Author Archives: ianbethune

Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 2/15

UConn Huskies Daily Roundup

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men's basketball and women's basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Women's Basketball links

Notebook: Not a perfect end to UConn practice [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

Auriemma’s Change Of Approach Impactful [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Kara Wolters On Brittney Griner [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Anne Donovan On Brittney Griner [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Some Thoughts From Coach Auriemma On Monday’s Event [john altavilla – hartford courant]

It Hasn’t Been Easy For Brittney Griner [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Times Are Tough For Rutgers And Stringer [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Another Game, Another Hartley Discussion [rich elliott – ct post]

Huskies Struggle Offensively As Auriemma Ends Practice Early [rich elliott – ct post]

Jefferson Warming Up To The Sight Of Snow [rich elliott – ct post]

Geno voices his displeasure following practice [jim fuller – new haven register]

No.3 UConn Heads to Rutgers on Saturday [uconnhuskies.com]

After Scare At St. John's, Geno Has UConn Women On A Roll [hartford courant]

UConn Men's Basketball links

UConn Very Much in Big East Regular Season Title Hunt [david borges – new haven register]

Amida Brimah Shines in Playoff Victory [david borges – new haven register]

Ollie’s case for Big East Coach of the Year [kevin duffy – ct post]

The day after: Winning in the backcourt [john silver – snyuconn.com]

It Starts And Stops With The Guards [uconnhuskies.com]

Villanova's Wright Impressed With UConn's Ollie [hartford courant]

Phil Nolan Was Ready, And Helped UConn Take Down Syracuse [hartford courant]

Big East regular-season title very much in play for Huskies [new haven register]

UConn Football links

UConn Quarterbacks Coach Shane Day Talks About Scott McCummings, The Complete QB [desmond conner – hartford courant]

DC answered a few questions in his mailbag [desmond conner – hartford courant]

Jimmy Bennett says he plans on returning for UConn [jim fuller – new haven register]

Lineman Jimmy Bennett granted sixth season of eligibility [new haven register]

Other UConn related links

W. Track. Women's Track & Field Prepares for BIG EAST Championships [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Soccer. Danielle Dakin Awarded BIG EAST Institutional Scholarship [uconnhuskies.com]

Baseball. Huskies Open 2013 Season Against Big Ten Foes [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Ice Hockey. Men's Hockey Plays Host To Holy Cross Friday; At Holy Cross Saturday [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Track. Men's Track & Field Heads to Ohio for BIG EAST Championships [uconnhuskies.com]

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 2/14

UConn Huskies Daily Roundup

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men's basketball and women's basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Women's Basketball links

UConn freshman Jefferson stepping up [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

Donovan Working To Master Her Juggling Act [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Huskies Got To The Line Early And Often At Providence Tuesday [rich elliott – ct post]

Huskies Have Been Overly Impressive As Auriemma Pretends [rich elliott – ct post]

UConn commits open state tourney play Friday [jim fuller – new haven register]

Less Than 500 Tickets Remain for Women's Basketball's Showdown vs. No. 1 Baylor [uconnhuskies.com]

Even Auriemma Impressed With Kelly Faris' Endurance At UConn [hartford courant]

Providence no longer a challenge [journal inquirer]

Three Points from Tuesday's win over Providence [new haven register]

UConn Men's Basketball links

Checking In From XL: Jim Calhoun On The End of A Rivalry [dom amore – hartford courant]

Kevin Ollie’s Take [dom amore – hartford courant]

Wrapping Things Up From XL [dom amore – hartford courant]

Enosch Wolf Apologetic After Court Date [david borges – new haven register]

Jim Calhoun: 'I Don't Think, in a Year, We're Going to be (in the Big East)' [david borges – new haven register]

Jim Boeheim Blasts ESPN Reporter, Talks UConn-Syracuse Rivalry [david borges – new haven register]

Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim calls ESPN’s Andy Katz names in UConn postgame (updated) [sean patrick bowley – ct post]

Notes/Quotes from Syracuse: “They get to leave with the taste of UConn in their mouth going to the ACC.” [kevin duffy – ct post]

Post-game breakdown, video: Syracuse [gavin keefe – the day]

UConn win a fitting end to rivalry [john silver – snyuconn.com]

Squeezed [uconn huskies basketball]

