Connecticut Team Report

GETTING INSIDE

As Jim Calhoun prepares for his 24th season at the helm of the UConn program, he’ll have his work cut out for him to maintain the Huskies at their elite level, trying to integrate a host of new faces into the lineup.

Despite the importance of A.J. Price to last year’s team, the Huskies look to be at good shape in the backcourt. Kemba Walker excelled off the bench as a freshman, and he has presumably rediscovered his outside shot during the offseason. He’ll be joined by veteran Jerome Dyson, assuming his surgically repaired right knee holds up.

Stanley Robinson is entrenched at small forward. Beyond that, there are a whole lot of questions to be answered in preseason practice.

The frontcourt, for example.

Gavin Edwards should take one spot in the paint. Beyond that, is it Ater Majok? Out for the first semester per NCAA rules and recovering from a fractured tibia, Majok’s UConn career so far has been star-crossed at best. It could also be the raw Charles Okwandu, who didn’t play much as a freshman. Or one of the new guys, like Alex Oriakhi.

The backups at guard also are untested. Donnell Beverly should finally get the playing time he’s missed out on in his first two seasons, but the junior will be pushed by incoming freshman Darius Smith. Jamal Coombs-McDaniel will also play somewhere, as the freshman looks like he’ll be able to score and defend right away.

Losing Price, Hasheem Thabeet, Jeff Adrien and Craig Austrie is enough to drop this team from the ranks of Final Four favorites. But there’s enough here to be a contender in the Big East.

NOTES, QUOTES

• One thing to watch is the continued NCAA investigation into UConn’s recruitment of Nate Miles. The allegations of improper conduct, based on Miles’ relationship with a former team manager, broke right before the third round of the NCAA Tournament, and, as of mid-October, there was no indication of when this investigation will finish.

• G Jerome Dyson, recovering from surgery on his right knee, took it easy early in preseason practice to avoid undue strain on the joints.

• PF Gavin Edwards has played in 89 games at UConn, and been a key reserve for the past couple of seasons. He has never started a game, but might be in line for those duties this season.

Last Year:   31-5 overall, 15-3 in the Big East.

Head Coach:   Jim Calhoun (career 805-342); 24th year at Connecticut (557-205).

Quote To Note:   “If you give the best you can and shoot for the stars, if you fall a little short, you’re going to be in a great place. This team can do that. … It’s going to be a January-February team. We’ll definitely be integrating three or four freshmen into the rotation, and they definitely will be playing because they’re that talented.”—Coach Jim Calhoun, in the Hartford Courant.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Scouting The Newcomers:   Ater Majok’s journey from Sudan to Storrs should finally bear fruit, as the freshman will be eligible for the second semester after spending his 2008-09 season in NCAA Clearinghouse limbo. He’s a good bet to be a starter sooner rather than later.

High school teammates Alex Oriakhi and Jamal Coombs-McDaniel will be competing to take some of the frontcourt minutes as well. Also in the mix is Jamaal Trice, who emerged as a high school senior. The backcourt recruit of note is Darius Smith, who could be the first guard off the bench.

Key Early-season Games:   UConn opens the season in the NIT Season Tip-Off, and the Huskies will play a huge game Dec. 9 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, where they will reunite with perennial rival John Calipari and Kentucky in the Big East/SEC Invitational. That should get UConn some tough experience before Big East play begins.

Program Direction:   The Huskies re-emerged in 2008-09 to make the Final Four. This team might not have that kind of run in them, but UConn isn’t going anywhere as long as the key players—as well as coach Jim Calhoun—stay healthy.

Probable Starting Lineup:   PG Kemba Walker, SG Jerome Dyson, SF Stanley Robinson, PF Ater Majok, PF Gavin Edwards.

Roster Report:  

• F Ater Majok will miss the first eight games of the season, per the ruling from the NCAA Clearinghouse. He will be eligible for the Dec. 20 game against Central Florida, but in the meantime is recovering from a fractured tibia.

• C Michael Bradley gave the UConn coaching staff a verbal commitment in late September. The 6-10 center from Tennessee will join the program for the 2010-11 season.

• C Jonathan Mandeldove will miss the first semester, as the coaching staff is apparently looking for him to get into better shape. The senior isn’t likely to be part of the rotation even when he returns.