squad.

Evans said he's never encountered a challenge to his leadership.

“I wasn’t expecting to come in here and everybody start respecting me," he said. "I felt I had to earn my respect, just like every freshman does. I just pictured myself as a freshman. I had to earn my respect from all the players, through hardwork and dedication in the preseason. Right now, we all respect each other, and that’s a good thing we’ve got going.”

Good kid (or man), good player. You win with guys like R.J. Evans.

There was one point in UConn’s stirring, 66-62 win over Michigan State Friday night in Germany when Kevin Ollie felt most confident his team would win.

Spartan guard Keith Appling had just been fouled by Shabazz Napier while converting a layup and was going to the foul line to try to complete a three-point lead and give MSU a 58-56 lead.

Napier gathered his teammates together at the foul line and implored them to keep their composure.

“We looked scattered,” Napier recalled. “I wanted to bring the guys together, tell them we were going to win this game. They made their run, now we're going to make our run."

Said Ollie: “That’s what I want our leaders to do, not hang your head (and say), ‘We’re down.’ I knew we were going to be fine after I saw that. “



And they were. Napier hit a 3-pointer 29 seconds later and the Huskies never again trailed en route to an upset victory that has catapulted them into the Top 25.

Napier admitted his leadership moment might not have happened a year ago.

"It's something I would have never thought of doing," he admitted. "I would have been like, '(Shoot), I fouled him."

*** It’s just that type of leadership that Napier displayed Friday night that has the Huskies confident they won’t suffer a letdown going from a nationally-televised win over a Top 15 team to a less sexy opponent from the America East on Tuesday night when the Huskies host Vermont in their regular-season home opener at Gampel.

“A loss (tonight would) wash away that whole winning experience in Germany,” said Ryan Boatright. “I’ve preached that to the team since we got back from Germany. Shabazz has been doing the same thing. I think by us leading by example, we’ve got a whole different attitude this year.”

Ollie was pleased with the way his team got back to practice on Monday, after a long flight and bus ride home on Saturday followed by a much-needed day off Sunday.

“I know it was a tough day for them mentally to come in here – jet lag, all those excuses you can use,” he said. “They didn’t use any of them (Monday). They gave me a lift, came out and played very, very strong and very, very hard … Now, you’ve just got to carry it over to (tonight).”

*** The entire trip to Germany –visiting military hospitals, hanging out with the servicemen – was an eye-opener for the Huskies.

“I was in awe ever since I stepped off the bus,” Napier said. “It was so weird. (The troops) were asking for our autographs, taking pictures. I had to take a step back when I got to my room. I’m like, ‘Why are they looking at us as heroes?’ I feel as though they’re our heroes. I wanted to cherish every minute I was out there.”



And UConn certainly made the most of it.

“They were all respectful, they were attentive,” Ollie said of his players at the military base. “All the guys asked questions and were really into it. Then we came out and took care of business on Friday, which made me even more proud of them.”

*** UConn’s No. 23 ranking puts it back in the polls for the first time since Jan. 23. The Huskies finished just out of the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, two votes out of the Top 25.

The ranking doesn't really faze the Huskies.

"I didn’t know we were ranked at all," Napier said. "It’s kind of nice, but we can’t sit on our success, go out and play hard against Vermont. As a junior, that number means nothing to me. But if I were a freshman, that number would mean a lot."

Added Ollie: "It really doesn't matter to me. We want to go out and play UConn basketball. That's togetherness, with pride, sacrificing for each other, unselfish, fast breaks, defense, rebounding. That's what we hang our hats on."

Napier believes Friday's big win will add extra fans to Tuesday's games.

"There's gonna be a bunch of fans there now," he said. "We didn't have a lot of fans our first two games, which is understandable, they were exhibition games. I have a good feeling that ther's going to be a lot of fans there."

Unfortunately, according to a UConn spokesman, there are plenty of tickets still available.

*** Napier's best memory from Germany came at the military hospital, when a woman came up to him and R.J. Evans, told them they reminded her of her sons and asked for a hug. She then told them, "You just took all the pain away from me."

"I was so shocked," Napier said. "It made her lose her pain. It may not mean a lot to a lot of people, for me it was something more than that. I play basketball. For someone to say that to me, just because I play basketball, it means the world.”

*** Ethan O’Day, a 6-foot-9 freshman forward for Vermont, hails from Mansfield and was a teammate of Tyler Olander’s for one seasonat E.O. Smith High.