The Syracuse-UConn Rivalry is Over…For Now [zagsblog.com]

UConn hoops player gets case continued [ct post]

UConn defeats No. 6 Syracuse [ct post]

UConn shows America it can win with heart [ct post]

Post-rivalry, it's UConn's goal not to move in opposite direction from Syracuse [ct post]

At least one last time, UConn-Syracuse "a really big deal [ct post]

Game in a nutshell: Napier, Boatright key shocking win [ct post]

UConn Men's Basketball Team Stuns No. 6 Syracuse [hartford courant]

Calhoun Recalls Highlights Of 'Best Rivalry' [hartford courant]

UConn Carving Out A Memorable Season [hartford courant]

Wolf case continued to March [journal inquirer]

Going out in style [journal inquirer]

Huskies stun No. 6 Syracuse [new haven register]

Jim Calhoun calls Syracuse the Huskies' No. 1 Big East rival [new haven register]

UConn men upset No. 6 Syracuse 66-58 [the day]

If charges are proven, Wolf should never play for UConn again [the day]

A great story just got better [the day]

Orange Crushed: UConn beats Syracuse [the hour]

UConn eyes Big East title after Cuse upset [andy katz – espn.com]

UConn Football links

Meet the new Big East members [andrea adelson – espn.com]

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Video: UConn Men Knock Off No. 6/7 Syracuse

Former UConn head coach Jim Calhoun and Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim before the final regular season game between the two Big East teams at the XL Center Wednesday night.

Unless they move to the ACC, the only chances of the UConn Huskies and Syracuse Orange playing again would have to come in the postseason. And we all know that's not happening this season.

While it would have been more fitting that Jim Calhoun faced Jim Boeheim in the final Big East game between the two teams, Kevin Ollie couldn't have made a better game plan then he did on Wednesday night.

Using a 13-4 run late in the second half, the Huskies were able to upset the Orange 66-58 in front of 13,518 and nationally televised audience on ESPN at the XL Center in Hartford, CT.

The Huskies improve to 17-6 (7-4 Big East) while the Orange fall to 20-4 (8-3).

Ryan Boatright led the Huskies with 17 points, three steals and had four rebounds and four assists. Omar Calhoun added 15 points and six rebounds while Shabazz Napier had 10 points and a team-high seven assists.

DeAndre Daniels led the Huskies with eight rebounds and had eight points.

Michael Carter-Williams paced the Orange with 15 points before fouling out. James Southerland had 14 points while C.J. Fair had 10 points. Jerami Grant led all rebounders in the game with nine while adding six points.

It was a tightly played game in the first half as neither team led by more than three points and there were six ties until UConn took a five point lead at the break at 29-24. To say it mildly, it was a typical Syracuse-UConn game.

Syracuse would take the lead early in the second half at 30-29 as the opened up on a 6-0 run. Boatright would put the Huskies back in front right away though with back to back three-pointers. The Orange once again rallied with a 5-0 run to tie the game up.

UConn would go back up again by four points before Syracuse had another 5-0 run to take their final lead of the game. Behind the three-pointing shooting of  Calhoun, the Huskies took control with a 13-4 run and held off the Orange down the stretch.

We all know the Huskies have had troubles with the zone, especially when they play with Syrause. And playing with a limited front court which is essential to attack the zone, Ollie's game plan was perfect and executed to perfection.

UConn has a chip on its collective shoulder since they can't play in the postseason and this was just another way of them showing it to the world.

It was absoutely great win for the Huskies.

Next up for UConn are the Villanova Wildcats who will come to the XL Center on Saturday. Tip is scheduled for 12 p.m.

To continue reading, please click on the continue reading button below if you're on the home page.

Syracuse Orange @ UConn Huskies 2.13.13 box score

Here are the postgame quotes from UConn head coach Kevin Ollie.

Here are UConn's postgame notes.

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photo credit: john woike – hartford courant

Rangers Assign Steve Eminger to the Connecticut Whale For Conditioning

NEW YORK, February 13, 2013 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has assigned defenseman Steve Eminger to the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League (AHL) for conditioning.

CT WhaleEminger, 29, has skated in four contests this season, having made his season debut on January 23 against Boston. He has not dressed in six of the Rangers last seven games. Eminger is four points shy of 100 career NHL points, having registered 19 goals and 77 assists in 457 career regular season games.

