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Colgate-Connecticut Preview

Nov 15, 2009 - 5:54 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Colgate (0-0) at Connecticut (1-0), 9:00 p.m. EDT

Connecticut isn't necessarily facing the expectations of a return to the Final Four with a depleted frontcourt, but that doesn't mean Jim Calhoun finds sloppy efforts acceptable.

The No. 12 Huskies look to do a better job of meeting their coach's standards when they host Colgate the first round of the NIT Season Tip-Off on Monday night.

Connecticut won its 21st straight Gampel Pavilion opener Friday, 75-66 over William & Mary. Jerome Dyson, who missed the final 12 games last season with a knee injury, had 27 points and eight assists.

Dyson may have been the only UConn player Calhoun was happy with. The teams finished in a 34-34 tie in rebounds, with freshman center Alex Oriakhi grabbing 10 in his first game replacing NBA lottery pick Hasheem Thabeet.

"It was just a lackluster performance," Calhoun said. "It was a win and a lackluster performance by us. Honestly, for a young team, you can't be lackluster."

Stanley Robinson scored 17 points and Kemba Walker added 12. The sophomore Walker made his third start and had two assists and three turnovers.

"It comes with time," Walker said. "We're going to get better. We're going to take this game, practice tomorrow and get better."

Calhoun gave his starters heavy minutes, with all logging at least 31. The lack of depth is a concern for a squad that is expected to rely more on quickness than the strong interior presence that helped it lead the nation in blocks for eight straight seasons.

UConn has won 93 straight home games played in November or December since a 91-85 loss to Holy Cross on Dec. 5, 1975. That includes a 48-0 all-time mark at Gampel.

Colgate went 10-20 last season and finished in a tie for fifth place in the Patriot League. Better results are expected in 2009-10 with five starters back as well as senior guard Kyle Roemer, who missed all of last season with a knee injury.

The Red Raiders are excited to open their season against the Huskies.

"It is a great honor to represent the Patriot League in the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off tournament," coach Emmett Davis said.

This is the first meeting between the schools since UConn won 68-59 in the 1996 NCAA tournament, a contest declared null and void by the NCAA because of the illegal acceptance of gifts by the Huskies' Kirk King and Ricky Moore during that season.

Prior to that, the teams last met in 1978 and the Huskies lead the series 17-7.

The winner will play Yale or Hofstra on Tuesday night for the right to advance to next week's semifinals in New York.