O’Day grew up right around the corner from Olander.

“We used to hang out all the time,” said Olander, who also noted that numerous people from E.O. Smith have apparently bought tickets to the game.

*** UConn AD Warde Manuel and president Susan Herbst are at the Big East presidents' meetings in Chicago for the next two days, but don't expect anything to change in the Huskies' current banishment from the Big East tourney.

UConn looked pretty impressive in Sunday’s 100-62 win over UMass-Lowell before a small (5,538) crowd at the XL Center.

The Huskies shot 53 percent from the floor and 43 percent on 3-pointers (6-for-13 in the second half). They scored 26 fast-break points. Ryan Boatright had 22 points and six assists, DeAndre Daniels had a double-double (15 points, 14 boards) as well as four blocks, and Omar Calhoun impressed again, scoring 16 of his 20 points in the latter half and hitting 5 of 6 3-pointers. Calhoun started over Niels Giffey, who chipped in with 12 points off the bench.

It keeps coming: R.J. Evans had eight points and five assists off the bench, Tyler Olander had 10 points, Enosch Wolf had a putback dunk, Leon Tolksdorf hit just one of five shots but had a nice-looking stroke on his 3-pointer.

It wasn’t perfect (witness UConn’s 29-for-45 from the foul line) but it was certainly better than Thursday’s 15-point win over AIC. (It wasn't a perfect day on another front: Ron Patterson of Brewster Academy, who had drawn some interest from UConn, committed to Syracuse).

Now, things get a bit trickier: No. 14 Michigan State on Friday in Germany.

The Huskies will practice Monday at Gampel and bus down to New York City’s JFK Airport on Tuesday for a 7:30 p.m. flight to Germany. The Huskies will arrive in Frankfurt on Wednesday at 9:45 a.m. (local time). The game is Friday at 6 p.m. (EST) and will be televised. An added bonus for listeners on WTIC-1080: Jim Calhoun will provide color commentary alongside play-by-play man Joe D’Ambrosio.

Here’s some notes and quotes from today’s game:

KEVIN OLLIE:

(on DeAndre Daniels)

"I’m looking for him to rebound like that. We need him to be all over the glass. I thought he did a heck of a job attacking the basketball, going to the ball in traffic. That’s a good steppingstone for him.”

“This is two exhibition games, so we’re not going to get too high, too low. But if he continues to do this and play with that effort and that resiliency that we need, he’s going to be a good, good player for us and have an imprint on this season. I always want them to put their signature on it, and he put his signature on this game with 14 rebounds.”

(on the foul shooting)

“I like us getting to the free throw line. We’ve definitely got to shoot a better percentage from the free throw line, but that’ll come. I think we’ve got a good free-throw shooting team. Phil is going to take his time a little bit more, knock down his shots as he gets a little more comfortable with the rhythm of the game.”

(on Omar Calhoun)

“He doesn’t care. If he makes or miss, he’s going to shoot the next one. He wants the next shot. The wonderful thing about him is you don’t have to run any plays for him. He’s getting it off of just being a basketball player … The beautiful thing about him is, he stays in the gym. Make or miss, he stays in the gym. He’s a wonderful kid, and I’m glad he’s on our team.”

(on Michigan State and the trip to Germany)

“I don’t think of it as an obstacle, I look at it as an opportunity. First and foremost, we’re honoring our troops. That’s a great honor for our kids … “I love Michigan State, I think Tom Izzo does a great job with his group, but we’re going to come out and play.”

“This is why you’re in this role, to be a blessing to somebody else, getting an opportunity for our university, our players and coaching staff … Our troops do a wonderful job for us to have all the liberties over here. To go there and maybe put a smile on their faces is a wonderful thing. Hopefully, our kids don’t take that for granted.”

DEANDRE DANIELS:

(on Michigan State)

“Friday’s the real deal … but we’ll be ready and prepared for that. I can’t wait.”

RYAN BOATRIGHT

(on Omar Calhoun)

“I don’t hate on anybody that can score. He’s a terrific player, a great scorer. I just tell him all the time, ‘Don’t get big-headed with these exhibition games.’ We’ve got some real tough competition coming up. The Big East is no joke. Keep your confidence up, but don’t get too gassed up.”

OMAR CALHOUN

(on his unorthodox shooting style)

“I’ve heard people say that. I just see it go in … At the end of the day, I feel comfortable shooting like that. It goes in, so I’m not gonna change it.”