The Woodbridge, Ontario native was acquired by the Rangers from Anaheim in exchange for Aaron Voros and Ryan Hillier on July 9, 2010. He was originally selected by the Washington Capitals as a first round choice, 12th overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

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Whale’s Version of “The Smurfs” Comes up Huge

By Bob Crawford

The Herb Brooks-coached 1982-83 New York Rangers got big playoff performances from an undersized line featuring Mark Pavelich and Rob McClanahan, both of whom had played for Brooks on the famous 1980 U.S. Olympic team, along with canny Swedish import Anders Hedberg.

CT WhaleThat line was known as “The Smurfs”, and it led the Blueshirts, a .500 team during the regular season, to a stunning first-round sweep of the Patrick Division-champion Philadelphia Flyers.

Some 30 years later, a Connecticut Whale front line evoked images of the Smurfs this past weekend, as a grouping of Kelsey Tessier centering Micheal Haley and Christian Thomas helped the Whale to a pair of convincing road victories in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

The Whale beat the St. John’s IceCaps 4-1 on Saturday night, and then posted a 7-3 triumph on Sunday afternoon, equaling their biggest offensive output of the season.  The Haley-Tessier-Thomas line scored on the Whale’s first shot in both games, and combined to generate five of the 11 goals the team scored in the two contests.

The majority of that offense came off of strong play down low in the offensive zone, too, despite the fact that  Haley, the tallest of the three on the line, measures only 5-10, and Tessier and Thomas check in at 5-9, 177 and 5-9, 170, respectively.

Haley joked before Sunday’s game that, “I’m not usually the tallest on a line,” but dismissed the suggestion that physical size should have bearing on whether a player can exert impact as a forechecker.

“Size doesn’t mean too much to me,” Haley, who packs a compact 204 pounds on his 5-10 frame, said Wednesday.  “As long as you’re in (on the opponent’s defense) and you’re hitting and disrupting, that’s a good forecheck.”

Whale head coach Ken Gernander agreed, saying, “Tess (Tessier) is a pretty stocky player, Hales (Haley) has some beef, he’s not afraid to mix it up, and a lot of times it’s more about anticipation and body position than actually having to physically outmatch somebody or overpower somebody.  If you can beat them to the puck and get body position, more times than not you’ll be OK.”

“It’s a pretty eclectic mix,” Gernander added about his new vertically-challenged combination, “when you’ve got Haley, he’s got a little bit of beef, and he’s kind of underestimated as far as his scoring, he can put the puck in the net, given opportunities.  Christian Thomas isn’t near the same player he was two months ago, he’s really come on.  He’s using his speed to recover pucks, or to be first on pucks, he’s drawing penalties, bumping people off pucks with body position, then he’s able to make plays.  And Tess has, for large part, been a third, fourth (-line) role player and penalty-killer, and now he’s getting a little bit of taste of some offensive opportunities, and making the best of things.”

The sixth-year pro Haley has always been known as a physical player, the kind who can use strength and will to disrupt opposing defensemen in the Whale’s offensive zone.  He is quick to point out, however, that his two physically slighter linemates deserve full marks for using their quickness and smarts to give the IceCaps fits.

“They don’t need to crush people, but as long as you’re separating them from the puck and stealing the puck, that’s a forecheck,” Haley said.  “Not everybody’s going to be the guy that hits them (enemy defenders) hard, but as long as you’re on them quick, they don’t have time to think.”

Thomas, the rookie and second-round 2010 New York Ranger pick, won a number of important puck battles during the Whale’s successful Newfoundland weekend, and echoed Haley’s thoughts about how to make a forchecking impact as a smaller player.

“Big or small, you just have to get there, make contact and interrupt their progress, the bigger guys, take away their hands and you can get that puck,” Thomas said.

Thomas had his first three-point game as a pro in Saturday’s win, with a goal and two hard-earned assists, and then helped set up Haley for a goal only 68 seconds into Sunday’s game, giving the Whale a lead they would never relinquish.  That continued a dynamic uptick in Thomas’ play, which he credits to making consistent use of his excellent foot speed.

“I just try to tell myself to keep moving my feet out there,” Thomas said.  “Smaller guy, you move your feet, you’re hard to handle out there.  I think I’m a pretty quick guy, so when I get my feet moving I can get to pucks first, and get some space and make some plays.”

The entire line did a good job of making plays in the two wins over the IceCaps.  It is one thing to generate chances with eager puck-hawking, but quite another to turn them into scores, and the line was opportunistic in finishing the chances they created.  In Haley’s battle-tested view, that’s more a matter of better luck than anything else.

“They’re (goals) just going in now,” he said.  “Ride the wave as long as you can, I guess.”

Indeed, the Haley-Tessier-Thomas threesome has only been together for two games, and the way things go in the AHL, it’s certainly not unlikely that it won’t stay together long enough to acquire an enduring nickname like “The Smurfs”.  With the four points the Whale grabbed up in St. John’s being so key in the team’s playoff drive, though, whether or not it remains intact, the smallish unit has undoubtedly made an outsized impact on the Whale’s fortunes.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

NESN Tour Stops In Connecticut

 

Don Orsillo, Jenny Dell and Jerry Remy arrive at Gengras Chevrolet

While the location announcement was last minute, the NESN Tour with Don Orsillo, Jerry Remy and Jenny Dell stopped in East Hartford, CT at Gengras Chevrolet this morning.

The NESN Tour is giving fans to meet the trio who serve as the television voices for the Boston Red Sox on NESN. Fans were able to talk with them, get autographs and take pictures.

And even with the last minute location announcement, a decent crowd showed up for the event.

Besides talking with DO, Remy and Jenny, who have all heard of my site by the way, I also had a chance to meet with some NESN executives who are making the trip as well.

For me, I thought it was pretty freaking cool that all three have checked out my site. It was also very nice to meet all three of them, including Jenny who I've talked with on Twitter on numerous occasions. I can definitely say that all three of them are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet and are very down to earth.

I definitely let Don and Jerry know that I'm the one who posts their crazy antics on the site when people ask me to post them. They seemed to appreciate that and I asked them for more crazy antics during the spring training coverage.

To see more pictures from the event, please click on the continue reading button below if you're on the home page.

Jenny Dell meets with Chip Gengras

Jenny Dell meets with Chip Gengras

Jerry Remy meets with Chip Gengras

Jerry Remy meets with Chip Gengras

Chip Gengras talking with Don Orsillo, Jenny Dell and Jerry Remy

Chip Gengras talking with Don Orsillo, Jenny Dell and Jerry Remy

Chip Gengras talking with Don Orsillo, Jenny Dell and Jerry Remy

Chip Gengras talking with Don Orsillo, Jenny Dell and Jerry Remy

Jenny Dell

Jenny Dell

Me with Don Orsillo who isn't paying attention

Me with Don Orsillo who isn't paying attention

Me with Jerry Remy and Don Orsillo

Me with Jerry Remy and Don Orsillo

Jerry Remy and Don Orsillo checking out a Corvette

Jerry Remy and Don Orsillo checking out a Corvette

Jenny Dell modeling with the Corvette

Jenny Dell modeling with the Corvette

Jenny Dell being interviewed by WFSB

Jenny Dell being interviewed by WFSB

Jenny Dell being interviewed by WFSB

Jenny Dell being interviewed by WFSB

Me with Jenny Dell

Me with Jenny Dell

Me with Jerry Remy, Jenny Dell and Don Orsillo

Me with Jerry Remy, Jenny Dell and Don Orsillo

And as I promised Jerry Remy I would do, I cropped out Don Orsillo since he does that to the RemDawg all the time.

And as I promised Jerry Remy I would do, I cropped out Don Orsillo since he does that to the RemDawg all the time.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

 

Four Huskies Invited to 2013 NFL Combine

Here's the press release from UConn announcing that four UConn Huskies football players have been invited to the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, IN from February 23-26.

NFL Scouting CombineThis is the workout schedule:

Saturday, Feb. 23: Tight ends, offensive linemen, special teams
Sunday, Feb. 24: Quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers
Monday, Feb. 25: Defensive linemen, linebackers
Tuesday, Feb. 26: Defensive backs

STORRS, Conn. – Dwayne Gratz, Sio Moore, Trevardo Williams and Blidi Wreh-Wilson have all been invited to represent the University of Connecticut football team at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Ind. from February 23-26.  The NFL Draft is scheduled to take place between April 25 and 27.