Here are my impressions of UConn from its first exhibition game Thursday night, a 78-63 triumph over AIC:

Kevin Ollie: I liked what I saw here. Like his composure – never getting too theatrical but certainly being firm with his team at times. He didn’t have the quick hook of his predecessor that I was never a fan of. His substitution patterns and timeouts all seemed to have a good flow. Certainly seemed completely in control of this team, like he’s been a collegiate head coach for years as opposed to a few weeks.


DeAndre Daniels: Wound up with nearly a double-double (eight points, nine rebounds), but did it very quietly. Still needs to play a bit more aggressively. The numbers looked fine but a lot of his (and, indeed, all of UConn’s) rebounds came in the second half off AIC 3-point attempts with few if any AIC players crashing the boards.

Tyler Olander: Also nearly finished with a rather quiet double-double (nine points, eight boards). He’s 1-for-7 in his UConn career on 3-pointers but was 1-for-3 tonight. While some may question your top big man playing out on the perimeter, I think Olander has a good stroke and can be very effective from beyond the arc.

Niels Giffey: Typical GIffey – solid, if unspectacular.

Ryan Boatright: His defensive pressure made a big difference in UConn’s second-half comeback. Also scored 11 of his 14 points during a 16-0 UConn run early in the latter half that finally gave the Huskies their first lead. Overall a good game.

Shabazz Napier: Shot 3-for-8, got a little chippy with an AIC player and was called for an intentional foul on an AIC breakaway after a bad Boatright turnover. As usual, hit a couple of big shots – including a trey with eight seconds left in the first half that got UConn to within one.

Phil Nolan: Hard to have a rougher college debut, going scoreless and fouling out in just nine minutes. At one point, missed three straight inside hoops that would have given him his first (if unofficial) college basket. Just a bad night, but hardly enough of a sample get anyone worried just yet.

R.J. Evans: Lived up to his billing as a leader and a “glue” player, popping off the bench midway through the first half to score five straight Husky points a one point and provide good defense and tough, aggressive play. His veteran savvy and toughness will make him a very important player this season.

Omar Calhoun: Hard to have a better debut, with 24 points and six boards. Got a bit of an unorthodox shot, but he's not afraid to use it. Certainly doesn’t lack in confidence, hoisting up a team-high `14 shots in a variety of ways – drives to the hole, short jumpers, 3-pointers (3-for-6). Defensively, he’s got some learning to do, no doubt. And his confidence brimmed over with some muscle-flexing antics after a couple of nice hoops. Ollie warned him to cut that out, saying, “That’s not who we are.”

Leon Tolksdorf: Played just three minutes and didn’t score. Blocked a shot but didn’t get credit for it in the box score. I imagine he’ll get more run on Sunday so that Ollie can see more of what the freshman brings.

Kevin Ollie certainly has his own style and ideas for this UConn basketball team, and he's hit the ground running implementing them.

The Huskies have had a sports psychologist meet with the team. They're running different offenses than what Jim Calhoun used to, and running practice a lot different, as well. Today, they had three referees at practice, calling fouls during drills and scrimmages.

“We want him to get used to referees," Ollie said. "They’ve got to have that experience of not fouling, understanding travels. When it’s just us with the whistles, we’re not calling every ticky-tack foul. So I love the refs to come in here and give us that game-like atmosphere.”

One of the off-shoots of the sports psychologist spending a weekend with the team a few weeks ago is that the team gathers in a circle after easch practice and talk numerous things, particularly about being "focused," according to Shabazz Napier.

That manifested itself in a very positive way on Saturday. While gathered in a circle, R.J. Evans came up with the idea of returning on Sunday at 1 p.m. to run through the team's new offensive sets for an hour, prior to 2 p.m. study hall.

“That’s the great thing about this team: R.J. pulling them together, Tyler pulling together, Shabazz," Ollie said. "They came in on Sunday, I didn’t ask them to do it, they did it themselves. They’re doing it for themselves. It’s about sacrifice, 10 toes in and not five. I love their attitude.”

Napier said the 2010-11 and 2011-12 teams might have tried to do the same thing, "but it would have been a struggle. I don’t think everybody would have come in at 1 p.m. People would have been filing in and out – 1:05, 1:15. This team came in at 12:55, they were all here. This year’s team, we’ve got something to prove, so let’s get here five minutes early.”