Gratz and Wreh-Wilson combined to start 80 games at cornerback over the last four year at Connecticut and were both honored as All-BIG EAST Second Team members following this past season.  At 6-foot-0, Gratz led the UConn defense with three interceptions as a senior, including a 37-yard pick returned for a touchdown.  For his career, he totaled eight interceptions for 152 return yards, including a 46-yard pick-six against Oklahoma in the 2011 Fiesta Bowl.  The 6-foot-2 Wreh-Wilson projects as a second or third round pick by both NFL.com and CBSsports.com.  He grabbed eight career interceptions, totaling 171 returns yards and ran two back for scores in 2010.

Moore (6-foot-2, 229 lbs.) started each of the last three seasons at outside linebacker, while Williams (6-foot-2, 233) was a three-year starter at defensive end, but projects to play outside linebacker at the pro level.  Both players were named to the All-BIG EAST First Team in December.  Williams led the Huskies with 11.5 sacks and led the league at 0.96 per game, while Moore finished second with eight and second in the league at 0.67.  Moore led the squad with 15.5 tackles for loss, while Williams was third with 13.5; both ranking in the top four in the league.

Fans can follow the combine on the NFL Network or at www.nfl.com/combine.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 2/13

UConn Huskies Daily Roundup

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men's basketball and women's basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

It's game day for the UConn Huskies men's basketball team as they'll host the Syracuse Orange at the XL Center in Hartford, CT. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be available nationally on ESPN. You can also watch online at WatchESPN. You can also listen on the IMG/UConn Radio Network.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Men's Basketball links

UConn Adjusting To Playing Without Enosch Wolf: Notes, Quotes From Practice [dom amore – hartford courant]

Dom answered a question in his mailbag about postseason play [dom amore – hartford courant]

Kevin Ollie Says Little About Enosch Wolf, More About Syracuse [david borges – new haven register]

Notes/Quotes from Feb. 12: “We go forward. I’m not going to make a comment on Enosch’s situation.” [kevin duffy – ct post]

Ollie on Wolf, Syracuse, and the end of a Big East rivalry, etc. (video) [gavin keefe – the day]

End of a rivalry: Syracuse vs. UConn [lee lewis – republican-american]

Huskies, minus Wolf, eye Orange [neill ostrout – journal inquirer]

Next man up? [john silver – snyuconn.com]

UConn-Syracuse: End of an era [john silver – snyuconn.com]

Huskies Play Host To Top Ten Syracuse On Wednesday [uconnhuskies.com]

Ollie faced with difficult call on Wolf [ct post]

Syracuse Could Pose A Big Problem For UConn [hartford courant]

UConn's Kevin Ollie Faces Landmark Decision In Enosch Wolf Case [hartford courant]

Huskies to face Syracuse without Wolf [new haven register]

UConn-Syracuse men's game has some extra juice [the day]

UConn Women's Basketball links

No stopping Faris, UConn in rout of Providence [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

Notebook: Foul-line follies [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

Donovan Believes UConn Can Win The Title [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Best Of Geno From The Providence Postgame [john altavilla – hartford courant]

What’s New: Faris Does It Again [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Faris Reaches Century Mark For Huskies [rich elliott – ct post]

Report: Former UConn star to miss EuroLeague playoffs [jim fuller – new haven register]

Huskies share the wealth against Friars [jim fuller – new haven register]

Freshmen look to build on strong effort [jim fuller – new haven register]

UConn women roll past Providence [ct post]

UConn women seem to be building, getting better [ct post]

Faris, in 100th consecutive start, does what she sets out to do [ct post]

Providence No Match For UConn Women [hartford courant]

Seton Hall Coach Praises UConn For Scheduling Tough Opponents [hartford courant]

Huskies rout Providence to improve to 23-1 [new haven register]

UConn Football links

DC answered some questions in his mailbag [desmond conner – hartford courant]

AP Report: Big East nears TV deal [john silver – snyuconn.com]

Other UConn related links

Softball. Softball Opens 2013 Season on Friday at Florida International [uconnhuskies.com]

Baseball. Pitcher Profile: Pat Butler [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Track. Kevin Smith Wins BIG EAST Institutional Scholar-Athlete Scholarship [uconnhuskies.com]

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.