Here's a few more items from today's practice:

Ollie on Enosch Wolf:

“Everybody is being very cautious around here. It’s his third concussion. We don’t want him to get his fourth and then get to a point where he’s got to retire from basketball ... He’s feeling much better now, but we’ve got to see, once he starts doing his cardio, if the side effects come back. But he’s coming in, paying attention, working hard.”

Wolf was hit in the head by an Omar Calhoun elbow in Friday's practice. Ollie did point out, however, that Wolf "is gonna be ready for Germany."

*** Phil Nolan missed his second straight practice with a 103-degree temperature, but Ollie has really liked what he's seen thus far from the freshman.

“Phil’s been giving us awesome energy and tremendous focus out here, so I can’t wait to get him back.”

*** Ollie on DeAndre Daniels:

“I want him to be engaged. I thought last year he went in and out. I want him to be consistent. I can feel DeAndre’s presence. That’s what we’re working on … then everything else is going to fall in place, because he’s very, very talented.”

*** Ollie on new scholarship recipient Brendan Allen:

“He can contribute. Everybody that comes in this gym can contribute … We gave him a scholarship, so we think he’s got a little something. We need him to continue doing what he’s doing academically, and bring it on the court. Brandon’s a guy, if I play him one minute or 40 minutes, he’s gonna be ready. We want guys like that don’t rock the boat, no matter if you’re playing or not playing. This is your team, it’s about sacrifice.”

*** Ollie on Shabazz Napier and his health:

"He’s pretty much close, to me. If he’s lacking any, I don’t see it. But we still want him to get to that next level. He was picked Second Team all-Big East. We want him first. We’ve got to keep pushing him to that level. I think he can be a great basketball player for us, because he’s smart. He’s one of the smartest players I’ve been around. He knows the game. He says he’s gonna be my assistant coach, but I don’t know about that. Let him have a long career before he’s my assistant coach.”

*** Ollie on Omar Calhoun:

“He puts things in boxes. Academically, when he’s in academics, it’s academics, don’t bother me about anything else. When he gets on the basketball court, he puts it in that box. Everything I try to tell him something, he just does it. I don’t have to tell him twice.”

“And he’s a scorer. I want him to be more aggressive. He’s playing very, very well for me right now, and I’m excited about his future here at UConn.”

*** Niels Giffey on Ollie's interactive style in practice:

“It’s definitely motivating, because he’s the one who’s always giving 100 percent. Every time I step on the court, I feel like I’ve got to match his intensity … He’s really somebody to look up to.”

*** Giffey on Wolf's injury:

“It’s tough for us, it’s so unfortunate. He had a great summer, he was there to take the next step and to actually get a chance to get on court and get in games. Now, me and DeAndre have got to play the four a little bit and show our versatility.”

*** Napier on his health:

“If I had to put a number on it, 92 to 95 percent. I still feel sore if I’m running up and down. If I just stay still, my stiffness comes back.”

DeAndre Daniels was the first finisher among UConn players (and second overall) in the annual Husky Run on Thursday. His time of 18:47 was 45 seconds better than last year's winning time of 19:32. The faster run took its toll on him, too, as he dropped to the ground in exhaustion after finishing the race and lay prone on the ground for several minutes.

"I'm a little dizzy," he said later. "I wanted to come out and win it again, because everybody was talking trash ... I was just pacing myself, but as I came down the hill, I started cramping upand I got a little dizzy. At the end, I passed out and laid on the ground for a second. But I'm fine now."

Here are the results from this year's 3.4-mile race:

1. DeAndre Daniels, 18:47
2. Ryan Boatright, 19:37
3. Niels Giffey, 20:18
4. Leon Tolksdorf, 20:20
5. Brendan Allen, 20:48
6. Omar Calhoun, 22:27
7. Tyler Olander, 22:28
8. Phil Nolan, 23:35
9. Enosch Wolf, 23:47
10. R.J. Evans, 25:02
11. Shabazz Napier, DNP (injury)

UConn senior Tim Isselee was the overall winner, with a time of 18:39.

Here's what Daniels said about the upcoming season:

"I felt like ever since Kevin Ollie has taken over, our bond has gotten so much better. Everybody's working so much harder. We're going to have a great season."

"From last year, I learned about basketball, and about myself, what I've got to do, to sacrifice. Working hard every day over the summer, preparing for this moment, I'm ready."

Daniels spent part of the summer working out with his cousin down in Orlando. He also noted that his sister, who had brain surgery last winter, is "perfectly fine" now and, in fact, is a freshman at UConn's Hartford campus, where she's on academic scholarship.